Career Timeline of Alex Bowman: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Alex Bowman made an impact.

Alex Bowman is an American professional stock car racing driver currently competing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports, driving the No. 48 Chevrolet ZL1, and part-time in the Xfinity Series. He also owns Alex Bowman Racing, a Dirt Midget and Sprint car racing team. Bowman is notable for achieving a record six consecutive front-row starts in the Daytona 500 from 2018 to 2023, securing the pole position in 2018, 2021, and 2023.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2000: Start of Racing Career

In 2000, at the age of seven, Alex Bowman started his racing career on short tracks in Arizona and California, driving quarter midget cars.

2006: USAC Achievements

By 2006, Alex Bowman had won nine national championships and had 165 feature wins in United States Auto Club (USAC) competition.

2008: USAC Championship

In 2008, Alex Bowman won the USAC National Focus Midget championship with 11 wins, as well as the California Dirt Focus Midget championship.

2009: USAC Rookie of the Year

In 2009, Alex Bowman was named USAC National Midget Rookie of the Year.

2010: Move to Stock Car Racing

In 2010, at the age of 18, Alex Bowman moved to full-bodied stock car racing.

2011: ARCA Racing Series Wins

In 2011, Alex Bowman competed in two ARCA Racing Series events for Venturini Motorsports, winning both events at Madison International Speedway and Kansas Speedway.

2011: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East

In 2011, Alex Bowman moved to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East with X Team Racing, finishing sixth in series points and winning Rookie of the Year honors.

2012: NASCAR Nationwide Series Debut

In 2012, Alex Bowman made his debut at the national level of NASCAR competition, driving for Turner Motorsports in the Nationwide Series at Chicagoland Speedway.

2012: Full-Time ARCA

In 2012, Alex Bowman moved full-time to ARCA for Cunningham Motorsports as a development driver for Penske Racing, winning races at Salem Speedway, Winchester Speedway, Iowa Speedway, and Kansas Speedway over the course of the year.

January 2013: Full Nationwide Series Season

In January 2013, it was announced that Alex Bowman would be running the full Nationwide Series season for RAB in 2013, competing for Rookie of the Year honors.

January 2014: BK Racing Hiring

In January 2014, Alex Bowman tested for BK Racing and was announced as the driver for the No. 23 car, running the full 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season for Rookie of the Year.

2014: Return to Nationwide Series

In 2014, Alex Bowman returned to the Nationwide Series, driving the No. 80 for Hattori Racing Enterprises at Dover, while driving the No. 5 JR Motorsports Chevy at Charlotte and Phoenix.

January 30, 2015: Drives for Tommy Baldwin Racing

On January 30, 2015, Alex Bowman was announced to drive the full 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season in the No. 7 car for Tommy Baldwin Racing.

2015: Xfinity and Truck Series Starts

During the 2015 season, Alex Bowman made starts in the Xfinity Series with Athenian Motorsports and a Truck Series race with JRM.

January 21, 2016: Parting Ways with Tommy Baldwin Racing

On January 21, 2016, Alex Bowman parted ways with Tommy Baldwin Racing, losing his Sprint Cup ride.

December 2016: Running No. 88 in Clash at Daytona

In December 2016, Rick Hendrick announced that Bowman would run the No. 88 in place of Earnhardt Jr. for the 2017 Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona.

2016: Alternating the No. 88 Car

For the balance of the 2016 season, Alex Bowman and Jeff Gordon alternated in the No. 88 car. Bowman won his first career pole at Phoenix, leading the most laps but finishing sixth.

2016: Interim Driver for Hendrick Motorsports

In 2016, Alex Bowman returned to the Cup Series driving the No. 88 for Hendrick Motorsports as an interim driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

2016: Fall Phoenix race pole

In 2016, Bowman won Fall Phoenix race pole.

2016: Joins JRM for Xfinity Races

On November 11, Alex Bowman joined JRM for nine races in the No. 88 for the 2016 Xfinity season, winning a pole at Michigan and finishing in the top-ten in all but two races.

