NASCAR champion Kyle Larson reacts to Alex Bowman retirement announcement

NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson says that he's happy for his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman calling it a day on his own terms.

Bowman announced this week that he had signed a one-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports, but that he would be retiring from full-time NASCAR racing at the end of the 2027 season.

At 33 years old, time is certainly on Bowman's side, but he has missed multiple races in three of the last five seasons due to injury and health issues, missing five weeks for a concussion in 2022, three weeks in 2023 for a back injury suffered in a sprint car race, and four more this season for a bout of vertigo symptoms which left him unable to drive for weeks.

Kyle Larson on Alex Bowman retirement

Larson and Bowman have been teammates for five and a half seasons now, dating back to when Larson joined Hendrick Motorsports in 2021.

The reigning Cup Series champion says that he couldn't have asked for a better teammate in that time, and that he's happy that Bowman is going out on his own terms.

“Yeah, he's been an amazing teammate, probably the best teammate you could ask for," Larson explained to the media when asked about Bowman's retirement.

"I've really enjoyed my time with him. He's made us all better. I really enjoyed having him around the debriefs and all that because he brings a dry sense of humor that we all enjoy. He can drive the heck out of racecars, so he brings a lot to the race team.

"I'm happy that he's able to do it on his own terms. I think he's had his injuries and stuff throughout his career that easily he could have just quit probably on the spot, but to now get to have a runway out is good.

"I'm happy for him. He's got a lot going on in his life with building a family, a home and all the things. So, yeah, it's good for him.”

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