We will have to get used to hearing about Alex Bowman and his free agency move for the rest of the 2026 season. This was supposed to be his year for a comeback, a revival, and a response to his critics who’ve questioned his place at HMS. However, for the time being, it looks like the whispers from the Cup garage are suggesting that Bowman might have run out of time to prove he’s the right pick for the No. 48 HMS Chevy.

Time and again, HMS has backed Bowman despite the bleak results or lack of success. Just a reminder, he is in his contract year, which makes this situation tricky for the leaders at HMS. Contract extensions are usually kept under wraps, but in Bowman’s case, it looks like the team has been plotting a move in case they would need a fresh face after 2026.

“Talking about Corey Day, talking about silly season’s kind of ramping up, now you hear a lot of s–t, I would have thought Corey Day was a year away from getting in the 48 car or at least getting a chance to get in the 48 car,” Door Bumper Clear’s co-host Freddie Kraft said. “I think that there are some serious conversations about whether he might get in that car next year now.” An O’Reilly Series rookie to take on a Cup ride after just a year sounds insane, but it’s not a new thing in NASCAR.

Remember, last year, Connor Zilisch had a record 10 wins in the O’Reilly Series, and this year he’s driving the Cup car at Trackhouse Racing. Now, Corey Day isn’t at that level just yet, but the formula of giving ‌young drivers a shot at Cup racing early in their careers isn’t a bad idea. Also, keep in mind that Day is signed as an HMS driver, unlike other HMS stars who came through the ranks racing at JRM. If anything, he’s being nicknamed Larson 2.0 as he has similar dirt racing roots.

But is Day truly ready for the Cup challenge? Currently, in his rookie year in the O’Reilly Series, he earned his first win at Talladega and has bagged eight Top 10 finishes. For a driver racing on dirt, he’s taken well to pavement, but another year in the feeder series wouldn’t hurt him. Then again, HMS would want to have their young gun get the Next Gen experience as quickly as possible. Even Rick Hendrick seems to be impressed by how he’s progressed so far.

“The instincts and raw talent are off the charts, and he’s going to keep getting better with more seat time. Corey has a tremendous future, and we’re proud to have him represent HendrickCars.com.” And in case this scenario becomes true, Bowman will be stranded. No way, HMS is letting go of William Byron, Chase Elliott, or Larson, and he’s always been the odd one out.

Last time Bowman earned a Cup Series win was in 2024. And his most successful season driving the No. 48 car came in 2021, where he notched up 4 wins, but in the Next-Gen era, his numbers are bleak, at least when compared to his teammates. At the start of the season, veteran journalist Bob Pockrass shared his take on Bowman’s contract situation. “I think this format probably helps him as far as having the knowledge. He probably will be safe when it comes to the playoffs. Now, is that going to be good enough get an extension? You know, we’ll see.”

However, all the optimism surrounding Bowman’s comeback run was hampered by untimely health concerns. At COTA, the 33-year-old suffered with vertigo symptoms and missed 4 points-paying races. Not ideal for a driver who’s driving to defend his spot at Hendrick Motorsports.

Can Bowman keep driving for HMS after this season?

The rumors about Bowman getting replaced are simply due to his poor run this season, although things have changed a little bit in recent races.

However, the 33-year-old still has time, and the Coca-Cola 600 race could be where he ends all the chatter around his situation at least momentarily.

For all the heat surrounding Bowman right now, Charlotte Motor Speedway could see him roll back the years. Quietly, the Coca-Cola 600 has been one of the most stable tracks for Bowman over the years, especially when HMS unloads with speed on intermediate ovals.

He finished ninth in the rain shot at the 2024 Coca-Cola 600 and has consistently shown the ability to run upfront at Charlotte, even leading 140 laps during the 2020 addition, before late race chaos ruined what looked like a potential breakthrough win.

The bigger question is whether Bowman can finally turn solid Charlotte pace into a statement performance once again.

While his teammates like William Byron and Kyle Larson have continued putting in strong performances on 1.5-mile tracks, Bowman has struggled to consistently capitalise on strong runs.

He has earned one top-five and four top-ten finishes, but the 33-year-old will be hoping to pull off something similar or even better to give the HMS team reasons to keep him next season as well.