Bowman Cleared for NASCAR’s Mexico City Cup Race

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports driver, has been medically cleared to race in NASCAR's first points-paying Cup Series event in Mexico City despite suffering severe lower back pain after a 150 mph head-on crash at Michigan International Speedway. The Michigan crash, which Bowman described as the most painful of his career, was triggered by contact between other cars and resulted in ongoing soreness for the driver, who also has a history of significant injuries, including a 2022 concussion and a 2023 fractured vertebra. Bowman has struggled in recent races, dropping from third to 13th in the standings after seven finishes of 27th or worse in the last nine events. As a precaution, Anthony Alfredo, a Hendrick simulator and Xfinity Series driver, will be on standby in Mexico City in case Bowman cannot complete the race. Alfredo is also scheduled to compete in the Xfinity Series event at the same venue. Bowman remains optimistic and hopes to turn his season around at the Mexico City road course, where he has had past road course success.