Alex Bowman Won’t Race Phoenix | Cleetus McFarland to RCR Discussion

Alex Bowman will not compete in Sunday’s Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway after being diagnosed with vertigo earlier this week. The Hendrick Motorsports driver stepped out of the car during the race at Circuit of the Americas due to illness, and after further medical evaluation, the team decided he should sit out this weekend. In his place, reserve driver Anthony Alfredo will drive the No. 48.

• What exactly led to Bowman stepping out of the car at COTA, and how did Myatt Snider end up finishing the race after being called in from a FOX spotting role?
• How serious is the vertigo diagnosis, and what did Hendrick Motorsports say after Bowman completed medical evaluations and even tested a street car earlier this week?
• What does missing Phoenix mean for Bowman in the standings, especially after the No. 48 team fell to last among full-time drivers following the first three races?
• Why does this setback raise bigger questions about momentum in a contract year, and how previous injuries in 2022 and 2023 have already disrupted Bowman’s recent seasons?

The situation also opens the door for a substitute appearance by Alfredo while the No. 48 team focuses on owner points and waits for Bowman to be medically cleared. Beyond the immediate lineup change, the update has sparked broader discussion about Bowman’s early-season struggles and how quickly he might return to the car.

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