Alex Bowman

Alex Bowman is an American stock car racing driver who currently competes in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the #88 Chevrolet Camaro for Hendrick Motorsports. Bowman inherited the #88 Chevy from Dale Earnhardt Jr when he retired from racing at the end of 2017.

Earlier in a career, Bowman spent two full seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving a Toyota for BK Racing in 2014 and Chevrolet for Tommy Baldwin Racing in 2015.

Alex Bowman

Developing racing career since the age 7

Born in April 1993 in Tucson, Arizona, Alexander Michael Bowman started his racing career as a 7-year-old boy, competing on short tracks in USAC quarter midget races at Arizona and California. By 2006, he won nine national championship titles.

He then continued a career in Midget championships, earning the USAC National Midget Rookie of the Year honor in 2009.

Entering stock car racing in 2010

In 2010, Bowman moved to full-bodied stock car racing, making two Rev-Oil Pro Cup starts and a late model start. In 2011, he progressed to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East with X Team Racing, finishing as the best rookie and the sixth in the overall classification. He also made two starts and won both races in the ARCA Racing Series with Venturini Racing.

In 2012, Bowman moved to a full-time schedule in the ARCA Racing Series with Cunningham Motorsports, also serving as a development driver for Penske Racing. He won four ARCA races to finish fourth in the points.

Alex Bowman in 2012

NASCAR national division debut in 2012

In 2012, Bowman also made a debut in NASCAR national division, participating in four races of the Nationwide Series with Turner Motorsports (two starts) and RAB Racing (two starts).

He finished 17th in debut race with Turner Motorsports' #30 Chevrolet at Chicagoland Speedway. His best result was the 15th place in RAB Racing's #99 Toyota at Phoenix International Raceway.

Alex Bowman in 2013

2013 – full Nationwide Series season in the #99 Toyota

For the 2013 season, Bowman was announced as a full-time driver of RAB Racing's #99 Toyota in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He was in a pole position two times, finishing best in the third place at the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway.

Recording six top 10 results in 32 starts, he was 11th in the points at the end of the season. RAB Racing released him one race before the end of the season. Next year, he returned to Nationwide Series in one race with Hattori Racing Enterprises and two races with JR Motorsports but his main job was in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Alex Bowman in 2014

NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2014

In January 2014, Bowman tested for BK Racing and then he was chosen to drive their #23 Toyota Camry for the full season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

In his debut at Daytona 500, he started 29th and finished 23rd. Later in the season, he reached top 15 just one, finishing 13th at Daytona's Coke Zero 400.

Alex Bowman next to his 2015 car

2015 Cup Series season with Tommy Baldwin Racing

BK Racing didn't retain Bowman for the 2015 season so he joined Tommy Baldwin Racing to drive his second Cup Series season in the #7 Chevrolet SS.

He failed to qualify for the Daytona 500 after he was caught up in a multi-car wreck in his duel race. Later in the season, his best result was the 16th place at Talladega's Geico 500. At the end of the season, Bowman and the team parted ways.

Alex Bowman in 2016

Replacement for Dale Earnhardt Jr in 2016

In 2016, Bowman made nine starts with JR Motorsports' #88 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, finishing best in the third place at Dover. Despite good results, he struggled to find sponsorship for the full season.

On the other side, Bowman gets an opportunity to replace JR Motorsports' owner Dale Earnhardt Jr in his Cup Series car due to his concussion issues. The replacement drivers were Alex Bowman and Jeff Gordon. Bowman made ten starts in the #88 Hendrick Motorsports' Chevrolet SS, scoring three top 10 results. His best result was the sixth place at Phoenix, where he won his first Cup Series pole.

Bowman's maiden NASCAR victory at Drive for the Cure 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Just four racing events and maiden victory in 2017

In 2017, Bowman slowed down his racing activities, participating in just four events in all three NASCAR national divisions. Dale Earnhardt Jr allowed him to drive the #88 Chevrolet at 2017 Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona. Bowman finished third after losing out in a side-by-side battle for second with Kyle Busch.

In March 2017, Bowman joined GMS Racing to drive the #24 Chevrolet Silverado in the Truck Series race at Atlanta. He finished sixth. In October and November, Bowman joined Chip Ganassi Racing to drive the #42 Chevrolet in Xfinity Series races car at Charlotte and Phoenix. At Charlotte, Bowman won his first NASCAR national series race in a career.

Alex Bowman next to his #88 Chevrolet

A successor of Dale Earnhardt Jr in the #88 Chevrolet

When Dale Earnhardt Jr announced his retirement from racing at the end of 2017 season, he expressed support for Bowman to replace him in the #88 Chevrolet. In July 2017, Hendrick Motorsports formally named Bowman as their new driver in the #88 car for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

Bowman opened the season in the best possible way, winning the pole position for Daytona 500. In the race, he finished 17th. Later that year, his best result was the third place at Pocono and he finished 16th in the championship points.

Celebrating maiden Cup Series victory at Chicagoland

Maiden Cup Series victory at Chicagoland

In February 2019, he was again great in qualifying for Daytona 500, setting the second-fastest time. In the race, he was eleventh. The maiden NASCAR Cup Series victory came in the 17th race of the season at Chicagoland Speedway. Bowman ended the season 12th in the points.

In 2020, Bowman proved again that he can be good at Daytona qualifying, taking P2 at the start of Daytona 500. At the end of the race, he was classifed 24th. He scored his second Cup Series victory in the third round at Auto Club Speedway,

Photo: Getty Images, Alex Bowman FB, Action Sports Photography, Tommy Baldwin Racing,