NASCAR Cup Series regular Alex Bowman suffered a fractured vertebra in a racing accident Tuesday night and will be out of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro fielded by Hendrick Motorsports for several weeks.

“He is expected to miss three-four weeks,” the team said in a news release.

Bowman, who leads Cup drivers in average finish through 10 points-paying races in 2023, suffered the compression fracture in an accident Tuesday evening while competing in a Sprint Car event at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. The 30-year-old driver was treated locally and evaluated again Wednesday morning in Charlotte, N.C.

Josh Berry, 32, will fill in during Bowman’s recovery. Berry subbed for Hendrick Motorsports star Chase Elliott in the five Cup events the 2020 Cup Series champion missed after suffering a broken leg while snowboarding in Colorado. Berry scored a best finish of second on April 2 at Richmond Raceway. The Hendersonville, Tenn., native competes fulltime for Hendrick Motorsports affiliate JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he has five career wins.

“We’re relieved Alex is home, in good spirits and getting world-class treatment,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “Giving him ample time and the foremost resources to heal is our top priority. He’s having a tremendous season, and the No. 48 is at the top of its game. We know what Josh is capable of in the race car and that Blake (Harris, crew chief) and the team will continue operating at a high level until Alex is ready to return. He has our full, unequivocal support.”

As was the case with Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports will request a medical waiver to allow Bowman to remain eligible for the 2023 Playoffs.

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