Instagram Facebook Youtube Tiktok Discord

The Alex Bowman Rumors Aren’t Going Away

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JULY 19: Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, speaks to a crew member in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 19, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Kauy Ostlien

All Content
Royal T Grafix

Join the Conversation

Instagram Facebook Youtube Tiktok Discord

What’s Happening?

Dirty Mo Media’s Door Bumper Clear made headlines last week by hinting that Alex Bowman could be out at Hendrick Motorsports. Bowman denied these comments, having gone to the source, HMS, himself to ensure his job security. However, this week on DBC, Host Brett Griffin addressed the backlash by suggesting there’s more at HMS than meets the eye.

  • The initial rumors surrounding Bowman involved his performance prior to winning the Street Circuit race in Chicago. However, Bowman, coming off back-to-back injury-affected seasons, is performing better than most drivers this season.
  • These rumors came to a head on last week’s episode of Door Bumper Clear. Co-host Brett Griffin suggested Bowman needed a deep playoff run to maintain his seat. At NASCAR Playoff media day, Bowman addressed the rumor, saying that he is sure he would be at Hendrick Motorsports next season.
  • The hosts addressed backlash from the rumors this week on Door Bumper Clear. Rather than deny the rumors, Griffin suggested that there is more to his prior statements than the idea that Bowman would get fired.

DBC’s Response

The ENTIRE Alex Bowman Rumor Mill Saga

On this week’s Sept. 9 episode of Door Bumper Clear, fans tuned in to hear what the hosts would say about the Alex Bowman rumors and the subsequent backlash from their episode last week.

Brett Griffin was upfront in his response, claiming that he didn’t say that “Alex was getting fired.” Griffin even asked co-host Freddie Kraft, “Has there been an announcement as to who is going to drive the seven [car], or did I miss it?”

These comments are in reference to the rumor that Bowman would be in the No. 7 for HMS associate team Spire Motorsports next season. Kraft even went as far as to deny that DBC did not start the rumor, saying, “That’s the rumor that’s out there. We didn’t create it; we just mentioned it, and to say we started it is ridiculous.”

However, an interesting part of the conversation came early on. Kraft asked Griffin, “How many drivers are under contract at Hendrick Motorsports next year?” Griffin responded, “More than four.”

Of course, this set off many questions about what it could mean for Bowman, HMS, and the free agent market. However, it may not be as complex a rumor as it is made out to be.

What Could This Mean?

Hendrick having “more than four” drivers under contract can mean literally anything. In regards to Bowman, yes, it could mean that HMS is leasing Bowman to another car while keeping another contracted driver in-house.

But there are options outside of Bowman. While Kraft and Griffin mentioned this during their conversation about Bowman, it does not mean anything directly about Bowman.

It could, in all likelihood, refer to HMS having a young driver like Rajah Caruth on a developmental contract. Rajah gained support from Hendrick through sponsorship of his No. 7 Spire Motorsports Truck Series entry.

It’s not uncommon for teams like HMS or Joe Gibbs Racing to have developmental drivers under contract while fielding what appears to be a full-time lineup of long-term drivers. For example, Joe Gibbs Racing, prior to this season, looked to have a locked lineup for years to come but still had Chandler Smith under contract.

This is how Chase Elliott’s development was. Elliott was under contract at HMS, while Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Jimmie Johnson looked to be at Hendrick for years to come. In Elliott’s case, his chance came with Jeff Gordon’s retirement.

Having the four Cup Series drivers and Rajah under contract is not a wild idea, as Caruth’s development could take some time. While Door Bumper Clear has a reputation for flagrant rumors, this one may not be as wild.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know your opinions on Discord or X, and don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Share this:

Join the Conversation

Instagram Facebook Youtube Tiktok Discord
AUSTIN, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 28: Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #9 Safety Culture Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Focused Health 250 at Circuit of The Americas on February 28, 2026 in Austin, Texas.

O’Reilly: SVG Wins at COTA

by Cody Williams

What’s Happening?

The checkered flag is out for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competitors at COTA, and it was Shane van Gisbergen who was left standing tall at the end of the race. His 5th career O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victory, it was his first at the track.

