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Phoenix, AZ – Anthony Alfredo, stepping in for the ailing Alex Bowman in the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at Phoenix Raceway, has articulated a clear perspective on his unexpected opportunity: his focus is squarely on supporting the team and fulfilling his role to the best of his ability. While acknowledging the immense prestige and competitive advantage of piloting a Hendrick Motorsports entry, Alfredo stressed that personal aspirations of showcasing his talent are secondary to the immediate needs of the No. 48 team.
Bowman was forced to withdraw from last week’s race at Circuit of the Americas due to a sudden onset of vertigo, a condition that has since been diagnosed and will keep him sidelined for the Phoenix event. The call to Alfredo, a recognized Chevrolet simulator driver and a regular competitor in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for Viking Motorsports, came swiftly. This dual role highlights Alfredo’s deep involvement within the Chevrolet ecosystem, a crucial behind-the-scenes contributor to the manufacturer’s racing efforts.
"I try not to put selfish thoughts into it because I don’t think it works out for people when they put that kind of pressure on themselves," Alfredo stated during a press conference on Friday at Phoenix. "This isn’t an audition. It’s about filling in and doing a good job for this team. I’m focused on executing well for them, and if something of it comes down the road, that’s awesome. But most importantly, I have a job to do, and I’m focused on them. This is a cool opportunity, and not a lot of people get it, so I do want to make the most of it, but this is just about executing for them this weekend."
When pressed about the potential for this substitute appearance to open doors for future opportunities with a top-tier organization like Hendrick Motorsports, Alfredo remained grounded, redirecting the conversation to his current commitments. "I have no expectations of anything like that," he affirmed. "This is a one-race opportunity, and I’m focused on this one race. We’ll see where it leads, but I have a full-time opportunity in the O’Reilly Series that I’m focused on this afternoon and tomorrow, so I’m just going one race at a time."
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The opportunity, while significant, is also tinged with the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Bowman’s health. Alfredo expressed empathy for Bowman’s situation, noting the difficulty in celebrating his own chance when it comes at the expense of another competitor’s well-being.
"It’s hard for me to be excited because it’s hard for me to imagine what he is feeling," Alfredo admitted. "A lot of people are asking me how excited I am, and I’m not excited to have to fill in for someone who isn’t in their own car this week. But it is a huge opportunity for me to do a good job and turn some heads. But I don’t feel like I have to prove anything to anybody. I don’t think they would have picked me if they didn’t think I could do it."
He reiterated his team-centric approach: "It’s not about that. It’s about doing what is asked of me and doing a good job of filling in. It’s exciting for me because my career has been challenging, but working for them on the sim side has been a privilege, and I take a lot of pride in what I do for them. It’s a lot of sitting in a dark room without windows, and I do it because I want to see them get better, and you always hope it could lead to something, but not like this." Alfredo added, "I’m going to try to soak it in, even though it’s been a little chaotic, but I feel like everyone does dream of working with Hendrick Motorsports and all the men and women who make it possible."
Alfredo’s Cup Series experience includes a full-time season in 2021 with Front Row Motorsports, campaigning the previous generation of Cup car. He has since made seven starts in the NextGen car, primarily on superspeedways, with Live Fast Motorsports and Beard Motorsports. His physical stature is comparable to Bowman’s, and he will be utilizing one of Bowman’s fire suits for the weekend.
The transition from simulator to race car, while familiar to Alfredo, presents its own unique challenges. He described the simulator as "extremely realistic," but acknowledged that certain real-world racing elements, such as in-car switches and fan controls, are not replicated. However, his extensive simulator work has provided him with a strong foundational understanding of car dynamics and track positioning.
"All the laps I’ve run actually make me confident of where I need to be behind the wheel, but racing is totally different," Alfredo explained. "The ambient temperature changing and rubber being laid down, those things are different. But those are comparable to all the races I’ve run here in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, so I have a pretty good basis of what to expect as far as that goes."
Alfredo emphasized that mental preparation wasn’t a novel undertaking, given his role as a simulator driver for Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet, a position that inherently demands constant readiness. His focus this past week has been on diligently completing the tasks and analysis assigned by the No. 48 team. He expressed a lack of overt nervousness, attributing this to the thorough preparation provided by the Hendrick Motorsports organization, though he anticipates some Sunday jitters.
Looking ahead, Alfredo expressed eagerness to return to the simulator after the race weekend, not just to analyze his performance but to contribute to its improvement for future endeavors. "It’s going to be interesting to see how the sim correlates because now I am excited to get back to the sim on Monday and make it better for next time," he commented. "It’s not the championship race anymore, but with the Chase format, you can’t throw any race away, and the 48 team has had a challenging start to the year. So, I just want to help them out and build a notebook."
The No. 48 team, under the leadership of crew chief Blake Harris, has faced a challenging start to the 2023 season, with Bowman’s illness adding another hurdle. The team is currently ranked 21st in the owner standings. Their performance at Phoenix Raceway, a track that has historically been a strong venue for Hendrick Motorsports, will be closely watched as Alfredo aims to contribute positively to their ongoing efforts. The organization has a storied history at Phoenix, with seven Cup Series victories at the one-mile oval, including a win by Alex Bowman in 2021.
The NASCAR Cup Series season continues to be a dynamic competition, with driver changes and unexpected circumstances frequently shaping the narrative. Alfredo’s temporary role in the No. 48 Chevrolet represents a significant chapter in his own racing journey, one he is committed to navigating with a focus on team contribution and professional execution.
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