NASCAR names 2024 Most Valuable Pit Crew

NASCAR has named the recipient of the 2024 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew — Alex Bowman’s No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports is being honored.

While the team had a tough ending to their campaign, as Bowman was eliminated from the Cup Series playoffs following the Round of 12 due to a penalty suffered during inspection at the Charlotte Roval, this will be a nice feather in their cap. NASCAR made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon.

There's fast and then there's the No. 48 crew. @Alex_Bowman's pit crew is @Mechanix_Wear's 2024 Most Valuable Pit Crew! pic.twitter.com/sR2vcgN3nX

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 19, 2024

“There’s fast and then there’s the No. 48 crew,” NASCAR posted on X. “@Alex_Bowman’s pit crew is @Mechanix_Wear’s 2024 Most Valuable Pit Crew!”

The No. 48 team went through a bit of a resurgence in 2024, after a disappointing 2023. Bowman’s performance has been called into question, but the often-forgotten wheelman at Hendrick Motorsports and his put crew put together a more than solid season, which included a win during the Chicago Street Race.

Moreover, the team’s success has been made all that more impressive by the fact that Bowman dealt with rumors of being on the chopping block at Hendrick all season long.

Bowman addressed the Silly Season speculation during Cup Series Playoff Media Day at the Charlotte Convention Center earlier in September, when he admitted the rumor “has certainly been annoying.” Bowman added he’s under contract through the 2026 season and hasn’t heard anything in regard to a driver change in the No. 48 Chevrolet, which Hendrick later confirmed.

“That rumor has certainly been annoying,” Bowman told motorsports reporter Alan Cavanna. “Obviously, my contract is through the end of 2026 and all I can tell you is what my bosses have told me and that there’s no plans to change anything.

“Rumors are just rumors. Hopefully, they’ll get their announcements done so my rumors stop. As far as I know, I’m driving the 48 next year and nothing’s changing.”

The rumor took on a life of its own after NASCAR spotter and “Door Bumper Clear” host Brett Griffin said that Bowman could be out of a job at Hendrick if he doesn’t advance out of the first round of the playoffs. Of course, Bowman did — and he could’ve easily been in the Round of 8, as well.

Perhaps Hendrick Motorsports will want to see more trips to Victory Lane from Alex Bowman in 2025, but the team has to be happy with the way the No. 48 squad as a whole has performed. They’re only scratching the surface, and more checkered flags seem to be in their future.