Alex Bowman will take over as the driver of the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet from the retiring Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, the team announced in a press release this morning.
As Saturday night's Advance Auto Parts Clash approaches, for many drivers, it's the beginning of a new season. However, the opposite is true for Alex Bowman who has one more shot to show that he belongs in a ride in one of NASCAR's top three series.
Since the latter half of 2016, Alex Bowman's career has seen an uptick thanks to his time subbing for an injured Dale Earnhardt Jr. When the checkered flag flies tomorrow night, however, his time in the 88 car comes to an end.
It sucks not to matter. Forty cars took to the track at Phoenix, and only six of them mattered. Not Jimmie Johnson or Carl Edwards. Both had already locked in a final four berth at Homestead, so they mattered not. Not Kyle Larson or Trevor Bayne, who spun early.
What a difference a few months can make. Bowman has gone from being jobless in January to joining JR Motorsports for eight XFINITY races to becoming the interim driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr. for what will be 10 Sprint Cup Series events.
Alex Bowman had a dominant day in the Valley of the Sun from start to finish, but it wasn't enough for the native son to score his first series victory.
Alex Bowman will lead the field to the green flag on Sunday afternoon after topping the chart in the final round of qualifying in the Valley of the Sun.
A funny thing happened on the way to Richmond. Ryan Newman finished eighth at Darlington, got to within seven points of Jamie McMurray in the battle for the final Chase place, and then it hit the fan.
DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Speaking from experience as having started as a substitute driver, Jamie McMurray said every driver "wants the chance to get in a really good car" and that Alex Bowman is doing "a phenomenal job."
