Alex Bowman steps into the spotlight as Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s replacement

When Alex Bowman had finished making his lap in Daytona 500 qualifying on Sunday, crew chief Greg Ives came on the radio with a few questions for his driver. What Ives did not do was inform Bowman of his lap time around Daytona International Speedway and based on Ives’ inflection, Bowman surmised he hadn’t posted a pole-winning speed.

He figured wrong. The 24-year-old had actually run a lap good enough to unseat Denny Hamlin from the pole, earning himself the top position for next Sunday’s Daytona 500.

“Greg came over the radio in a really depressing voice like, ‘You ran 46 (seconds) flat, what are your temps?’” Bowman said. “I’m like, ‘Greg, where is that?’ He’s like, ‘P1.’ I’m like, OK, cool.’”

All part of the learning process for Bowman, who is in his first season working with Ives on a full-time basis. Bowman was essentially handpicked by Dale Earnhardt Jr. to take his spot on Hendrick Motorsports’ roster when the latter decided to retire after last season. That thrusted Bowman into an opportunity of a lifetime: A chance with one of NASCAR’s superior organizations.

Securing a ride with Hendrick, however, brings with it certain expectations, of which Bowman will need to fulfill. And he will need to generate feel-good moments beyond what transpires in qualifying on a restrictor-plate track where success has more to do with horsepower and mechanical knowhow than the driver behind the wheel.

There is a reason, after all, why Hendrick has won four straight Daytona 500 poles and six of the past nine. And why the No. 88 team led by Ives has now won three straight poles on restrictor plate track dating back to the last year.

“The car has been fast since we unloaded,” Bowman said. “… Everybody worked so hard this winter. I just got to hold the steering wheel.”

The real test of whether Bowman is up to the task of filling the seat formerly occupied by NASCAR’s 15-time most popular driver will come in the weeks and months ahead. Can he replicate what he did at Phoenix Raceway in 2016, when substituting for the injured Earnhardt he would’ve likely won were it not for an untimely late caution?

Bowman certainly possesses the experience to maximize the situation. Although it was with BK Racing and Tommy Baldwin Racing — on the opposite end of the competitive spectrum compared to where Hendrick resides — Bowman has 81 Cup Series starts to his name. That’s four more than heralded teammate Chase Elliott, who is entering his third full season.

“He’s earned his position in that car,” said Denny Hamlin, who qualified second. “He subbed phenomenally for Dale Jr., and I thought he really earned that ride.

“I think he’ll be the surprising young guy of this year, being that he does have the experience. He’s just now in a car that will be contending for race wins week in and week out.”

But as Bowman embarks on a season where he faces outsized expectations and scrutiny whether he is deserving of a plum ride, starting off things on a positive note certainly doesn’t hurt. Team owner Rick Hendrick has an obvious fondness for him, with the two even planning to drag race their Corvettes with the winner getting the other’s pink slip.

And while Hendrick Motorsports is coming off a down season by its lofty standards, this remains an organization that saw its four drivers combine for four wins and earn three playoff berths.

Unless things go completely askew and a team-wide restructuring doesn’t take, the chances to win will be there. It’s up to Bowman to capitalize.

“What I look for is just being able to perform and compete,” Hendrick said. “Run up front and you’ll win some races.

And besides job security, winning brings Bowman another tangible benefit.

”You win a race this year and I’m going to pay your car off,” Hendrick said.