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The rumor mill keeps turning. Now, Alex Bowman is having questions raised as to whether he could return to his ride in 2025. While the Hendrick Motorsports veteran said he would return next season if HMS were to cut ties, who would take over?
Obviously, Justin Allgaier wouldn’t be a long-term option for HMS in this situation. However, Ally’s sponsorship, along with a young, untested driver, could make a special case for the veteran.
Allgaier ran a great race, filling in for Kyle Larson at the Coke 600. He posted a 13th-place finish in a car he had never raced, which is a lot to say for Allgaier.
Allgaier, a winning Xfinity Series veteran for JR Motorsports, has played filler multiple for HMS in the past. He could, once again, provide stability until another young Chevy driver, Rajah Caruth, was ready.
Caruth has had a breakout year in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Spire Motorsports. His connection to Hendrick comes in the form of a direct endorsement from Rick Hendrick, with Hendrickcars.com sponsoring his Silverado.
If HMS wanted Rajah, he could use some more time developing. That’s where Allgaier comes into the fold, a veteran who could get a few good runs out of the car until the rookie is ready for the Cup.
In this tight spot, HMS could poach from a fellow Chevrolet team like Spire Motorsports. Spire, who uses HMS engines, may have found a gem with Carson Hocevar this season.
Hocevar, who never competed in the Xfinity Series full-time, has almost locked down Rookie of the Year this season. For a driver pulled up directly from Trucks, Carson has blown everyone away with great runs at a diverse selection of tracks.
If HMS went after Hocevar, it would not be the wildest change in NASCAR history. Rather, it would have consequences for a growing Spire Motorsports team that looks primed for the next step in 2025.
In doing so, Hocevar would officially kick off the next generation of drivers at Hendrick, though it feels just like yesterday HMS unveiled its new lineup of young drivers in 2018.
Zane Smith is an intriguing option for HMS, especially if the team had to choose from the free-agent market.
Smith, a Truck Series Champion with Ford and Front Row Motorsports, broke the NASCAR Silly Season market last season. Smith, who looked primed for a ride at FRM in 2024, signed with Trackhouse to race at Spire this season.
This year, in the No. 71, Smith didn’t set the world on fire. A rough start found him second-to-last in full-time driver standings. A spot that, despite a stellar second half of the season, he hasn’t recovered from.
Trackhouse announced at Daytona that Smith would not continue forward with the team in 2025. Now, Smith is a top free-agent name.
Smith would be an easy, drama-free, yet risky option for HMS. If they brought him on, it wouldn’t ruffle any feathers, but in this scenario, would Bowman be a more reasonable, consistent choice?
Justin Haley is the talk of free agency. Industry insiders and fans questioned Haley when he signed with Rick Ware Racing for 2024.
That signing turned into a comeback year for Haley, who has outrun any other driver to race for RWR. Now, his stock may be the highest in a limited free-agent market.
Haley is the only name the Bowman rumor mill kicked around, though it felt like a dream scenario where Bowman moved to the Spire No. 7 with Haley at HMS. That No. 7 is the car most tied Haley to right now, but in this scenario, Haley is probably a top candidate for the No. 48.
It would be another risky move for HMS, but if it doesn’t work out, another young driver could take over the spot after some time. Then again, Bowman still appears to be back in his home for next year.
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