It appears that Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) is at the center of rumors and potential shake-ups regarding their driver lineup for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. One of the most talked-about rumors involves Alex Bowman, who has been racing for HMS since 2018. Despite Bowman’s denial of the reports, speculation continues to swirl around his future with the team, including the possibility of being loaned to Spire Motorsports for the upcoming season.
Hendrick Motorsports currently has four charters competing in the Cup Series, with all of their drivers making it into the playoffs in the current season. While their lineup has remained consistent since 2021, recent reports suggest that HMS has more than four drivers under contract. This has fueled speculation that one of the existing drivers, potentially Bowman, could be loaned out to another team to accommodate new talent within the HMS roster. Notably, Brett Griffin and Freddie Kraft recently discussed this on the Door, Bumper, Clear podcast, claiming that HMS might indeed be planning such a move.One rumor points to Justin Haley, currently driving for Rick Ware Racing, as a potential replacement for Bowman at HMS. This would leave Bowman in a position to be loaned out, with Spire Motorsports being a possible destination. These reports originally surfaced via USA Today.Bowman has had a solid tenure at HMS, but his performance hasn’t yet resulted in a championship win. His closest finish in the standings came in 2020 when he finished 6th overall. This season, however, has seen some improvements compared to 2023, as Bowman has found himself in the top 10 more frequently. His victory at the Chicago race earned him a spot in the playoffs, which was a key moment in his season. Despite these highlights, Bowman has acknowledged that there is still a lot of work to be done if he wants to contend for a championship.
Bowman has been open about the challenges he and his team have faced this season, particularly when it comes to strategy and pit stop execution. He has emphasized the need for improvement in these areas, recognizing that these issues have cost him several better finishes. As the playoffs progressed, Bowman started strong with a 5th-place finish in the opening race, which Joey Logano won. Unfortunately, the remainder of his playoff run didn’t go as well as he had hoped, with inconsistencies in both performance and race-day execution holding him back.Despite all the rumors surrounding his future, Bowman has maintained optimism about his place at Hendrick Motorsports. While addressing the speculation, he firmly dismissed the idea of leaving HMS and expressed his desire to continue racing for the team in the 2025 season. Nonetheless, the idea of HMS loaning out one of their drivers remains a topic of discussion, particularly as the team appears to be managing more than just their four chartered drivers.With Hendrick Motorsports being one of the top organizations in NASCAR, any potential driver movement would be significant. If Bowman is indeed loaned to Spire Motorsports, it could represent a major shake-up for both teams. Spire Motorsports, which is still a developing team, could benefit from Bowman’s experience and talent. On the other hand, if Justin Haley steps into Bowman’s role at HMS, it would mark a new chapter for both drivers and teams involved.
Previous reports had hinted that Justin Haley, who currently drives for Rick Ware Racing, might replace Alex Bowman at Hendrick Motorsports. In turn, Bowman was rumored to be loaned to Spire Motorsports, as per USA Today.Bowman has raced for the team since the 2018 season but has yet to win the championship. His closest finish on points was back in 2020 with a 6th place. This season, he has managed to mark his presence within the top 10 much more than he did in 2023. His victory at Chicago sealed his entry into the playoffs.However, he feels that both he and the team need to put in more effort.
Alex Bowman feels both he and the team need “to do a lot of things better” in the final races of the season
Despite the rumors, Alex Bowman is optimistic about returning to Hendrick Motorsports in the coming season. He has dismissed the speculation surrounding his future with the team.
The #48 driver started off the playoffs strongly with a fifth-place finish as Joey Logano took the victory. However, the rest of his season wasn’t exactly successful. Although he looked competitive on some tracks, there were issues with the strategy and pit stops because of which he missed out on better finishes.Recently, when discussing the challenges he has encountered, Bowman admitted that both he and the crew need to improve in several areas.
Ultimately, the future of Hendrick Motorsports’ driver lineup remains uncertain, and the “silly season” rumors will likely continue to swirl until official announcements are made. For now, Bowman is focused on the remainder of the 2024 season and improving his performance, while the NASCAR community waits to see what moves HMS will make for 2025.