2017: First NASCAR National Series Win

In 2017, Alex Bowman joined GMS Racing to run the Truck Series race at Atlanta and later drove the No. 42 Xfinity car of Chip Ganassi Racing, winning his first NASCAR national series race at Charlotte.

2017: Support to Replace Earnhardt Jr.

In 2017, Dale Earnhardt Jr. expressed support for Bowman to replace him in the No. 88 for the 2018 season after announcing his retirement.

2017: No 48 Returned to Victory Lane

In 2021, the No. 48 returned to Victory Lane for the first time since Jimmie Johnson won the 2017 AAA 400 Drive for Autism

2018: Daytona 500 Pole and Playoff Debut

Alex Bowman opened up the 2018 season on February 11 by winning the pole for the 2018 Daytona 500 and made his Playoff debut.

2018: Consecutive Front Row Starts

In 2018, Alex Bowman began a record streak of consecutive front-row starts in the Daytona 500.

2018: Return to the West Series

In 2018, Alex Bowman made his return to the west series at Sonoma Raceway, driving the No. 24 for Bill McAnally Racing.

2018: Named Driver of No. 88 Car

On July 20, Hendrick Motorsports formally named Alex Bowman as the driver of the No. 88 car in 2018.

2019: First Cup Series Win

At the 2019 Camping World 400 at Chicagoland Speedway, Alex Bowman won his first Cup Series race after dominating the final stage and passing Kyle Larson. He advanced to the Round of 12 in the playoffs.

2019: Improved Finishes in 2019 Season

The 2019 season saw improvement in Alex Bowman's finishes, including three consecutive second-place finishes. He also made the All-Star Race by winning the Fan Vote.

March 1, 2020: Second Cup Series Win

On March 1, 2020, Alex Bowman secured his second career NASCAR Cup Series win at the Auto Club 400, leading 110 laps.

2021: Multiple Wins and Contract Extension

In 2021, Alex Bowman started the season by winning the pole at the Daytona 500 and won races at Richmond, Dover, and Pocono. He signed a contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports through 2023 and finished 14th in the points standings.

2021: Daytona 500 Pole

In 2021, Alex Bowman won the pole position for the Daytona 500.

2021: Move to the No. 48 Car

On October 6, 2020, Hendrick Motorsports announced that Alex Bowman would switch to the No. 48 car for the 2021 season, replacing Jimmie Johnson, and inheriting Ally Financial's sponsorship.

2022: Concussion and Missed Races

In 2022, Alex Bowman's season included qualifying 2nd for the Daytona 500, a win at Las Vegas, and a concussion sustained at Texas, which forced him to miss several races. He was cleared to return for the title decider race on October 28 and finished 16th in points.

2022: Spire Motorsports Truck Series Entry

In 2022, Spire Motorsports announced that Alex Bowman would be driving their #7 truck series entry at COTA with sponsorship from HendrickCars.com.

2023: Contract Extension

In 2021, Alex Bowman signed a contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports through 2023.

2023: Consecutive Front Row Starts

In 2023, Alex Bowman continued a record streak of consecutive front-row starts in the Daytona 500, winning the pole.

2023: Fifth place finish at the 2023 Daytona 500

In 2023, Bowman started the season with a fifth place finish at the Daytona 500, marking a positive start to his racing year.

2023: Ally Financial signing a five-year extension with HMS

In 2023, Bowman's sponsor, Ally Financial, signed a five-year extension with HMS, demonstrating their continued support for Bowman's racing career.

2024: Second Place at Daytona 500

In 2024, Bowman began the season with a strong showing, finishing second to his teammate William Byron at the Daytona 500.

2024: Chicago Street Race Win

In 2024, Bowman ended an 80-race winless streak by securing a victory at the Chicago street race, utilizing wet tires to make a late-race pass on Joey Hand.

2024: Bowman entered the 2024 NASCAR playoffs as the 12th seed

In 2024, Bowman entered the NASCAR playoffs as the 12th seed after winning at the Chicago street race.

2024: 5th career Cup Series pole for the playoff race at Bristol

On September 20, 2024, Bowman achieved his 5th career Cup Series pole for the playoff race at Bristol the next evening, marking his first pole since the 2016 Fall Phoenix race, excluding Daytona 500 poles.