Alex Bowman's miserable start to 2026 NASCAR season gets worse with Phoenix news

A poor start to the 2026 NASCAR  Cup Series season for Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman got worse on Thursday with the news that Bowman will miss Sunday's race at Phoenix Raceway with vertigo. 

Bowman is last (36th) of full-time drivers in the Cup Series standings through three races this season and was unable to finish the March 1 race at Circuit of the Americas due to illness, with Myatt Snider finishing the race behind the wheel of the No. 48 Chevrolet.

On Thursday, Hendrick Motorsports announced that Bowman was diagnosed with vertigo and that HMS sim/reserve driver Anthony Alfredo will fill in for Bowman at Phoenix on Sunday. 

"Alex has worked very hard over the last several days,” Hendrick Motorsports president Jeff Andrews said in a team release. “We’re encouraged by the progress he’s making, but we have to prioritize his health above all else. It’s obviously frustrating for him because he’s a competitor and wants to be in the race car, especially at his home track. We’ll continue to support Alex and look forward to his return as soon as he’s medically cleared.”