  • The opening stage was dominated by the JRM duo of Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen with the No. 1 of Zilisch looking to be the stronger of the two early on. Prior to the end of the stage, both short-pitted, making a long-term play for the win. SVG still managed to end the stage in 10th.
  • Austin Hill stayed out after a disappointing showing in Atlanta last week to collect some stage points. Also running strong in the first stage were Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, Brandon Jones, and Jesse Love.
  • Despite not being in his usual ride, Carson Kvapil was very competitive in his DGM No. 91 Chevy. Granted, the car was prepared by JR Motorsports ahead of this race, but it was DGM guys running the show. They did an admirable job, bringing the car home in the 19th position after falling off late. He’ll have 5 more starts in the car later this year to fill out the remainder of his schedule.
  • The second stage belonged to Sam Mayer. Finishing 2nd in the first stage and winning Stage 2, he had a mighty good points day today. Meanwhile, his former teammate Justin Allgaier also had a strong finish in stage 2. That’s a promising sign, considering his heartbreaks in Daytona and Atlanta, respectively.
  • Connor Zilisch had far from a perfect race today. Sure, he led a bulk of the opening stage, but mechanical issues plagued him later in the race. Extra time on pit road making repairs put him behind the 8 ball in Stage 2. This put the race firmly in the hands of SVG. He did manage to battle back to the top 5 before he was dumped by Corey Day and the controversy around that driver continues to build. Zilisch brought it home in 21st with significant damage.
  • With Connor Zilisch’s issues, it was more or less a cakewalk for Shane van Gisbergen in the JRM No. 9. He went on to win, scoring his 5th career win in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. He has an opportunity to sweep the weekend. He starts tomorrow’s Cup race in the 13th position.

Race Results

Caution Tracker
  • Lap 20: End of Stage 1
  • Lap 35: Baltazar Leguizamon spins
  • Lap 40: End of Stage 2
  • Lap 57: Sage Karam

Points Standings

What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

AUSTIN, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 28: Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #9 Safety Culture Chevrolet, Connor Zilisch, driver of the #1 Roto-Rooter Chevrolet, and Austin Hill, driver of the #21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Focused Health 250 at Circuit of The Americas on February 28, 2026 in Austin, Texas.

O’Reilly: Mid-Race Report, It’s the Zilisch and SVG Show!

by Cody Williams

What’s Happening?

The first two stages are in the books for the stars of tomorrow in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at COTA. Predictably, Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen dominated the first two stages. As they short-pitted at the end of each stage, Austin Hill and Sam Mayer both went to collect stage wins, respectively. Here are the key takeaways from the race so far.

  • Austin Hill, after a disappointing finish to last week’s race in Atlanta following being sent by Ross Chastain, won the opening stage of the race. This was, of course, after Connor Zilisch and SVG short pitted, playing the long game for the win. Zilisch led a bulk of the opening stage, leading 12 of the opening 20 laps. On pit road, SVG managed to leapfrog Zilisch for the would-be race lead.
  • The only incident to note in the opening stage was when Jeremy Clements got off course. The caution did not fly, and he finished the stage in the 30th position.
  • Key drivers earning stage points in the opening stage include Austin Hill (10), Sam Mayer (9), Justin Allgaier (8), Brandon Jones (7), Jesse Love (6), Carson Kvapil (5), Corey Day (4), and Rajah Caruth (2).
  • The second stage wasn’t quite as cut and dry as the first. While battling for the lead, Connor Zilisch overdrove a corner, making an uncharacteristic mistake. He went over the radio to complain that it felt like his car was pulling to the right, an indication of a possible issue with his left side brakes.
  • There was a late caution in the stage as Baltazar Leguizamón suffered a brake failure and plowed hard into the tire barrier. He was okay but this effectively ended his day. SVG and Connor Zilisch both came down pit road during this caution. Zilisch had a slow stop as his No. 1 crew started to check out the right side of the car for potential brake problems. Sam Mayer went on to win the stage.
  • Earning stage points in the second stage were Sam Mayer (10), Justin Allgaier (9), Carson Kvapil (8), Jesse Love (7), Austin Hill (5), Sammy Smith (4), Brandon Jones (3), and Ryan Sieg (1).

What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

AUSTIN, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 28: Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #9 Safety Culture Chevrolet, and Austin Hill, driver of the #21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, lead the field during the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Focused Health 250 at Circuit of The Americas on February 28, 2026 in Austin, Texas.

What to Keep an Eye on in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race at COTA

by Cody Williams

What’s Happening?

The NASCAR Saturday Double-Header continues with O’Reilly Auto Parts Series action from Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Here’s what you need to look out for and what to expect in today’s race.

  • Road course heavy hitters, Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen, are in the field today. You know what that means: another slobber knocker of a race between them as everyone else struggles to keep up. And, you guessed it: they both are starting on the front row with Zilisch claiming the pole in his No. 1 JRM Chevy. SVG is driving the No. 9.
  • Since Zilisch is in the No. 1, Carson Kvapil has been demoted to the No. 91 of DGM Racing. While the car is prepared by JR Motorsports, it won’t be his usual pit crew. Rather, his crew is made up entirely of DGM employees. So, there are a lot of unknowns for him heading into today’s race. He’s starting 6th.
  • Speaking of JRM, Rajah Caruth turned some heads in the first two races of this season. How will he fare on a road course? That No. 88 team is used to winning on these types of tracks. Keep an eye on him. Caruth is rolling off 19th.
  • Austin Hill bounces back after a disappointing finish last week in Atlanta, thanks to the ruthless bumper of Ross Chastain. He’s rolling off in the 3rd position.
  • Coverage for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at COTA begins at 3 PM EST on the CW.

Starting Lineup

What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.