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MARTINSVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 28:  Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, reacts with fans after being introduced prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 28, 2018 in Martinsville, Virginia.  (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BACK TO GALLERIES

Alex Bowman 2018 season recap

By RJ Kraft | Published: 3 Dec, 2018 9
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
BACK TO GALLERIES

1 of 9

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 03:  Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, gets into his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 3, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.  (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

Alex Bowman piloted the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet into the NASCAR Playoffs in his first season behind the wheel of the legendary ride he took over from Dale Earnhardt Jr. See highlights from the rising star's season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

2 of 9

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 11: Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, poses for a photo after winning the Pole Award during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 11, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Florida.  (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Bowman kicked off the season by scoring Hendrick Motorsports' fourth straight Busch Pole Award for the season-opening Daytona 500. The pole position immediately locked in Bowman for the 2019 Clash -- an exhibition race to kick off Speedweeks each season -- and served notice that the 88 was still a strong car at plate tracks.

3 of 9

BRISTOL, TN - APRIL 16:  Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet,drives  during the rain delayed  Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 16, 2018 in Bristol, Tennessee.  (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Robert Laberge | Getty Images

The early season saw Bowman start off slow, but he found a rhythm with two top 10s in the three spring short-track races -- including his first Monster Energy Series top five at Bristol. He carried that momentum to Talladega -- a track where crew chief Greg Ives won with Dale Jr. in 2015 -- and notched an eighth-place finish, leading 26 laps.

4 of 9

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 19:  Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, AJ Allmendinger, driver of the #47 Kroger ClickList Chevrolet, and Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet, pose for a photo after advancing during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race Open at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina.  (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

Bowman needed to race his way into the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race through a stage win in the Monster Energy Open -- the race that precedes the All-Star Race. He wasted no time as he won the first of the three stages in the Open to lock into the All-Star Race and a shot at a $1 million win.

5 of 9

SONOMA, CA - JUNE 22:  Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, sits in his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 22, 2018 in Sonoma, California.  (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

The 25-year-old turned it up in the summer with three straight top 10s coming at Sonoma, Chicagoland and Daytona. These performances only further strengthened Bowman's points position in his quest to make the playoffs. That position was enhanced with a third-place showing -- his best of the season -- at Pocono at the end of July.

6 of 9

MARTINSVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 28:  Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, reacts with fans after being introduced prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 28, 2018 in Martinsville, Virginia.  (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Fresh off his best finish of the season, Hendrick Motorsports announced a two-year extension with Nationwide and in conjunction, a one-year extension with Bowman to keep the two connected through the 2020 season. The deal also saw Nationwide up its number of primary sponsor races on the No. 88 to 20 starting in 2019.

7 of 9

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 10:  Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet,, Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, and Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's for Pros Chevrolet, pose for a photo with the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series trophy after making the playoffs following the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 10, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

In his first full-time season with Hendrick, Bowman qualified for the NASCAR Playoffs alongside teammates Chase Elliott and Jimmie Johnson. Bowman led a solid turnaround season for the No. 88 team, which had missed the postseason in Dale Jr.'s final year.

8 of 9

CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 30:  Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America Roval 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on September 30, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina.  (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Bowman stayed out of trouble in the opening two races of the Round of 16, and that put him in position to advance to the Round of 12 with a solid showing at the first race on the Charlotte road course. Bowman delivered just that with a fourth-place finish that was aided by a chaotic closing stretch of laps. He was one of two Hendrick drivers to advance to the Round of 12.

9 of 9

KANSAS CITY, KS - OCTOBER 19:  Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, prepares to drive during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 19, 2018 in Kansas City, Kansas.  (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

With two finishes outside the top 25 to start the Round of 12, Bowman was essentially in a must-win spot at Kansas. While he didn't win, he did nab his 11th and final top-10 finish of the season. Unfortunately for Bowman, that finish wasn't enough to keep him in the playoffs. Still, the Arizona native has a solid foundation to build on in Year 2 of his full-time status in the No. 88.
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