Hendrick Motorsports made the announcement earlier this week. It finalizes one of the missing puzzle pieces in the NASCAR rumor mill known as “Silly Season.” That’s when fans speculate on what driver will fill open seats next season.

Bowman, who already pilots the No. 88 for Hendrick should be familiar with his situation. Two seasons ago he took over the No. 88 Chevrolet for then Hendrick driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Earnhardt has since moved to the broadcast booth for NBC sports.

“It’s definitely pretty similar, you go from (replacing) the most popular driver of all time to (replacing) arguably the greatest of all time,” Bowman told the Associated Press. “It’s just an honor for me to get to drive another car with a great number.”

Johnson and Bowman have a similar path to the Cup Series. Johnson was a young driver working his way up looking for a competitive ride when he approached Jeff Gordon for advice before a race. Gordon – already a seasoned driver and partial owner – must have been impressed.

Those conversations turned into Hendrick and Gordon starting the No. 48 team just for Johnson to pilot. Johnson drove the car in all but one race (737) since the team’s inception. He missed one race due to a positive COVID-19 test. Justin Allgaier filled in for him.

Bowman’s path to the Cup Series is somewhat similar. He made several starts in lower series before taking a chance for a part-time opening at Dale Earnhardt Jr’s team which is associated with Hendrick. The move paid off with several Xfinity starts. When Earnhardt was sidelined due to concussion concerns, Bowman filled the Cup Series seat for ten races.

Once that door closed, Alex Bowman stayed with Hendrick as their test simulator driver for an entire season. When Earnhardt stepped away from the No. 88, Hendrick announced him as the new driver.

Since then, he’s won two Cup Series races and made the Playoffs battling for a Championship.

“Every season, Alex gets better,” team owner Rick Hendrick said. “Not only do we see it in the statistics, but his confidence and leadership have truly blossomed. Today he’s a proven winner and playoff contender, and his best years are ahead.”

Jimmie Johnson, who will run a limited schedule in the Indy Car Series next season, added his thoughts to Hendrick’s remarks.

“He earned his way into the (No.) 88 car through hard work and dedication and doing the stuff nobody else wanted to do,” Johnson said. “He’s been running great and he deserves the opportunity to drive the 48.”

Bowman reflected on becoming a piece of history on becoming only the second full-time driver of the No. 48 for Hendrick Motorsports. And on the fact that he’s been tapped by Hendrick – once again – to step into the car of a legendary driver

“I know I’m going to get a lot of the same questions I’ve answered the last couple of years, just replace (the name) Jimmie Johnson for Dale Earnhardt Jr,” Bowman said. “For everyone who has the confidence in me to do it just means the world to me.”

However, “Silly Season” continues! When Alex Bowman moves his helmet from one end of the Hendrick garage to the other to the No. 48 – who drives the No. 88 next season?

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Hamlin, now with 42 career wins, passed Hall of Fame driver Mark Martin who retired with 40 checkered flags. Hamlin joins Jimmie Johnson (83 wins), Kyle Busch (56), and Kevin Harvick (53 wins) as one of only four active drivers on NASCAR’s all-time win list.

Following his most recent win at Kansas, the driver spoke – as he often does, about how hard his team works giving them much of the credit for his success.

“I don’t know we had the best car. We definitely had a top-three car all day,” Hamlin said after the race. “We just went for it there at the end. The pit crew did an amazing job getting us out there in front.”

Hamlin started driving in the Cup Series in 2005 when he entered only seven races during the season. Amazingly, he finished with a top-ten run and a pole that year. In 2006 he became a full-time Cup Series driver and scored two wins that year with 18 top-ten runs and three polls.

The NASCAR season is not over yet with the Cup Series Playoffs on the horizon. Hamlin could certainly log a few more checkered flags this year. And, he’s probably got several more under his belt before he retires. Only two more wins will tie him with Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott who scored 44 Cup Series victories during his career.

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