Consistency won’t at all times be the important thing, particularly in NASCAR coming into 2026. Given how aggressive inventory automotive racing has grow to be over the previous couple of years, a driver must ship their greatest every season to safeguard their seat. And on the subject of the Cup Collection, the competitors is much extra intense, particularly for a sure Hendrick Motorsports driver, in keeping with famend NASCAR analyst Bob Pockrass.
Consistency isn’t sufficient for Hendrick Motorsports star
FOX Sports activities’ Bob Pockrass not too long ago sat down to debate how troublesome issues have grow to be for Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman, who may be on the recent seat if the No. 48 staff doesn’t enhance its efficiency in 2026.
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“I believe you have a look at Bowman and say, is he on the recent seat?” Pockrass mentioned in a latest interview with . “You have a look at this Chase format, you’re like, gosh, he’ll be within the high 16 in factors, proper? So, he gained’t be on this bubble of ‘Did he get a win and can he get in?’ So, I believe this format in all probability helps him so far as like having the information he in all probability shall be secure on the subject of playoffs.”
September 21, 2025, Loudon, Nh, USA: LOUDON Sept. 21, 2025 ALEX BOWMAN makes his approach by means of Flip 3 throughout Stage 2 of Sunday Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H., a NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Collection Spherical of 12 race.
It’s true that the brand new format will certainly work in his favor this yr. In truth, final yr, he was the one one together with Tyler Reddick to qualify for the playoffs on factors.
With this, Pockrass additionally mentioned how Bowman has delivered constant performances prior to now few years. The #48 driver has certified for the playoffs 4 instances within the final 4 years and completed the season in ninth place within the final two years. Regardless of this, he can face the axe if Hendrick Motorsports can discover one other identify, resembling Tyler Reddick, to exchange him.
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“It [Bowman’s HMS stay] might rely upon a man like Tyler Reddick. Does he wish to keep at 23XI? The place does he see that program going? Who’s prepared to wave doubtlessly an even bigger test in entrance of him? Proper. And so, it won’t completely be in Bowman’s palms proper, it might rely upon what different drivers do.”
Reddick of 23XI Racing is one other constant driver, however like Bowman, he too couldn’t take pleasure in a win final yr. Nonetheless, in comparison with Bowman, Reddick has an edge in race wins during the last 5 years — eight for Reddick, six for Bowman. On high of that, he completed the 2024 season as a runner-up.
Staff proprietor to repair this situation. For the upcoming season, the No. 48 staff will see a wholly new employees aside from Alex Bowman, crew chief Blake Harris, and spotter Kevin Hamlin.
Bowman himself has acknowledged the problem. “There’s no secret final yr was a giant battle for us, and we’ve made an immense quantity of adjustments to attempt to be higher for 2026.”
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Alternatively, it will likely be attention-grabbing to see if Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s group can maintain Reddick on the staff. Given how they’ve been excelling recently on the enterprise facet of issues, it shouldn’t be onerous.
23XI acquired a significant enhance forward of the 2026 Daytona 500
Previous to the most important race of the season, and 23XI Racing acquired a significant sponsorship enhance. Xfinity, 23XI’s longtime companion, agreed to increase its partnership on Wallace’s #23 automotive as its major sponsor for the 2026 season.
Xfinity’s extension forward of the Daytona 500 is a large win for a staff like 23XI, which has not tasted any success in latest instances, particularly after their involvement in an antitrust lawsuit towards NASCAR.
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“Having Xfinity on the automotive for the Daytona 500 and doing extra with our staff for the 2026 season is an unbelievable honor,” Wallace mentioned. “What actually excites me is how this partnership offers followers a front-row seat to every little thing we do. They’re proper there for each mile of the season, celebrating the milestones, and feeling like a part of the staff. Xfinity’s help offers us the assets to compete on the sport’s greatest levels whereas retaining followers on the coronary heart of each race.”
Bubba Wallace has various sponsors this season. Apart from Xfinity, he additionally has Hardee’s, Robinhood, United States Air Power, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Leidos, and Mobil 1, amongst many others.
