Dale Earnhardt Jr’s concussion has created a once-in-a-lifetime chance for young driver Alex Bowman.
While the news that Dale Earnhardt Jr will miss the rest of the Sprint Cup season was a huge blow to the driver and his fans, it has opened up opportunities for reserve driver Alex Bowman. Bowman, a 23-year old Arizonan known for getting good results out of mediocre equipment, will split time with Jeff Gordon for the rest of the season, driving 8 races in the #88 Chevy. But what does this mean for the young racer? Will this ride just be a temporary job for Bowman, or will it lead to a bigger opportunity?
Alex Bowman is no stranger to tough situations. He’s never held a top quality ride in a NASCAR national series until this year–the races he’s driven for Hendrick and JR Motorsports have been his first for a top-tier team. Bowman broke onto the scene in 2013, performing admirably in the XFINITY series while driving for underfunded RAB Racing. He placed an impressive 11th in the points standings in his rookie year, posting two top 5 finishes in sub par equipment.
Bowman has shown flashes of greatness throughout his racing career, but hasn’t been able to progress due to a lack of sponsorship and opportunities. Bowman’s rookie year campaign with RAB Racing could’ve been even better, but the team replaced him before the season finale due to a lack of funding. Unable to find a full-time XFINITY series ride in 2014, Bowman instead jumped to the Sprint Cup Series, where he spent two years driving for backmarking teams.
The young Arizona racer has never gotten a chance to showcase his full potential. In 5 starts for JR Motorsports this year, Bowman has posted 5 top 10 finishes. Now, with 8 races to go in one of Hendrick Motorsports’ best rides, the driver will essentially be auditioning for his future.
While Dale Earnhardt Jr’s status remains in question for 2017 and beyond, Bowman needs to make the most of his opportunity. The best case scenario for Bowman is that he ends up replacing Junior if he does hang up his helmet, much like Brian Vickers got a full-time ride at Michael Waltrip Racing after his part-time success. Even if Dale Earnhardt Jr does return to the track, a good stretch of races for Bowman would help him land a quality XFINITY series ride, whether it’s for JR Motorsports or another contending team.
Most importantly, these 8 races will give Alex Bowman a chance to acquire sponsorship. In today’s NASCAR, it’s extremely difficult for young drivers to land a solid ride without heavy backing from a company. Bowman has already been bumped from one ride because of a lack of sponsorship. Filling in for NASCAR’s most popular driver during 8 nationally televised races is a great way to ensure that doesn’t happen again.
Alex Bowman has a great opportunity to make a name for himself within the Hendrick Motorsports organization and establish himself as a legitimate future prospect. Now, everything depends on how he rises to the challenge.
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