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Bowman eyeing Victory Lane in his only scheduled Cup start for 2017

When it comes to mentoring his protege, Alex Bowman, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been selfless.

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Images

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Bowman filled in for the driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet, who was sidelined with a concussion midway through last season. Bowman will reprise his substitute role again on Saturday night in the Advance Auto Parts Clash.

Earnhardt, who tops all current drivers at restrictor plate tracks with four wins at Daytona International Speedway and six at Talladega Superspeedway, has offered advice to the 23-year-old racer. Earnhardt provided Bowman with points prior to Talladega last fall and was equally helpful leading into Saturday night’s Advance Auto Parts Clash.

I think we are starting eighth, hopefully we get up front, stay up front and win the race.

Alex Bowman on Daytona Clash

But when asked to divulge the secret to Earnhardt’s success, Bowman isn’t budging.

“I would tell you, but then I would have to kill you,” Bowman said with a smirk. “Dale has been great to lean on. Not only Dale, but all of my teammates are really good at these races. Getting to lean on everybody has been really helpful.

“At Talladega, we were up front until the end and got in a wreck. There is not really one thing that I can say that is huge. It is just how he approaches the races overall, and how he puts the races together at these places. I can kind of take some of that and recreate it, and hopefully stay up front on Saturday.”

Daytona experience

Bowman has three starts at Daytona International Speedway. His best result was 13th in the 2014 July race. That was before he aligned with Hendrick Motorsports. Connecting with the NASCAR juggernaut has revitalized his Cup career.

“Honestly, it was kind of just gaining a lot of confidence back,” Bowman said. “I spent a lot of years driving different equipment and you always feel like you can get the job done as a race car driver, but sometimes you kind of get down on yourself. Definitely felt like last year I proved to myself and everybody else that I deserve a shot to be here.

“At the same time, I learned a lot from all my teammates at Hendrick Motorsports and getting to lean on all those guys was so much fun. It still is fun. I’m glad to continue to be a part of the team. To get to lean on a seven-time champion in Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, Chase Elliott, Dale Jr., Kasey Kahne, there are so many smart people. It’s been a lot of fun. It’s been a learning experience and just trying to make the most of every opportunity that I get.”

What's up next?

Bowman is still looking for that next opportunity. Although he tested for Chevrolet at Phoenix earlier this month and drives the simulator at Hendrick Motorsports, he has not locked in a ride for 2017.

“I drive the simulator about three days a week, I’m pretty busy with that,” Bowman said. “Anytime the Chevrolet Wheel Force car runs I’m driving that. Like Monday and Tuesday I will be in (Las) Vegas running that. I will kind of be all over the place. I do have a couple of races, not in the Cup Series, but in some other stuff coming up. Excited about that I can’t really talk a whole lot about it, but I will be racing some stuff.

“Really, I will be hanging out at the shop and coming to the race track when I can just trying to be a sponge and learn as much as I can.”

Feeling the pressure

For Bowman, Saturday’s clash will provide the young driver with another chance to showcase his talent. However, after running with Hendrick Motorsports, it would be difficult to just settle for a mediocre ride.

And if there wasn’t enough pressure on Bowman already, Earnhardt will be among the FOX Sports commentators calling the Clash on Sunday.

“I would say here and Talladega, more than anywhere else, that adds a lot of pressure,” Bowman said. “He is such a good superspeedway racer. I feel like I do a good job, but I don’t have the experience he has by any means. So just trying to do my best and really lean on him for advice when I can. T.J. (Majors) is so good at spotting these races, and these race cars that Hendrick Motorsports brings to these races are so good.

“I think we are starting eighth, hopefully we get up front, stay up front and win the race. It’s another race. It’s another opportunity to have a lot of fun with Hendrick Motorsports. That is something I kind of tried to do all last season was just to have fun and that is what we are going to try to do on Saturday night and hopefully bring home a trophy.”

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