CONCORD, N.C. -- This weekend at Kentucky Speedway, Alex Bowman and his No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE will bring back the race-winning Cincinnati maroon and black paint scheme.
The race-winning sponsor has played a huge part behind the scenes at Hendrick Motorsports. Located an hour north of Kentucky Speedway, Cincinnati Inc. is one of the largest machine tool manufacturers in the United States. The Ohio-based company is the Official Metal Fabrication and Additive Equipment Provider for Hendrick Motorsports after it signed an exciting 10-year deal with the 12-time Cup Series champions in 2019.
Hendrick Motorsports utilizes Cincinnati’s stage-of-the-art equipment in the development and construction of its full fleet of Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE’s. The Cincinnati organization is instrumental in providing 3D printing for custom parts, especially in the automotive world. The team currently has Cincinnati’s laser, press break and 3D printers in its shop, which help the engineers and other shop employees construct and develop the custom Chevrolet’s for each NASCAR Cup Series event.
“Having the ability to make precise parts makes a huge difference as far as the finished product,” said Alex Ossowski, Hendrick Motorsports’ metal shaping manager. “Every little detail is important (with our cars) and it all starts from the beginning. The initial manufacturing with these machines is the start to a great finished product that wins races."
Other items Cincinnati produces are laser cutting systems, press brakes, shears, powdered metal presses, machines for plasma cutting, and much more for large-scale metal manufacturing.
Cincinnati also has been instrumental during the coronavirus pandemic, using its machinery to create PPE for essential workers. Its additive manufacturing equipment has produced face shields in an efficient and inexpensive way. With the help of the Cincinnati equipment on campus, Hendrick Motorsports teamed up with a group of physicians at Charlotte-based Atrium Health to provide extra PPE. Hendrick Motorsports engineers helped create added protection to medical workers on the front lines for Atrium, one of the nation's leading healthcare organizations.
Cincinnati stated it plans to keep making the PPE equipment for as long as healthcare facilities need the face shields during the pandemic.
Now Cincinnati will have a chance to adorn another race-winning machine this weekend. Bowman took his Cincinnati car to victory lane at Auto Club Speedway on March 1, marking his second career victory in the Cup Series. The 27-year-old driver dominated all day, leading for 110 laps and winning the first stage in the 400-mile event. This win secured the No. 88 team’s spot in the 2020 Cup Series playoffs.
Fans will have a chance to see Bowman represent the winning scheme during the Kentucky race. Tune in on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1.