標籤: Motorsports

NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman is having a tumultuous year, struggling on the track and missing time due to concussions. All of this has happened in a contract year, creating more uncertainty about his future in the No. 48 car with Hendrick Motorsports.

Fox Sports’ Bob Pokrass and The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi reported this week that teenager Connor Zylisch is a possible replacement for Hendricks if the decision is made to replace Bowman for the 2027 season.

Read more: NASCAR prospects whose stock is rising

Bowman was already seen on the hot seat entering the season. Things got off to a bad start, with the veteran driver finishing 40th at the Daytona 500, 23rd at Echo Park Speedway, and then had to retire from the car at COTA due to dizziness-like symptoms.

Unfortunately for Bowman, medical issues have been a subject for him in recent years. He had previously missed time due to neck and back problems as well as injury, resulting in long absences. It appears retirement is imminent, creating even more uncertainty over who will drive the No. 48 car next season.

Will Hendrick Motorsports replace Alex Bowman?

One thing that has become clear is that Kyle Busch will not be joining Hendricks next season as a potential Bowman replacement. This realistically leaves HMS with three options, barring anyone else being available.

Hendricks may decide to use 2027 as a development year for top prospect Corey Day. The 20-year-old will become a Cup Series rookie at the age of 21 and can use the entire season to learn to drive the next-gen car.

However, this comes at a cost. As Zilleisch’s rookie season has shown, there is a steep learning curve at the highest series. In reality Day will not have much of a chance of winning the race in 2027 and it will be a place in The Chase that HMS will probably not be able to earn.

Alternatively, Hendrick could buy Zylisch out of his contract with Trackhouse Racing and then put him behind the wheel of the No. 48 car. This would make the team one of the top emerging drivers in NASCAR, but it would also leave an uncertain future for Day.

There is an alternative option that may work for everyone. Bowman could re-sign with Hendricks on a one-year deal, his last chance to prove he belongs in the Cup Series with a top team. If he doesn’t perform up to expectations in 2027, Hendricks could either put a more experienced Day behind the wheel or pursue Zylisch as a free agent.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

JR Motorsports has always aimed high, but their 2026 vision for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series is taking the “Super Team” concept to a new level. Although they look absolutely unbeatable on paper, it raises an uncomfortable question: can you really dominate every race without making it impossible for your drivers to keep their championship path clear?

The answer, so far, is complicated.

At the center of it all is the No. 88 car, which has become the poster child for JRM’s seat-sharing experiment. King Carruth is handling the heavy lifting with 23 races, while the other 10 are divided among Hendrick’s big names: Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron and Alex Bowman.

The plan sounds great on paper, mixing full-time championship continuity with elite Cup-level talent. But in reality things are becoming much more complicated.

It’s a similar story with the number 1 car. Working with an experienced crew chief like Rodney Childers, Carson Kvapil and Connor Zylisch are sharing the seat. This adds another layer of complexity to a system that already has a lot of moving parts and constantly changing priorities.

When teammates stop feeling like teammates

The tension is no longer theoretical, it is now visible on the track.

At Texas Motor Speedway, the issue became impossible to ignore when Kyle Larson, stepping into the JRM car as a guest driver, fought head-to-head with the team’s full-time championship leader Justin Allgaier. The fight ended with contact.

For Allgaier, it will be an uncomfortable situation to race for a title and at the same time share space with drivers who do not have the same championship burden, yet have similar equipment and, sometimes, the same agenda: winning immediately.

This is where the contradiction lies. JR Motorsports is technically one team, but at key moments it behaves like two different racing philosophies living in the same garage.

Based on results alone, JR Motorsports is doing exactly what it set out to do.

Justin Allgaier leads the championship with 598 points and 3 wins and remains firmly in place as the team’s primary title contender. Brandon Jones and Sammy Smith are also in the top six, and Carson Kvapil and Raja Carruth are also in the top 15.

It is, statistically, the strongest team in the series. JRM has already won seven of the first 11 races this season.

But the problem will be of distribution.

Any time a Cup driver gets in a JRM car and gets a win, it completely shakes up the stage points and playoff standings for the guys who are actually racing for the title every week. This is a setting where every single point counts, so these fluctuations start to get really annoying.

Hidden costs of rotation

This is exactly where people start to see things differently. Proponents of the setup argue that JR Motorsports is making the most of what they’ve got and giving their drivers the best possible training grounds. He believes that having Cup-level talent in the same equipment raises the level for everyone, forces young guys to step up, and basically guarantees that the team is on the front lines every weekend. Which kind of makes sense.

But critics see a bigger problem: The championship battle is actually starting to get blurry.

When your drivers constantly swap seats, the whole teammate atmosphere gets a little messy. Things like working together in drafts, helping each other defensively, or planning long-haul strategies go awry when the person you’re racing against today could be sitting in your seat next Saturday.

