Hendrick Motorsports Changes Alex Bowman Pit Crew Ahead Bristol Playoff Race

Facing a challenging start to the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, Hendrick Motorsports has overhauled Alex Bowman's pit crew ahead of the crucial elimination race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The team replaced the front and rear tire changers, tire carrier, and jackman with crew members Daniel Bach, Rod Cox, Jarius Morehead, and Cody French, who previously worked with Spire Motorsports' No. 77 team. Bowman’s pit crew had notable issues in the first two playoff races, including a 40-second pit stop at Darlington due to an air hose mishap and a slow stop at Gateway where the car had to be jacked twice, contributing to poor finishes and leaving Bowman 35 points below the playoff cutline. With these changes, Hendrick Motorsports aims to improve pit stop performance and keep Bowman’s championship hopes alive, though winning at Bristol is likely necessary for advancing. Bowman acknowledged the hard work of his crew despite recent setbacks and expressed determination to improve at Bristol, where he has yet to secure a win but has had recent top-10 finishes. This strategic crew swap reflects Hendrick’s commitment to optimizing performance under playoff pressure by leveraging strong talent from their technical alliance with Spire Motorsports.