No racing plans for Bowman beyond the Clash: Alex Bowman’s focus [now] returns to NASCAR. And when it comes to unemployed Monster Energy Cup drivers, it would difficult to find one with as much potential as Bowman. The 23-year-old racer for Tuscon, Arizona, had the opportunity to audition last season in the #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy while substituting for the sidelined Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his performance was solid. But with less than a month before NASCAR teams report to Daytona International Speedway for Speedweeks, the only race on Bowman’s schedule so far is The Clash at Daytona. Although he’s posted one pole, three top fives and seven top 10s in 11 starts for JR Motorsports, Bowman doesn’t have the backing to make a full-time Xfinity Series ride work with the team. But he’s not giving up hope. “It’s just money,” Bowman said. “This sport is so money-driven and it’s not a fully funded deal. I can’t write a check to drive a car. I’m trying to get checks written to me to drive a car. If the right situation came up and there was a good sponsor and everything fit, it absolutely would be a possibility. But right now, there’s no funding to go do it.” He still has his day job with Hendrick Motorsports. He’ll still test for the organization and drive the simulator.(Motorsport)(1-19-2017)
