“Hell yea dude”: NASCAR world reacts as HMS star Alex Bowman proposes to his girlfriend Chloe Henderson

Alex Bowman announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Chloe Henderson, adding a personal milestone in the 2025 offseason. The Hendrick Motorsports driver shared the news on social media, prompting an outpouring of reactions from across the NASCAR community.

Bowman and Henderson have been together since 2023, with their relationship becoming public in September of that year. Since then, Henderson has been a regular presence in the Cup Series garage area with the Hendrick driver before and after races. While Bowman is one of NASCAR’s most recognizable faces, Henderson has largely remained a private figure.

Bowman proposed to his girlfriend beside a forest trail with their two dogs at his side, near Concord, North Carolina. The No. 48 driver posted two photos to Instagram, one on his knee, one of Henderson wearing the ring, and wrote:

“Did a thing.”

The NASCAR world was quick to respond. Cup Series announcer Mamba Smith summed up the general reaction and commented:

“Hell yea dude.”

NASCAR’s official account added:

“❤️❤️❤️”

The NASCAR community congratulates Alex Bowman and Chloe Henderson on their engagement - Source: @alex_bowman via Instagram.

John Hunter Nemechek, Kaitlyn Vincie, and others also congratulated the couple.

Chloe Henderson, a Charlotte native and former hairdresser, shares Alex Bowman’s love of dogs. The couple’s blended pack includes Bowman’s dog Finn, Henderson’s Merle, and a rescue named Huck, adopted in June 2024. They’ve been visible around the garage together since 2024.

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Alex Bowman enters 2026 with pressure after an inconsistent 2025 campaign

Alex Bowman (48) before the NASCAR Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Source: Imagn

Alex Bowman’s engagement comes ahead of a pivotal stretch in his NASCAR career. The 32-year-old finished thirteenth in the 2025 Cup Series standings, making the playoffs for a second consecutive year but exiting in the Round of 16. He ended the season, becoming the only Hendrick Motorsports driver without a win, while two of his teammates reached the Championship 4.

Bowman's best weekend came early. He converted pole speed at Homestead into a runner-up result, leading late before teammate Kyle Larson took the win. Another key performance came at Mexico City, where he was racing with an injury. He recovered from 29th on the grid to finish fourth at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. But, he managed only one top-10 in the final seven races.

Bowman’s average finish in 2025 rose to 17.4, his lowest since joining Hendrick full-time. His average start slipped to 15.8. He has two victories since his breakout 2021 campaign and needs more consistent front-running speed to remove speculation about his long-term role. He returns in less than two months before the season opener with a new look, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet.

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Edited by Riddhiman Sarkar