Hendrick Motorsports Revamps Alex Bowman’s Pit Crew Ahead of Critical Bristol Race
In a strategic move to enhance performance during the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, Hendrick Motorsports has revamped Alex Bowman’s pit crew. Following two subpar races, the No. 48 team will feature a new crew for the elimination race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night.
The changes focus on replacing the tire changers, carrier, and jackman. Joining Bowman’s team are Daniel Bach (front changer), Rod Cox (rear changer), Jarius Morehead (carrier), and Cody French (jackman), all previously with Spire Motorsports and the No. 77 team of Carson Hocevar. Notably, Hendrick Motorsports supplies pit crew members to Spire.
Jeff Gordon, vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, commented on the necessity of this change following Bowman’s lackluster performance, which included a 26th place finish at World Wide Technology Raceway. The race was marred by a speeding penalty on pit road and a protracted stop due to a left-side jack issue.
Bowman’s playoff journey has faced hurdles, including a 31st place finish in the opener at Darlington Raceway, which was compounded by a stalled pit stop resulting from an unconnected air hose and a resultant 40-second delay—effectively dropping him off the lead lap.
Despite these setbacks, Bowman remains optimistic, stating, “My guys are really fast… and they work really hard. It’s just the ones that blow up are really bad. It’s unfortunate. We’ve got to go to Bristol and keep working at it.”
As it stands, Bowman is at risk of elimination from the postseason, currently 35 points behind a transfer spot entering the crucial Bristol race.
