via Getty
AVONDALE, AZ – MARCH 08: Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, stands by his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series TicketGuardian 500 at ISM Raceway on March 8, 2019 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
via Getty
AVONDALE, AZ – MARCH 08: Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, stands by his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series TicketGuardian 500 at ISM Raceway on March 8, 2019 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Recently, Richmond race winner Alex Bowman arranged a surprise for his crew chief, Greg Ives. However, it is worth mentioning that Ives is not overly fond of surprises or being in the spotlight. Surprisingly, Ives does not like presents and lacks the ‘wow’ factor, though he appreciates the sentiment.
Nevertheless, Bowman and the No. 48 squad surprised him with a new throwback paint scheme. So, Alex Bowman will turn up at the Darlington Raceway in a seafoam-colored car. Apparently, the paint scheme is a tribute to Ives’ racing career in Super Late Models. After his Late Model career, he switched to NASCAR in the role of crew chief with Hendrick Motorsports and has been going strong for seven years.
A special #NASCARThrowback look for a special crew chief.
Get an inside look @Alex_Bowman’s No. 48 @allyracing Throwback Chevy that he will pilot @TooToughToTame on May 9!
📸: https://t.co/PXZRoXRA0T pic.twitter.com/20ghW7l6b8
— Hendrick Motorsports (@TeamHendrick) April 20, 2021
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“He definitely didn’t expect it,” Bowman said. “I don’t think he really understood what it was for a second. When he grasped what it was, he got really emotional. … He cried twice. He cried when he saw the car, and he cried when he saw the firesuit.”
Why did Alex Bowman do this for Ives?
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
According to Ives, he was always a quiet person who only cared about racing. During his second season in Super Late Models, he and his father bought a new car with the unique livery. Admittedly, he did not understand the paint scheme’s importance until much later, at the Wisconsin International Raceway.
USA Today via Reuters
Apr 18, 2021; Richmond, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (48) celebrates after winning the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Apparently, it resembled the car that the late Jim Pagel raced at Wisconsin in 1993. Now, that paint scheme will make an appearance at the Darlington Raceway. It is also worth mentioning that this is the first time in two years that Alex Bowman is not paying tribute to Jimmie Johnson or Tim Richmond. Otherwise, he ran throwback paint schemes at Darlington for Johnson in 2020 and Richmond in 2019.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
As a result, Bowman wanted to buck the trend and focus on how crew chief’s late model career. The Hendrick Motorsports team clearly approved of the idea, and even sponsor, Ally was on board with it. From there, they decided to surprise the 41-year-old and gave themselves a history lesson at the same time.
READ MORE: Alex Bowman Ready to “Carry On the Legacy” of NASCAR Legend Jimmie Johnson in the 48 Car