The lack of consistency really hits hard at superspeedways like Daytona or Talladega, where being on the same page as a team matters as much as having a fast car.

A system designed to win… but what about titles?

Analysts like Frontstretch’s James Cross are already flagging long-term risks here: JRM could build a race-winning machine that becomes a complete nightmare to manage once it reaches the playoffs.

The concern isn’t that they won’t be fast, but rather that the team’s own setup could detract from the consistency you need to really seal the deal on a championship. Since Cup drivers don’t gain or lose anything in these standings, their wins don’t help them much, but they can certainly cause an upset in playoff points, seeding, and momentum for the full-time JRM guys. Over the course of a long season, those small margins ultimately matter.

To be fair, JR Motorsports isn’t failing at this point. The team is stacked, they’re fast, and statistically, they basically own the series right now.

But the question is, will it last? Is JRM creating the most advanced competitive system in NASCAR’s second tier, or are they accidentally making it harder to win championships by spreading success too thinly?

My love for motorsports began as a child watching races with my family in Tunisia. Fast forward to today… more about Farah Ben Gamra

The lawsuit between Joe Gibbs Racing, Chris Gebhardt and Spire Motorsports has turned into a NASCAR civil war, and fans are choosing sides. At this point, it seems like half of NASCAR fans are arguing about it online every day.

It all started when JGR accused their former competition director, Gabehart, of taking confidential competition data and trade secrets before leaving for Spire Motorsports. He also refused to share sensitive information with the team. The case already involves claims of deleted messages, forensic examination of devices, cease-and-desist orders and public firings from both sides.

And when Carson Hocevar led Speer to a shocking Talladega win, the debate reached a whole other level.

Joe Gibbs Racing threw a curveball by amending its lawsuit to imply that Spire’s sudden jump was due to Gabehart stealing confidential data and trade secrets from the organization. And to rub it in, JGR took aim at Spire’s social media posts celebrating his win and said in court papers that the team was basically ridiculing the allegations.

Around the same time, Denny Hamlin publicly criticized Spire owner Jeff Dickerson online, accusing the team of “hiring someone who stole information worth millions.” Those comments, along with JGR’s repeated claims that Spire’s rise was linked to inaccurate data, prompted fans to take sides almost immediately.

Now, NASCAR fans are divided. Some fans think that JGR is completely justified and is protecting its “secret sauce”. Others feel the team is going after a weak team that has finally started winning.

A lot of fans didn’t like the timing

One thing that immediately rubbed people the wrong way was the fact that JGR was placing more emphasis on the lawsuit right after Spire’s win at Talladega.

For many fans, the timing seemed emotional. Chaos happens almost every year at Talladega, so a lot of people didn’t like the idea that a superspeedway win suddenly proved that Spire had some massive technical advantage.

On Reddit, one fan said that JGR had “definitely crazy ex-feelings”. Another called the whole thing “absolutely sour grapes.”

Fans also pointed out that several Gibbs cars crashed or made mistakes during the race, which led some to find the allegations even weaker.

Is Spier winning because of Gabhart or because he’s just good?

Everyone keeps coming back to this argument.

A lot of fans think that Gabehart bested Spier simply because he is one of the smartest competitors in the garage.

People kept repeating versions of the same point online: You can’t expect someone to “wipe their brains out” when they leave a race team.

Others questioned how useful six-month-old setup data is even in the next-gen era, where teams are constantly changing things from week to week.

Some fans also think that Joe Gibbs Racing is more interested in making an example of Gebhardt than proving actual damage.

However many fans think that if the files were actually taken then JGR has every right to keep their information safe. One Reddit user wrote, “If there is proof that Gabhart stole IP from them, JGR is 100% justified.”

Another fan compared it to corporate espionage and said that his company would “destroy” any competitor if it was caught carrying internal data.

Spire suddenly became a fan favorite

For a surprising number of fans, Spire has become the underdog in all this.

Jeff Dickerson’s public comments incensed people, especially when he claimed that “the process is the punishment” and insisted that Spier “took no shortcuts.”

Even court cases have become online entertainment.

Now the legal dispute between Joe Gibbs Racing and former employee Chris Gabehart has taken another important turn when a judge has officially scheduled the case for trial in January 2027.

According to reports from the latest hearing, both sides insisted on very different timelines before the court reached a compromise decision.

As RACER.com writer Kelly Crandall reported on social media, “Judge Susan Rodriguez has ordered that the Chris Gabehardt/Spire Motorsports vs. Joe Gibbs Racing trial move to January 2027. Both sides argued for their proposed dates in a telephonic hearing yesterday (Gibbs wanted November and Spire/Gabehart wanted May 2027).”

