Alex Bowman returning from vertebra injury Sunday

NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman will return for Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 after missing four weeks with a fractured vertebra.

Bowman, 30, sustained the injury during a sprint car race at a dirt track in West Burlington, Iowa, on April 25.

"I'm excited to get back into the car," the Hendrick Motorsports driver told the Charlotte Observer on Wednesday.

"... (This) is a long race, so it's pretty intimidating to go to a 600-mile race after not being able to really do anything for the last month. But definitely ready, excited for it, and glad to be back behind the wheel."

Bowman said he has been medically cleared to get back behind the wheel of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

The vertebra "is healing -- I can't hurt it anymore -- but it's not without pain," Bowman said.

Bowman dropped from ninth to 17th in the Cup Series points standings during his absence.

Bowman posted six top-10 finishes in the first 10 races this season. He has seven career wins in the Cup Series, most recently at Las Vegas on March 6, 2022.