Alex Bowman to race No. 88 in The Clash at Daytona
Along with the announcement of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. being cleared to race in 2017 came good news for Alex Bowman.
The 23-year-old, who filled in for Dale Jr. in 10 races in 2016, will drive the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet SS one more time in The Clash at Daytona International Speedway, the season-opening non-points race for pole position winners from the previous season.
Bowman won the pole for the Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway in November, and without a full-time ride for 2017, there were talks about how he would compete in The Clash.
Recently, team owner Rick Hendrick said that he would find a way to put Bowman in The Clash but hadn't confirmed which car he'd drive. Now, everything is set for Bowman to get behind the wheel of the No. 88 one more time.
“Alex did such a great job in the car this year, and I felt like he deserved another opportunity,” Earnhardt, Jr. said of his 2016 replacement. “When I spoke with Rick and the team about him driving The Clash, everyone agreed that he more than earned it, and Nationwide was 100-percent on board. I’m really grateful to him and Jeff for what they did for our team, and I’m glad Alex is getting another run with us.”
— Alex Bowman (@AlexBRacing) December 8, 2016
[pullquote align="center" attribution=""]So glad @DaleJr is cleared and ready to go for the 500! Thankful to keep the @nationwide88 seat warm during The Clash! pic.twitter.com/h4gs5aSyIA[/pullquote]