The January 2027 date effectively split the difference.

My love for motorsports began as a child watching races with my family in Tunisia. Fast forward to today… more about Farah Ben Gamra

Just three weeks after NASCAR Truck Series team Kaulig Racing parted ways with driver Daniel Dye after making insensitive comments on a livestream in March, the recently reinstated driver will now find himself competing in multiple Cup Series races later this season.

Live Fast Motorsports announced Monday that Daniel Dye will drive the No. 78 car in four Cup Series races, including the Jack Link’s 500 this coming weekend at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.

RELATED: Daniel Dye, Kaulig Racing Part Ways

Even setting aside Dye’s suspension and insensitive comments, his results in the Truck Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series are an odd decision by Live Fast Motorsports. The 22-year-old driver has no experience in the Cup Series, and his results in the lower series do not guarantee a multi-race seat at the highest level.

He has raced 48 times in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, including The LEUNA at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 14. He finished 15th in that and has only finished in the top-20 in two of his three OARS races this year. In his last 21 races in that series, his average finishing position was 21.9.

READ MORE: Cletus McFarland reveals when he’ll run in the next O’Reilly race

In the Truck Series, he failed to finish in the top-12 in the three races before his suspension. Going back even further, his average finishing position was 16.44 with only one top-five finish (Talladega) in his last 13 Truck races.

As far as off-track, in addition to the insensitive comments, Dye was arrested in April 2022 while a student at Father Lopez Catholic High School and was charged with a felony, but that was later reduced to a misdemeanor.

As for why Dye is getting this ride with Live Fast Motorsports in the Cup Series, it’s worth noting that his father, Randy Dye, is a former pro late model driver who owns the Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram dealership in Daytona Beach and serves on the NASCAR Foundation’s board of directors. Money and influence certainly seem to have been heavy factors in the opportunity given to Dye.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

Hendrick Motorsports 车手 Alex Bowman 在合同年进入 2026 NASCAR 杯系列赛赛季，需要再次证明自己，以长期保持 48 号赛车的驾驶。不幸的是，对于鲍曼来说，健康问题（眩晕）已经成为他不幸运气的最新例证。由于本赛季结束时他很可能成为车队中唯一错过追逐赛的车手，因此下赛季感觉有必要寻找替代者。

让我们深入了解 2027 年 NASCAR 赛季亨德里克 48 号赛车中鲍曼的潜在替代者名单。

凯尔·布​​施

Hendrick Motorsports 可能会将 Corey Day 视为 48 号席位的长期选择，但这位 20 岁的车手需要学习如何在 O’Reilly 汽车配件系列赛中比赛而不造成严重破坏，然后才能成为最高级别的全职车手。可行的是一个继任计划，由凯尔·布希在未来两年接替鲍曼。这位未来的名人堂成员在理查德·柴尔德里斯赛车队中取得了灾难性的成绩，杯赛系列赛中连续不胜的记录已经达到了三位数，这就是证明。 Busch 之前曾与 Hendrick 合作，在卡车系列赛中驾驶过 7 号赛车。一份两年的合同可以让他有机会在退役前增加几场胜利。到那时，戴就可以准备好了。

阅读更多：2026 年最佳 NASCAR 比赛，本赛季每场 NASCAR 比赛排名

卡鲁斯图

现在还处于赛季初期，但拉贾·卡鲁斯正在充分利用他在桨队的机会。他在前 10 场比赛中的 3 场都取得了前 10 名的成绩，本赛季在椭圆形比赛中平均每场比赛得到 37 分。亨德里克在这里会进行一场赌博，特别是考虑到卡鲁斯在 6 月份才年满 24 岁，但他已经在奥莱利系列赛中参加了 50 多场比赛，其中在卡车系列赛中参加了 75 场比赛。卡鲁斯进入 48 号赛车的机会当然取决于他本赛季余下时间的表现，但他可能是亨德里克目前最好的内部选择之一。

罗斯查斯坦

如果罗斯查斯坦拥有更好的设备和拥有更多资源的团队，他能完成什么？他在 Trackhouse Racing 中完成了他所能做到的一切，使球队成为季后赛常年竞争者，在过去四个赛季中每个赛季都至少取得一场胜利。 Chastain 在进入 2026 年的过去三年中总共获得了 40 次前十名。然而，很明显 Connor Zilisch 很快就会成为球队的新面孔。下个赛季可能是查斯坦离开的最佳时机，他有机会真正展示他驾驶 48 号赛车的能力。

泰勒·雷迪克

Hendrick Motorsports 是否想为 23XI Racing 制造一场令人不安的竞购战？这才是真正的问题。鉴于泰勒·雷迪克刚刚创造了历史，成为第一位赢得本赛季前三场比赛的纳斯卡杯系列赛车手，我们不认为超级激进的竞争对手和亿万富翁迈克尔·乔丹会让任何人在雷迪克身上花费超过他。话虽如此，如果亨德里克想冲向围栏，雷迪克是目前合同到期的最佳车手，没有紧随其后的第二位。

