Retired Greg Ives could be heading back to Hendrick Motorsports in 2027, potentially reuniting with Alex Bowman for the driver’s final full-time NASCAR Cup Series season.

Speculation about a possible return surfaced on November 11, with trusted instagram account Stock Car Rumors and Nostalgia as the source of the insider chatter. Neither Hendrick Motorsports nor Ives has confirmed the reports yet, but the timing has raised questions about who could take over the No.48 team’s pit box next season.

The team is already facing a period of change. After a winless 2026 campaign, current crew chief Blake Harris is leavingfor Trackhouse Racing, creating an important position to fill. A return for Ives would bring some familiarity to a team preparing for another significant transition.

A familiar face for Bowman

A potential reunion would bring back a partnership that worked well during its time together. Ives was Bowman’s crew chief from 2018 through 2022, with the pair recording seven Cup Series victories, four of which came during the 2021 season.

Ives became a big part of Bowman’s career, but he’d already made a name for himself in NASCAR long before they teamed up.

His first real spotlight came as Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief. He took over the No.88 Hendrick Motorsports team in 2015 and stayed with Earnhardt for three seasons, winning three Cup races. Working with one of the sport’s most popular drivers kept him in the public eye.

His time at Hendrick goes back further than that. Before he became a crew chief, he was the race engineer on Jimmie Johnson’s No.48 team contributing to those five straight Cup championships from 2006 to 2010.

After that he moved to JR Motorsports, where he guided Chase Elliott to the 2014 Xfinity Series title.

Why Greg Ives stepped away from the Cup Series

Despite his experience and results, Ives stepped away from full-time Cup Series crew-chief duties after the 2022 season. His decision was largely driven by family priorities, with the crew chief explaining that he wanted to spend more time with his wife and three children rather than continue travelling to races every weekend.

However, leaving the pit box did not mean completely walking away from Hendrick Motorsports.

Ives remained involved with the organization’s competition department and contributed to other projects, including Hendrick’s Garage 56 entry at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans.

All that makes a possible return particularly interesting. He already knows the organization, its working environment and what it takes to lead a Hendrick Cup Series team.

Why a Bowman reunion makes sense for 2027

There is another reason why the rumour has attracted attention: Bowman’s future.

Hendrick Motorsports announced in July 2026 that Bowman would retire from full-time competition following the 2027 season. That leaves the No.48 team with one more full season with its current driver before another big change.

Bringing Ives back could provide some continuity during that period. The two already know how each other works, and Ives understands Bowman’s driving style after five seasons together.

It could also give Bowman an opportunity to finish his full-time Cup career with someone who was part of some of his biggest successes.

Ives, however, is not the only name that has been linked to a possible return to racing. He has also been tentatively connected to JR Motorsports’ part-time No.40 entry for the Daytona 500. That remains a separate possibility from the Hendrick rumors.