Alex Bowman’s race at Michigan came to a violent end on Lap 67 after contact from Cole Custer sent his No. 48 Chevrolet hard into the outside wall. The head-on impact — estimated around 150 mph — was severe enough to lift the rear tires off the ground and end Bowman’s day on the spot.
He later called it “probably the hardest hit” of his career. That’s notable given Bowman’s injury history. In 2022, he missed five races after a concussion at Texas, and in 2023, a sprint car crash sidelined him with a back injury for three more Cup events.
Despite soreness, Bowman has been cleared to race this weekend at the Mexico City road course — a crucial event as he looks to build momentum. His last Cup win came on the streets of Chicago last summer.
As a backup plan, Hendrick Motorsports has Anthony Alfredo on standby. Alfredo, a full-time Xfinity Series driver and HMS simulator contributor, has 42 Cup starts, including one earlier this year at Talladega.