Alex Bowman cleared to return at Bristol after vertigo

The Hendrick Motorsports driver missed the past four NASCAR Cup Series races due to the medical issue.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:08pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the chaotic energy of a NASCAR race at Bristol Motor Speedway, with sharp planes of color representing the cars and track.A cubist interpretation of the high-intensity action at Bristol Motor Speedway as Alex Bowman returns to NASCAR competition.Bristol Today

Alex Bowman will return to the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday after missing the past four races due to a bout with vertigo. Hendrick Motorsports announced Thursday that Bowman has been medically cleared to drive the No. 48 Chevrolet after following a recovery plan and passing evaluations.

Why it matters

Bowman's return is significant for Hendrick Motorsports and his own NASCAR career, as the 32-year-old driver has eight Cup Series wins and was in 36th place in the standings before the medical absence. His recovery and clearance to race at Bristol, a challenging short track, will be closely watched by his team, sponsors, and fans.

The details

Bowman first experienced vertigo symptoms on March 1 at Circuit of The Americas, where he did not finish the race. He missed the subsequent four races while following a medical plan and undergoing evaluations, including driving on a road course, pit practice, and simulator testing to ensure he was fully recovered before returning to competition.

  • Bowman first felt vertigo symptoms on March 1 at Circuit of The Americas.
  • Bowman missed the past four NASCAR Cup Series races due to the medical issue.
  • Bowman has been medically cleared and will return to racing this Sunday, April 9, 2026, at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The players

Alex Bowman

A 32-year-old NASCAR Cup Series driver who has eight career wins and is in his ninth full-time season with Hendrick Motorsports.

Hendrick Motorsports

The NASCAR team that fields the No. 48 car driven by Alex Bowman.

Jeff Andrews

The president and general manager of Hendrick Motorsports.

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What they’re saying

“We're proud of Alex and the way he's handled this situation. He's put a lot of work into his recovery and followed the medical team's plan every step of the way. From the outset, our goal was to prioritize his health and have him return when he was fully recovered and medically cleared. We're looking forward to seeing Alex back in his race car this weekend.”

— Jeff Andrews, President and General Manager, Hendrick Motorsports

“It's been tough being out of the car, but we all wanted to make sure I was 100% ready before returning. I feel really good, and I'm excited about being at the track with my team and getting back to racing.”

— Alex Bowman

What’s next

Bowman will make his return to NASCAR Cup Series competition this Sunday, April 9, 2026, at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The takeaway

Bowman's recovery from vertigo and clearance to race at Bristol is an important milestone for the Hendrick Motorsports driver, as he looks to regain momentum in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season after missing the past four races.