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Bristol Today
By the People, for the People
Alex Bowman Provides Health Update After Vertigo Battle
The Hendrick Motorsports driver is 'patched back up and ready to rip' after missing four races due to vertigo symptoms.
Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:36am
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A cubist interpretation of the chaotic return to racing for NASCAR driver Alex Bowman at Bristol, as he battles to regain his form after a bout with vertigo.Bristol TodayNASCAR driver Alex Bowman provided an update on his health after returning to competition at Bristol Motor Speedway following a bout with vertigo that forced him to miss four consecutive races. Bowman, who drives for the top-tier Hendrick Motorsports team, said he is feeling better but acknowledged the challenge of getting back up to speed after the layoff.
Why it matters
Bowman's health issues come at a critical time, as he is still searching for his first win of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season and sits 36th in points, last among full-time drivers. With the playoffs looming, Bowman needs to quickly regain his form to have any shot at contending for a championship.
The details
Bowman returned to racing at Bristol on Sunday but finished last (37th) after getting caught up in a multi-car crash. He acknowledged the challenge of immediately returning to the front of the highly competitive Cup Series field after missing a month of action. Despite the disappointing result, Bowman expressed optimism about his outlook going forward, saying he feels 'patched back up and ready to rip.'
- Bowman missed four consecutive races due to vertigo symptoms.
- Bowman made his return to competition at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 16, 2026.
The players
Alex Bowman
A NASCAR Cup Series driver who competes for the Hendrick Motorsports team. He is an eight-time winner at the Cup level but is still searching for his first victory of the 2026 season.
What they’re saying
“I feel pretty good. You know, I think the things that I'm not 100% percent on are just from things that aren't from not being ok, it's from not being able to train like normal and be in a race car like normal for a month.”
— Alex Bowman, NASCAR Driver
“I'm patched back up and ready to rip.”
— Alex Bowman, NASCAR Driver
What’s next
Bowman will look to bounce back at Kansas Speedway on April 21, 2026, where he has had success in the past, including a career-high 107 laps led in the 2022 fall race.
The takeaway
Bowman's health scare and subsequent return to racing highlights the challenges NASCAR drivers face in maintaining peak physical condition throughout a grueling season. As he works to regain his form, Bowman will need to quickly make up ground in the standings to have any shot at making the playoffs and contending for a championship.
