Alex Bowman looks on during qualifying heats at the Busch Light Clash

Alex Bowman through the years in NASCAR

By Staff Report | Published: 15 Feb, 2023 27

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Over the course of his NASCAR Cup Series career, Alex Bowman has worked his way from running for a smaller team to winning in the prestigious No. 88 and No. 48 for Hendrick Motorsports. See the journey Bowman has taken, a long and winding road that has added multiple visits to Victory Lane at NASCAR's top level.

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Alex Bowman, driver of the #59 St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Toyota, jokes with a teammate prior to the start of the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 at Colorado National Speedway on August 6, 2011 in Dacono, Colorado.

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In 2011, Bowman became part of the original NASCAR Next class. Other current NASCAR Cup Series competitors who joined him in the same class include Daniel Suárez, Bubba Wallace and Matt DiBenedetto.

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Alex Bowman drives the #30 Allegiant Chevrolet during practcie for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland Speedway.

Tyler Barrick | Getty Images

A four-win ARCA Menards Series season in 2012 paved the way for his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series start in September at Chicagoland Speedway, piloting the No. 30 Turner Motorsports Chevrolet to a 17th-place finish.

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Alex Bowman, driver of the #99 Microsoft Windows Toyota, poses with the Texas Motor Speedway Pole Award Helmet in Victory Lane after qualifying for the pole for the NASCAR Nationwide Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway.

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Bowman competed in 32 Xfinity Series races with Robby Benton Racing in 2013, earning two top fives, six top 10s and two pole awards to finish 11th in the final standings.

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Alex Bowman, driver of the #23 Dr. Pepper Toyota, practices for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

Jared C. Tilton | NASCAR via Getty Images

Bowman made his first career NASCAR Cup Series start in the 2014 Daytona 500, the start of a full season slate for BK Racing. Bowman finished 23rd in his Cup debut.

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Alex Bowman, driver of the #23 Dr. Pepper Toyota, slides down the stage during driver introductions prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

Mike Ehrmann | Getty Images

A 13th-place finish in July at Daytona International Speedway was tops for Bowman during his rookie Cup season. He also was not afraid to let his personality show.

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Alex Bowman, driver of the #7 Golden Corral Chevrolet, qualifies for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Chris Graythen | NASCAR via Getty Images

Bowman moved to Tommy Baldwin Racing for the 2015 season, competing in 35 races and recording a best finish of 16th in the spring race at Talladega.

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Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet, practices for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Ollie's Bargain Outlet 200 at Dover International Speedway.

Jeff Zelevansky | NASCAR via Getty Images

More winds of change came for Bowman during the 2016 season. After departing Tommy Baldwin Racing, with his career in the crosshairs, Bowman logged nine Xfinity Series starts for JR Motorsports, earning three top-five and seven top-10 finishes. A pole at Michigan and a season-best third-place result at Dover were highlights and showed Bowman still knew how to wheel a race car.

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Doug Duchardt(left), general manager at Hendrick Motorsports, speaks during a press conference prior to practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Todd Warshaw | NASCAR via Getty Images

With the lingering effects of a concussion sidelining Dale Earnhardt Jr. for nearly half of the 2016 season, it was Bowman who got the call up to sub for him, sharing the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet with four-time champion Jeff Gordon.

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Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, shakes hands with team owner Rick Hendrick prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Chris Trotman | Getty Images

Bowman's first race as Earnhardt's substitute driver was at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July 2016. Bowman finished 26th but showed solid speed throughout the race.

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Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, stands on the grid with Dale Earnhardt Jr. prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway/

Jerry Markland | Getty Images

Bowman competed in 10 races while filling in for Earnhardt, accruing three top-10 finishes. More importantly, he gained the respect of many throughout the Hendrick organization.

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Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, and crew chief Greg Ives pose with the Coors Light Pole Award after qualifying for the pole position for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Sarah Crabill | Getty Images

Bowman earned the Busch Pole Award for the season's penultimate race at Phoenix Raceway. The then-23-year-old driver led 194 of the 324 laps, announcing himself to the world. An incident with Matt Kenseth while leading late in the event pushed Bowman back to a sixth-place finish.

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Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, stands on the grid prior to the weather delayed Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway.

Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images

Dale Earnhardt Jr. would return for a farewell tour in 2017, but gave up the seat to Bowman for the Advance Auto Parts Clash season-opening exhibition race at Daytona, following his Phoenix pole as a substitute. It also was announced later in the year that Bowman would take over the No. 88 car full time beginning in 2018.

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Alex Bowman, driver of the #42 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR XFINITY Series Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Streeter Lecka | Getty Images

Waiting for his full-time ride to open up, Bowman spent the 2017 season acting as Hendrick Motorsports' simulator and test driver, along with two Xfinity Series starts. Bowman won his first NASCAR national series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October of that year.

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Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, team owner Rick Hendrick, Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, and crew members pose for a photo after winning the pole award during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

Robert Laberge | Getty Images

Bowman came out swinging in his first full-time season with Hendrick Motorsports, putting the No. 88 Chevrolet on the pole for the Daytona 500.

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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.

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

A third career full-time Cup season -- but first with Hendrick -- saw Bowman make the playoffs in 2018, earning three top-five and 11 top-10 finishes en route to ending the year 16th in the final standings.

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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media

Why the long face? Well, Bowman showed plenty of speed once the 2019 season kicked into gear, but fell just short of Victory Lane. Consecutive races at Talladega, Dover and Kansas all yielded second-place finishes.

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JOLIET, ILLINOIS - JUNE 30: Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, waves the checkered flag after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on June 30, 2019 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jonathan Daniel | Getty Images

And finally, a checkered flag. Alex Bowman saw his late-race lead disappear in the final 10 laps at Chicagoland, but he rallied to pass Kyle Larson moments later and win his first career NASCAR Cup Series race. Fittingly, he led 88 laps to do so.

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Chris Graythen | Getty Images

2019 was a solid year for Bowman. With one win, seven top fives, and 12 top 10s he qualified for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Bowman finished the season 12th overall.

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FONTANA, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 01: Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Cincinnati Chevrolet, celebrates his win in the NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on March 01, 2020 in Fontana, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Meg Oliphant | Getty Images

A dominant win in the third race of the 2020 season at Auto Club Speedway locked Bowman into the playoffs. He would ink an extension to stay at Hendrick two months later.

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Hendrick Motorsports announced on October 6 that Bowman would shift to the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet in 2021, replacing seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson.

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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 19: Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, stands on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 19, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Bowman reached the Round of 8 in the 2020 NASCAR Playoffs -- the furthest he's gone in the postseason. The 2020 season saw Bowman post career bests in top 10s (15), laps led (440) and standings finish (sixth).

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Alex Bowman celebrates his 2021 win at Dover

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This win at Dover in May 2021 was the second in 13 races to open the 2021 season as Bowman put the No. 48 Chevrolet back in Victory Lane for the first time since 2017.

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MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA - OCTOBER 31: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota, and Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 31, 2021 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Bowman was eliminated from the 2021 Cup Series Playoffs after the Round of 8, but he still played a pivotal role in the rest of the postseason. In the next-to-last race of the season, Bowman clashed with title contender Denny Hamlin as he bumped his way to victory at Martinsville Speedway. Bowman drew the ire of Hamlin post-race, but raised his win total to a career-best four for the season -- adding his Martinsville grandfather clock trophy to his 2021 triumphs at Richmond, Dover and Pocono.

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 06: Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 06, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Dylan Buell | Getty Images

It took Bowman just three races to find Victory Lane in 2022, earning his first checkered flag at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and seventh of his career. Though it was Bowman's lone win of the season, it qualified him for the playoffs and extended his streak of consecutive seasons with a win to four.

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AVONDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 06: Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 06, 2022 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Meg Oliphant | Getty Images

Bowman missed a handful of races during the 2022 season after suffering concussion-like symptoms from an in-race crash. Unfortunately for Bowman, he was eliminated from playoff contention during this span but the driver of the No. 48 did return to action in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway to the delight of racing fans.

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Chris Graythen | Getty Images

In February of 2023, Bowman signed a three-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports that will keep him in the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet through at least the 2026 season. Ally Financial also signed an extension with Hendrick Motorsports that runs through the 2028 campaign.

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Alex Bowman through the years in NASCAR