DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – With his fresh contract extension announced, Alex Bowman carried a confidence on Wednesday befitting a driver that holds the record for most consecutive front row starts in the DAYTONA 500.
"It means a lot obviously to have Mr. Hendrick and Ally have that much faith in me," Bowman said during DAYTONA 500 Media Day. "I'm so glad it’s signed and done before the season started and we can get that out of the way and just focus on going and winning races. ...It is special to be driving for Hendrick Motorsports."
RELATED: Ally, Bowman extend with Hendrick Motorsports
In the morning, Hendrick Motorsports announced a three-year extension with Bowman and a five-year extension with Ally Financial. The deal continues Ally’s full-season primary sponsorship of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and keeps Bowman behind the wheel of that ride through at least the 2026 season.
In his first two seasons partnered with Ally, Bowman has posted five wins – tied for the third-most in that stretch. The digital financial services company has also supported Bowman’s dirt racing endeavors with Alex Bowman Racing. In January, Ally was a partner for all three of ABR’s entries in the Chili Bowl Nationals. Earlier this month, Ally became an Official Partner of NASCAR as well. The company has also expanded its motor sports footprint in recent years, serving as the title sponsor of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway.
Off the track, the organization has worked with Bowman to support a cause that the 29-year-old driver is passionate about – rescue animals. One of his two dogs, Roscoe, is a rescued beagle mix that was adopted over 10 years ago. Together, the two have worked to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars alongside Best Friends Animal Society.
"To have their support and how they are all in on everything they do, it is a lot of fun," Bowman said of Ally. "All the charitable stuff we’ve done has been really good and I am looking forward to doing a lot more in the future."
PHOTOS: See the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 primary paint schemes for 2023
Bowman’s time with Hendrick Motorsports dates back to 2016 when he filled in for a sidelined Dale Earnhardt Jr. for 10 races on the No. 88 Chevrolet. He was tapped to drive that car full-time in 2018 after Earnhardt Jr.’s final season and continued with the No. 88 on his door through the 2020 season. In 2021, the Tucson, Arizona, native shifted to the No. 48 Chevrolet with Ally serving as the full-season sponsor.
In his five seasons to date with the Rick Hendrick-owned team, Bowman has reached the playoffs and at least the Round of 12 in every season. He has totaled seven wins for the organization with a season-best mark of four coming in 2021, which was also his first season partnered with Ally. The 2023 season marks a new chapter for Bowman as Blake Harris takes the reins atop the pit box from Greg Ives.
RELATED: All of Alex Bowman's wins at Hendrick Motorsports
The 29-year-old’s grind and effort have not gone unnoticed by his teammates.
"Alex is a really good dude and he has worked really hard to be where he is at," Chase Elliott said. "He brings a lot to the table behind the scenes that doesn’t get seen. Personally, being a teammate of his, I appreciate his efforts and his willingness to help or talk about whatever may be. I’m super glad to have him and look forward to these coming years together."
Hendrick Motorsports' four-man lineup of Bowman, Elliott, William Byron and Kyle Larson have combined to win 28 points-paying races over the last two seasons. During that time, that total stands as the most in the series.
"We obviously have a really good group between the four of us," Bowman said. "We all bring something different to the table. I feel like having that and building on that for the foreseeable future is really cool. It’s a great group and I think it’s a positive thing."
Bowman’s extension marks the fourth driver extension that the organization has inked over the last 12 months and team’s driver roster is intact for at least the next three seasons. Elliott signed a five-year deal last February that runs through 2027. Byron inked a three-year pact in May that runs through 2025. Larson’s three-year contract signed in September keeps him in the fold through 2026.
"Having all four of us solid at Hendrick Motorsports is a good thing," Larson said. "I’m happy to have Alex with the team. We are great friends. He’s probably who I am closest with because of our connection through dirt racing. Happy that we are both at Hendrick Motorsports for the foreseeable future."
