As Alex Bowman prepares to step away from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition after the 2027 season, Hendrick Motorsports is already facing the question of who will take over the No. 48 Chevrolet in 2028.

Bowman has signed a one-year extension that will keep him with the organization for one final season, giving both sides time to plan the next phase. For Hendrick, however, the search for his successor may already have a clear favorite.

That driver could very well be Connor Zilisch. The 20-year-old Trackhouse Racing rookie has endured a difficult first Cup Series season, but his struggles have done little to diminish the reputation he built before reaching NASCAR’s premier division.

Zilisch dominated the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2025, winning 10 races, and his raw talent has made him one of the sport’s most closely watched young prospects.

His connection to Hendrick Motorsports also runs deeper than a simple free-agent rumor, with Zilisch having previously competed for JR Motorsports, the Hendrick-affiliated organization.

According to reports from multiple outlets, Hendrick Motorsports has already identified Zilisch as its preferred candidate for the No. 48 seat. The interest has reportedly progressed beyond casual speculation, with sources indicating that Hendrick and Trackhouse have discussed Zilisch’s future.

Nothing is officially signed, and Zilisch is expected to remain with Trackhouse through the 2027 season, but the possibility of him moving to Hendrick for 2028 has increasingly become the expectation around the garage.

That makes Bowman’s decision to return for one more year particularly important. Instead of forcing Hendrick to rush into a replacement or negotiate an early exit from Zilisch’s Trackhouse contract, Bowman’s 2027 extension seems to have created a natural bridge to the future.

It will give Zilisch another season to develop at the Cup level while allowing Hendrick to maintain continuity within the No. 48 team.

Hendrick Motorsports president and general manager Jeff Andrews has also indicated that the organization will take its time finding the right fit, both on the performance side and within the company’s culture.

The team rarely changes its driver lineup, making the No. 48 opening an unusually significant opportunity.

Hendrick has won 15 Cup Series championships and 322 races, with NASCAR elites such as Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. having carried its colors.

Kyle Larson’s arrival after Johnson’s retirement further showed what can happen when the organization lands an elite driver at the right moment.

For now, though, all signs point toward Zilisch being the man Hendrick wants.

Is there anyone else who could be a potential No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports driver?

The other name worth watching is Corey Day, who already has an established relationship with Hendrick Motorsports. Day competes in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for the organization and has made an impression after transitioning from dirt racing to stock cars.

His 2026 season has included wins at Talladega Superspeedway and Dover Motor Speedway, along with six top-five finishes and 14 top-10s through 21 starts. If his development continues, he could become a legitimate alternative for the No. 48 seat.

Besides Connor Zilisch and Corey Day, Josh Berry could also emerge as an intriguing candidate if an opportunity with Hendrick Motorsports becomes available.

Berry is currently enduring a difficult stretch with Wood Brothers Racing in the No. 21 Ford, but he already knows what it is like to compete under the Hendrick banner.

In 2023, Berry stepped into the Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports while Chase Elliott was sidelined by injury, making five starts in the No. 9 Chevrolet before later filling in for the injured Alex Bowman in the No. 48.

Across his eight starts for Hendrick that season, Berry showed flashes of the potential that made him a highly regarded driver.

He recorded a runner-up finish and added two more top-10 results. While his current season with the Wood Brothers has not gone according to plan, that previous experience could work in his favor if Hendrick ever considers him for a future opportunity.

Berry already understands the team’s environment and has firsthand experience driving one of its cars, which could give him an advantage over drivers who would be entering the organization for the first time.

Still, the current picture appears far less complicated than a traditional driver search. Hendrick has no immediate need to make a change, Bowman has one more full season ahead of him, and Zilisch has time to mature in the Cup Series before potentially stepping into one of NASCAR’s most prestigious rides.

For all the speculation surrounding possible free agents and emerging prospects, Connor Zilisch appears to be the clear frontrunner to replace Alex Bowman in the No. 48 Chevrolet in 2028.