Alex Bowman will not drive the No. 48 for Hendrick Motorsports at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend in the NASCAR Cup Series, Hendrick announced Sept. 29.
Bowman, according to a release, has been experiencing concussion-like symptoms following a wreck at Texas Motor Speedway last weekend.
Noah Gragson will fill in for Bowman in the No. 48.
Justin Allgaier will instead drive the No. 62 for Beard Motorsports in which Gragson was initially entered.
“I’m disappointed but know my health is the number one priority,” Bowman said in a statement. “I am committed to follow all medical guidance to ensure I can return to competition as soon as possible.”
Bowman entered Talladega 12th in points, 30 points below the cut line for the Round of 8. His absence at Talladega would likely put him in a must-win situation at the final race of the Round of 12, the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, if he’s cleared to race.
In 2022, Bowman has one win, four top fives and 12 top 10s.
Gragson’s best finish of 2022 in the Cup Series came at Daytona International Speedway, where he finished fifth for Beard.
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Rutherford is the managing editor of Frontstretch, a position he gained in 2015 after serving on the editing staff for two years. At his day job, he's a journalist covering music and rock charts at Billboard. He lives in New York City, but his heart is in Ohio -- you know, like that Hawthorne Heights song.
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Wow. There goes his shot at a championship. Hope he isn’t too hurt.
His wreck looked similar to Kurt’s. Nascar best get their head out of their behinds. After all those problems at Texas that there aren’t others.
Someone will have to die before NASCAR admits the Next Gen has deep, fundamental safety flaws.
This is infuriating! The optics are NASCAR isn’t acting on this. There is a pattern, and now the crappy race of Dega this weekend????? So much to lose for all involved. NASCAR has their collective heads up their okole’s.