Bowman Lands Limited Schedule For JR Motorsports

Alex Bowman, the 22-year-old racer from Tucson, Ariz., will drive nine NASCAR Xfinity Series races for JR Motorsports in the No. 88 Chevrolet next season, the team announced today.  Bowman becomes the fourth driver named to the lineup of JRM’s No. 88 “All-Star” car for 2016, joining Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne.

The primary sponsor for Bowman’s races will be announced at a later date.  With the addition of Bowman, the No. 88 team’s driver roster now accounts for 19 of 33 races.

“Alex is a very strong addition to our team,” said Kelley Earnhardt Miller, general manager of JR Motorsports.  “That’s evident from the talent he’s displayed in the Xfinity Series and at the Cup level.  Given that he has already raced for JR Motorsports, this is a natural fit.  The 88 team has set the bar high and we’re confident it will continue that trend with Alex in 2016.”

Bowman’s nine-race schedule is as follows: Dover International Speedway (May 14), Pocono Raceway (June 4), Iowa Speedway (June 19), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (July 16), Watkins Glen International (Aug. 6), Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Aug. 13), Richmond International Raceway (Sept. 9), Dover International Speedway (Oct. 1) and his hometown track Phoenix International Raceway (Nov. 12).

“This is such a great opportunity,” said Bowman.  “Being able to race in top-notch equipment with a team like JR Motorsports is all I could ask for, really.  I had a good experience driving for them in the past and I know we’ll be competing for wins next year.  That’s a great feeling.”

Bowman’s résumé includes more than 100 starts across NASCAR's top-three series.  In 2014, he made two starts for JRM at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway, earning respective finishes of 12^th and 17^th.  Earlier this season, Bowman made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in JRM’s No. 00 entry.

Bowman joins a competitive team, as two of JR Motorsports’ five wins this season have been delivered by the No. 88 car, both with Harvick behind the wheel (Atlanta Motor Speedway on Feb. 28 and Auto Club Speedway on March 21).  The No. 88 team has also earned eight top-five and 17 top-10 finishes in 31 races with Harvick, Earnhardt Jr., Kahne, Ben Rhodes and Josh Berry.

Bowman becomes the third driver in the last five weeks added to JRM’s 2016 roster.  JRM announced on Oct. 2 that Elliott Sadler will race for a championship with OneMain Financial as his primary sponsor and on Oct. 28 that Justin Allgaier will compete for the NXS title in the No. 7 with BRANDT as his primary.  The No. 88 team drivers that will join Bowman, Earnhardt Jr., Harvick and Kahne will be announced at a later date.