Alex Bowman's approach to superspeedway racing differs from Dale Jr.
The former driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series was known as an ace on NASCAR’s superspeedways.
Alex Bowman
Harold Hinson Photography
The current occupant? Not so much.
One of the apparent differences in Alex Bowman taking over the driving duties of Hendrick’s No. 88 this season is that the 24-year-old native of Tucson, Ariz., doesn’t quite have the same affinity toward restrictor-plate racing as his predecessor, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
“I wouldn’t say superspeedway racing is my favorite. I like races that you can control your own destiny and superspeedway racing you definitely can’t do that,” Bowman said Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.
“I am going to try to make the most of it, try to keep the Nationwide No. 88 up front, but it’s going to be a learning experience.”
Helping with that learning experience has been frequent conversations with Earnhardt, including as recently as Friday night, talking about such topics and who to draft with and when and what racing lines around the track work the best.
But Earnhardt’s most important advice didn’t necessarily have to do with on-track competition.
“I think his biggest message is just to have fun with everything. I definitely previously, 2013, 2014, 2015, I probably stressed myself out too much with things (and) not enjoyed being a race car driver like I should have,” Bowman said.
“He has seen that and wants me to have as much fun as I can with this opportunity. I’m the first person that tells you that I’m not too stressed out. I’m not taking anything too hard, I just want to go have fun and enjoy this because it’s a dream come true for me.
“Definitely talked about having fun with stuff and at the same time he gave me some drafting tips and superspeedway racing tips that I’m going to try to keep to myself. He has been great to lean on and always has been for me.”
In eight combined starts at Daytona and Talladega in the Cup series, Bowman has failed to register a top-10 finish. His best start was 14th at Talladega in the fall race in 2014 and his best finish was 13th at the July Daytona race, also in the 2014 season.
While filling in for Earnhardt in the fall Talladega race during the 2017 season, Bowman got first-hand experience running at the front of large packs that are common to superspeedway racing.
He also noticed quite a bit about the change in competition.
“The mid-pack to back-of-the-pack guys, if they get behind a good car, it doesn’t really matter who is driving it they are going to push you. They are not going to hang you out,” Bowman said.
“Whereas you get to the front and it’s cutthroat (and) anybody will hang you out, nobody wants to really push you if they don’t have to.
“It’s definitely interesting to see how they characteristics of the pack change through the pack and just the characteristics of getting pushed by Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin versus a mid-pack guy who is going to stick with you.”
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