Tensions are running high as Hendrick Motorsports has made another significant Alex Bowman crew swap, bringing in nearly an entirely new pit crew from Spire Motorsports before the final Round of 16 race at Bristol. Disappointed NASCAR fans quickly voiced frustration over the frequent changes and underlying partnerships behind the move, intensifying debate about team leadership and long-term strategies.
Major Crew Overhaul Follows Series of Costly Pit Road Errors
Hendrick Motorsports again opted to shuffle its pit-crew lineup, transferring almost all crew members from Spire Motorsports teams onto Alex Bowman’s No. 48 car ahead of a critical playoff race. Bowman entered the postseason as the lowest-seeded contender, and his hopes for advancing suffered major blows due to pit road mishaps. At the Southern 500 in Darlington, a misconnected air hose resulted in a lengthy 40-second pit stop. The following weekend at Gateway, an unsecured wheel forced another delay, requiring the crew to jack up the car twice before sending Bowman back into competition. As these errors jeopardized their postseason run, HMS responded decisively by bringing in fresh personnel, leaving only one original crew member on Bowman’s team for Bristol.
According to Fox Sports reporter Bob Pockrass, the latest crew adjustment involved integrating talent from the pit crews usually servicing Spire drivers Carson Hocevar, Justin Haley, and Michael McDowell, as indicated in a detailed breakdown shared publicly. These moves are part of a broader technical alignment between HMS and Spire, with Hendrick supplying Spire’s engines and expanding alliances, such as next season’s new partnership with the Haas Factory Team upon its switch to Chevrolet.
Fans Criticize Hendrick’s Approach and Partnerships
The Alex Bowman crew swap has sparked backlash from longstanding NASCAR followers, who question the fairness and stability of HMS’s relationship with its technical partners. Some fans argue that the arrangement allows Hendrick to pull leased crew members at will, which may erode trust between the involved organizations. Others believe the move detracts from addressing more deep-rooted team issues, particularly concerning leadership direction.
“I’m sure this is how that arrangement works between Hendrick and other teams. But personally, I’d never enter into an agreement where the parent could take leased people at their discretion. This doesn’t seem to be a practice that fosters a good relationship,”
a fan replied. – fan
Former championship-winning driver and team president Jeff Gordon found himself under scrutiny, with critics accusing HMS of ignoring larger systemic concerns and allowing persistent performance pitfalls to continue.
“Still not addressing the problem – the crew chief. This is such a bad look for [Jeff Gordon] and [Hendrick Motorsports]. This has been a dumpster fire forever and should be moving toward building NOW for a strong [Ally Racing] Team in 2026,”
another commented. – fan
Speculation Grows About Future Driver Changes
Amid the controversies, speculation also intensified about a possible driver shift between Alex Bowman and Carson Hocevar in upcoming seasons. Some fans suggested that the continuous personnel changes could be laying the groundwork for a more dramatic shuffle in the driver lineup within Hendrick and Spire’s extended roster.
“Why do I feel like this is preparing for a Bowman/Hocevar swap in 2026?”
a fan wrote. – fan
“They should swap the drivers too,”
another shared. – fan
Bowman’s On-Track Setbacks Continue
The latest crew swap comes as Alex Bowman faces another challenging postseason. In the first six races of the 2025 NASCAR Cup season, Bowman notched five top-10 results and earned a runner-up at Homestead after starting on pole, but he failed to secure a victory. Entering the elimination race at Bristol, Bowman was already 35 points outside the cutoff and, despite finishing eighth at the historic short track, could not advance to the next round. This setback echoes last season’s disappointment, when he was also knocked out in the Round of 16 after his No. 48 Chevrolet failed post-race inspection due to insufficient weight.
Impact and What Lies Ahead for Hendrick and Spire
The fallout from this Alex Bowman crew swap highlights deeper tensions across Hendrick Motorsports and its partner organizations, with fans expressing doubts about both short-term fixes and the projected future of the program. The ongoing shakeup not only scrutinizes inter-team agreements and resource sharing but also places additional pressure on leadership figures such as Jeff Gordon. With HMS’s growing technical alliances and the competitive NASCAR playoff environment, the effectiveness of these moves will be tested on track—and the results will shape perceptions among the fan base and the direction of the teams moving forward.
I'm sure this is how that arrangement works between Hendrick and other teams. But personally, I'd never enter into an agreement where the parent could take leased people at their discretion. This doesn't seem to be a practice that fosters a good relationship.
— HuskerJim (@HuskerJim1958) October 2, 2025
Still not addressing the problem – the crew chief. This is such a bad look for @JeffGordonWeb and @TeamHendrick This has been a dumpster fire forever and should be moving toward building NOW for a strong @allyracing Team in 2026.
— WDWDVC🏁 (@WDWDVC2008) October 2, 2025
Why do I feel like this is preparing for a Bowman/Hocevar swap in 2026?
— Real Deal Aneil (@realdealAneil) October 2, 2025
They should swap the drivers too pic.twitter.com/uOBJMtxqmm
— Mark (@McKenna2NYR) October 2, 2025
