Alex Bowman Cleared to Race After Crash, Anthony Alfredo Ready on Standby

Alex Bowman will be racing for Hendrick Motorsports this weekend in Mexico City after being cleared by doctors, following a huge crash last Sunday at Michigan. On lap 67, Bowman was caught in a tough spot when Cole Custer made contact with his No. 48 Chevrolet.

The car hit the outside wall at around 150 mph in a head-on collision. The force was so strong that the back tires lifted entirely off the ground, ending his race immediately. Afterward, Bowman described the impact as possibly the hardest hit of his Cup Series career.

Bowman, now 32 years old, has faced injuries in the past few seasons. He missed five races in 2022 after a crash at Texas Motor Speedway resulted in a concussion.

Just a year later, while running a sprint car, another crash led to a back injury that kept him out for three races. Now, after a quick recovery from the most recent crash at Michigan, Bowman has been given the green light to compete in the road course event at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

As a safety measure, Anthony Alfredo will serve as standby driver in Mexico City. Alfredo has experience in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and has run 42 times in Cup Series events, including a start this year at Talladega Superspeedway.

He currently works as a simulator driver for Hendrick Motorsports, making him familiar with the car and the team’s tactics. This provides Bowman and the team extra security in case he’s unable to complete the race on Sunday.

In the 2025 season, Bowman has had a mixed run. After 15 races, he holds 13th place in the championship standings.

His recent performance has been challenging, with seven races finishing 27th or worse and five outside the top 34. Despite this, Bowman remains focused on bouncing back, especially since his last Cup Series victory was on the Chicago Street Course last summer.

For Bowman, this weekend represents a big chance to gain momentum with the playoffs approaching. The Mexico City race will be another opportunity for Hendrick Motorsports to add to their win tally.

Bowman’s resilience and determination to return after major crashes have become a part of his story, making his participation in this race even more significant. Fans will keep a close eye on the No. 48 Chevrolet as Bowman makes his return to Cup Series action.

With Alfredo available in the event of trouble, Hendrick Motorsports has covered all bases as they aim for a strong showing on the international stage. All eyes will be on Mexico City to see if Bowman can add another top finish to his record and regain ground in the standings.