It’s a debate that has been going on for years. Which is the real ‘fourth car’ at Rick Hendrick’s team? In a team full of superstars, somebody will inevitably be given the unenviable title. However, in an era where stats and data are available at the blink of an eye, it’s easy to look beyond the popular narrative and fan-favorite status to come to a real conclusion. One that’s not altered by filters or personal biases. And the results are eye-opening to say the least.

The spotlight has often drifted away from Alex Bowman. However, the No. 48 driver has been quietly racking up the results, and in some cases, even outperformed his teammates. The results have prompted fans to reignite the ‘fourth driver’ debate, with many rushing to Bowman’s defense on social media.

Alex Bowman is Rick Hendrick’s dark horse

Alex Bowman must be feeling hard done by. With Kyle Larson dominating the racetrack, Chase Elliott being immensely popular, and William Byron making a strong start to the season, the Arizona native must be feeling overlooked, despite some strong performances for Hendrick Motorsports. Some fans have even begun calling him the ‘water boy’, a nickname for someone who is on the team just to support the ‘real’ stars.

But the statistics paint a different picture altogether. A recent comparison on the NASCAR subreddit by u/SaxyCrouton analyzed how Rick Hendrick’s team performs with and without Alex Bowman, and the numbers proved that they were better when the No. 48 Chevy was in the mix. Out of the ten major categories, such as wins, top-fives, top-tens, DNFs, average start and finish, as well as points finishes, seven improve when the 31-year-old is racing.

The numbers improve even when Bowman is the lowest-performing driver of the season. He wins more, finishes in the top 10 more often, and has fewer DNFs. His average start and finishing positions are also better. While he doesn’t lead as many laps, it’s also clear that the team is stronger with him around. The racer might have fewer starts, but he also has more wins, making him a valuable team player.

The numbers are even more impressive after taking into consideration that Alex Bowman has endured his fair share of injuries. In 2022, Bowman was out for five races after suffering a concussion during a race at Texas Motor Speedway. Then, in 2023, Bowman suffered a fractured vertebra while competing in Kyle Larson’s High Limit Racing series, keeping him out for four races.

While his performances have naturally dropped after returning from such setbacks, that’s to be expected. However, in normal circumstances, he’s performing at a relatively high level, despite his crew chiefs being frequently changed and a less stable pit crew. This year, he has five top-ten finishes in the opening nine races, and he even ended up in second place at Homestead-Miami. Not bad for a ‘water boy’, right?

But despite it all, Bowman has been singled out. If numbers are anything to go by, the No. 48 Chevy has made it difficult to pinpoint which is the ‘fourth car’ in Rick Hendrick’s team. The gap has narrowed between him and his teammates, and in some areas, he has even outperformed them. He might not have the ‘star power’ or the dominance of some of his colleagues, but that doesn’t mean he’s not an asset. Hendrick Motorsports is a better team with the 31-year-old, who is a consistent top-10 performer. And if given more support, he could do even better.

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Fans back resilient Alex Bowman

Alex Bowman hasn’t always felt the love from fans. However, the racer received plenty of support this time around, after a debate centering around Hendrick Motorsports’ fourth driver began on Reddit. Having made the playoffs in 2024 after winning in Chicago, the Arizona native was unlucky not to make it into the playoff Round of 8 after his car was disqualified for being too light at the Charlotte Roval, a disqualification that ultimately led to Joey Logano being reinstated and winning the championship! On that note, a fan said, “Bowman takes a lot of shit for a guy that’s always in the playoffs and finishes top 10 week in and week out.”

Echoing that sentiment, another Reddit user gave the racer credit where it’s due for his results last year, despite circumstances not being in his favor. The fan wrote, “Bowman was almost in the round of 8 last year while still recovering from his broken back, and won a race last year. I hope he can fully get his mojo back and start winning more.” A motorsports enthusiast couldn’t help but wonder why Bowman gets so much criticism from fans, despite being a solid team player, and went on to say, “Alex Bowman hate is incredibly forced.”

Another NASCAR fan on Reddit felt that Rick Hendrick’s team should not let go of Bowman, even though he might not be a ‘generational talent’ that NASCAR’s most successful team may be looking for. Naming a potential replacement, the social media user said, “Bowman is a decent driver. He’s not going anywhere until HMS decides to poach Zillich, assuming he lives up to the hype, or he falls off. I’d bet he’s in the 48 for another three years or so.” Others also said that the team is much stronger with Bowman around, with a frustrated fan voicing out his thoughts and saying, “I can’t stand the Bowman hate… there’s no reason for him to lose his ride.”

So, what do you think? Is Alex Bowman the most underrated NASCAR driver at the moment? Let us know in the comments!