相关：NASCAR 内部人士揭示了泰勒·雷迪克 (Tyler Reddick) 与 23X Racing 的未来

克里斯·布舍尔

如前所述，亨德里克赛车运动目前并没有完全考虑内部选择。这至少可以让鲍曼有机会将 48 号赛车再保留一个赛季，因为车队认为本赛季是一次洗礼，并且对系统中任何未经证实的车手都没有信心。然而，克里斯·布舍尔可能正处于合同年。 2027 年他将进入 34 岁的赛季，因此也许一份为期三年的合同对双方都有利。近几个赛季，Buescher 一直是 RFK Racing 车队积分前 10 名的车手，绝对最大限度地发挥了他在 17 号赛车上所提供的一切。这对他来说是一个很好的情况，但拥有亨德里克资源的 48 号球队将为他提供更加稳定和更多胜利的机会。如果有人能将布舍尔从 RFK 手中拉走，那一定是英国皇家海军。

马特·约翰逊 (Matt Johnson) 是《Sportsnaut》杂志《NFL》和《大学橄榄球》的高级编辑。他的工作包括每周 NFL 和大学……有关马特·约翰逊的更多信息

Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman enters the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season in a contract year, needing to prove himself once again if he wants to keep his ride in the No. 48 car long-term. Unfortunately for Bowman, medical problems (vertigo) have become the latest example of his terrible luck. Since this season is likely to be over and he will be the team’s only driver to miss The Chase, a replacement next season seems necessary.

Let’s take a look at our list of potential replacements for Bowman in the No. 48 car at Hendrick for the 2027 NASCAR season.

kyle busch

Hendrick Motorsports may look to Corey Day as a long-term option for the No. 48 seat, but the 20-year-old needs to learn how to race without a glitch in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series before becoming a full-time driver at the highest level. What could work is a succession plan, with Kyle Busch replacing Bowman for the next two years. The future Hall of Famer has had disastrous results with Richard Childress Racing, as evidenced by his lack of wins in the Cup Series approaching three points. Busch has partnered with Hendrick before, driving the No. 7 in the Truck Series. A two-year deal could give him a chance to add some wins before retiring. By then, Day could be ready.

Read more: Best NASCAR races 2026, ranking every NASCAR race this season

carruth diagram

It’s still early in the season, but King Carruth is making the most of his opportunities at OARS. He has finished in the top 10 in three of his first 10 races, averaging 37 points per race on ovals this season. Hendrick may be gambling here, especially since Carruth will turn just 24 in June, but he will have driven more than 50 races in the O’Reilly Series along with 75 races in the Truck Series. Carruth’s chances of moving into the No. 48 car should certainly depend on how he performs the rest of this season, but he’s probably one of the top homegrown options for Hendrick so far.

Ross Chastain

What could Ross Chastain accomplish with better equipment and a team with more resources? He has achieved virtually everything he can at Trackhouse Racing, leading the team to become a perennial playoff contender with at least one win in each of the last four seasons. Chastain also boasts 40 combined top-10 finishes over the past three years leading up to 2026. However, it also seems pretty clear that Connor Zylisch will soon be the new face of the team. Next season may be the right time for Chastain to depart, giving her a chance to really show what she’s capable of in the No. 48 car.

tyler reddick

Does Hendrick Motorsports want to create an uncomfortable bidding war for racing the 23XI? This is the real question here. Given that Tyler Reddick made history as the first NASCAR Cup Series driver to win the first three races of the season, we don’t envision any scenario where ultra-aggressive competitor and billionaire Michael Jordan allows anyone but Reddick to overtake him. That said, if Hendricks wants to swing for the fences, Redick is the best driver on an expiring contract right now, and there isn’t anyone else around him.

RELATED: NASCAR insider sheds light on Tyler Reddick’s future with 23X Racing

Chris Buescher

As mentioned earlier, Hendrick Motorsports isn’t swimming in interior options right now. This could at least give Bowman a chance to keep the No. 48 car for another season, with the team seeing this season as a waste and not feeling confident with any unproven drivers in the system. However, Chris Buescher could be in a contract year. He will enter his age-34 season in 2027, so perhaps a three-year deal could work for both parties. Buescher has been a fairly consistent top-10 points driver in recent seasons for RFK Racing, fully maximizing what he’s been given in the No. 17 car. It’s a good situation for him, but the No. 48 team with Hendrick’s resources will provide him with even more consistency and a chance for more wins. If anyone could pull Buescher away from RFK, it would be HMS.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson