Alex Bowman finished seventh at Martinsville Speedway on Monday.
The highest-finishing Hendrick Motorsports driver, the 24-year-old fared better than even nine-time grandfather clock owner Jimmie Johnson — not too shabby for a rookie!
RELATED: Bowman leads Hendrick brigade at Martinsville
Except Bowman isn’t a rookie. And this wasn’t his first rodeo at “The Paperclip” … it was his fifth.
Bowman had to explain this to Dale Earnhardt Jr after the former driver of his current No. 88 Chevrolet ride texted his congratulations and mentioned it being his “first time there.” Oops.
https://twitter.com/AlexBowman88/status/978707322548752384
https://twitter.com/DaleJr/status/978707718054797313
Hey, it happens. It’s easy to forget Bowman has a pair of full-time seasons under his belt from 2014-15 before he patiently awaited his turn behind the No. 88 wheel the next two years with a few spot starts sprinkled here and there.
NASCAR.com’s own Steve Luvender then pointed out something interesting.
https://twitter.com/steveluvender/status/978707813533978625
Junior had the perfect response …
https://twitter.com/DaleJr/status/978708891675611137
… but “The Showman” was not amused.
https://twitter.com/AlexBowman88/status/978709412578775041
Classic rookie move.