No, Alex Bowman would not have a future in broadcasting after his retirement from full-time NASCAR Cup Collection competitors after the 2027 season.
“I do not know that anyone needs to hearken to me on the printed, if I am being sincere,” mentioned Bowman throughout a press convention on Friday on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “I do not know. I do not know that I might be any good at that. That appears actually exhausting. The broadcasting factor, I might say some dumb stuff and doubtless get fired fairly rapidly. I can not imagine that hasn’t occurred to me in my driving profession.”
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However at 33-years-old, and with only one extra season remaining after signing a contract extension to finish his profession, it is a truthful query to surprise what Bowman goes to do together with his life.
If he had it his means, Bowman would simply fade away into relative obscurity, and go stay one thing that resembles a standard life with a job at Hendrick Automotive that permits him to deal with his household.
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“However that is not how this sport works,” Bowman mentioned. “And I feel (Hendrick vice chairman of communications) Jesse Essex would have killed me if I attempted to try this. So, it is a part of what we do to make an announcement like this and I am excited to sort of finish the questions and simply go to work.”
Bowman has been adamant this week that it’s not a lot the staggered accidents over the previous decade that pushed him in the direction of an early retirement as a lot as it’s the need to have a standard life.
He missed 4 races this 12 months with a bout of vertigo and has suffered quite a few concussions throughout dust racing and NASCAR over the previous 20 years. He broke his again in 2023, costing him three races, however says a crash at Michigan final 12 months was simply impactful as any of these incidents
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As an alternative, Bowman says he by no means meant to race into his 40s like so a lot of his friends, eager to play together with his Dash and Midget Automobile group whereas working in unique automobiles with group proprietor Rick Hendrick.
That is precisely what he’s being allowed to do in retiring on his personal phrases. He at present has eight wins, all with Hendrick Motorsports over the previous decade, over a 15-year profession that additionally contains stints at Tommy Baldwin Racing and BK Racing.
Bowman is not even going to provide himself the wiggle room of racing after 2027.
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“I am simply not going to proceed racing,” Bowman mentioned bluntly. “I might love to finish on a extremely excessive be aware (the place) every thing goes good and we go win a championship and I can stroll out that means.
“That will be superb (however) that is not going to make me wish to keep. And I feel for me, health-wise, psychological health-wise, sort of every thing, that is what I wanted to try this can be finest for me and the issues I wish to do outdoors of the automotive.”
Hendrick Motorsports president Jeff Andrews says Bowman is successfully a member of the family and deserves to exit no matter means he chooses earlier than transitioning into a brand new position with the bigger group.
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“Retirement is an outdated phrase, however Alex makes use of it, and Alex is household,” Andrews mentioned. “There are definitely another alternatives inside the Hendrick household, on the efficiency aspect, as a result of he’s a automotive man and likes to go quick.
“Mr. Hendrick has fairly a couple of automobiles, as we all know, and there is a tie there so I might not be stunned if Alex is round our campus for a while after subsequent 12 months.”
He can be a welcome addition for years to come back too. Kyle Larson mentioned Bowman is the very best teammate he has ever had in NASCAR. Hendrick himself views Bowman as a son.
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All informed, Bowman needs there had been extra success over the previous decade, but additionally feels extremely blessed to have made a profession out of one thing that left him broke and unable to pay his payments in his early 20s.
“I imply, it has been a journey for positive,” Bowman mentioned. “It hasn’t gone precisely as I might have hoped in some methods, however on the identical time, I’ve realized a lot. I’ve grown a lot as an individual.
“I’ve gotten to have unimaginable teammates, be taught from some superior individuals, and be a part of a tremendous group. I’ve had a whole lot of enjoyable. Despite the fact that the stat sheet won’t learn how I would like it to, it is nonetheless been nice in a whole lot of methods.
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“In 2016, earlier than I crammed in (for Dale Earnhardt Jr., injured with a concussion), I used to be broke and promoting my seats to pay lease, barely getting by. To finish up at Hendrick Motorsports for a decade has been unimaginable. It means so much to have the help from everybody at HMS.”
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