Alex Bowman’s 2025 season with Hendrick Motorsports unfolded with high expectations and fierce challenges, as he finished 13th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings. This Alex Bowman 2025 season review highlights not only his playoff berth and fluctuating results, but also the relentless efforts by Bowman, his crew chief Blake Harris, and the entire No. 48 Chevrolet team throughout a turbulent campaign.
Mixed Results Mark a Challenging Journey to the Playoffs
Bowman secured the final playoff spot, reaching the Cup Series Playoffs for the second consecutive year, but the path was far from smooth. After a crash in the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway, a strong performance by Ryan Blaney helped Bowman edge out Chris Buescher for the postseason. Despite this, his momentum faltered with two disappointing finishes outside the top 25 in the opening events of the Round of 16. The setback proved costly, as elimination followed the Bristol Night Race. Over the final seven races of the year, Bowman managed only one top-10 finish, underscoring a difficult closing stretch.
Turning Point in Mexico City After Setbacks
One of the defining moments of Bowman’s 2025 campaign arrived after a severe crash at Michigan International Speedway. Battling pain and uncertainty, Bowman entered the inaugural Cup Series race in Mexico City starting from the 29th position at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Defying discomfort, he surged to a fourth-place finish, earning his third top-five result of the year. This turnaround ended a run of poor finishes and sparked a consistent stretch, including seven top-11 results over the next eight races. The Mexico City event proved pivotal, reviving his playoff hopes at a crucial time in the season.
Strong Start and Summer Surge Highlight Bowman’s Ups and Downs
Bowman’s 2025 efforts were not limited to midseason recoveries—his early form was equally impressive. As a Tucson, Arizona native, he demonstrated speed and consistency with five top-10 results in the first six events, including a pole position and runner-up finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The summer saw further highlights; he recorded two third-place finishes and notably claimed second at Richmond Raceway, engaging Austin Dillon in a close contest for victory. A seventh-place result at Las Vegas Motor Speedway further reinforced his status as a contender on familiar ground. These performances were bright spots amid an otherwise inconsistent season.
Statistics Show a Drop Off in Consistency
Despite notable highlights, Bowman’s overall numbers reflected a decline from previous years. With an average finish of 17.4, his results were nearly three positions lower than in 2024 and marked the lowest of his tenure with Hendrick Motorsports. His average starting spot also slipped, dropping from 13.9 the prior year to 15.8 in 2025. The season closed without a single win, although he managed six top-fives, 16 top-10s, and led 165 laps, underscoring both his potential and ongoing struggles to convert strong starts into victories.
Driver’s Perspective on a Challenging Campaign
Reflecting on the adversity he and his team faced, Bowman expressed the deep toll of inconsistency and the pressure to improve:
“We had a really good summer, and the switch turned off for us, for sure. It’s kind of mortifying how bad we’ve been. It’s embarrassing. It’s not from a lack of effort, like everybody’s working so hard at HMS, and our whole team is. We’ve just not put days together like we need to. So yeah, working hard to turn that around this weekend … We got to make something happen. Mentally going through these last couple weeks has not been a fun time for me, but mentally it’s always kind of not been a fun time for me the last couple years. Just trying to run the best we can this weekend and be as prepared as I can be to go out there and do my job.”
— Bowman said in September at Bristol Motor Speedway, looking back at a frustrating Round of 16.
Future Uncertainty and the Road to Recovery
Bowman is set to remain with Hendrick Motorsports for the 2026 season, marking his ninth full-time year with the team. With only two wins since his breakout 2021 season, he faces mounting pressure to return the No. 48 Chevrolet to regular contention. His 2025 campaign proved that the ceiling for success remains high, but consistency has been elusive. As Bowman, Blake Harris, and Hendrick Motorsports strategize for the upcoming year, regaining competitive form will be vital to shaping his long-term future in the organization and within the NASCAR Cup Series.
