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FONTANA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 29: Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Cincinnati Chevrolet, walks on the grid before qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on February 29, 2020 in Fontana, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
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FONTANA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 29: Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Cincinnati Chevrolet, walks on the grid before qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on February 29, 2020 in Fontana, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season has finally kicked off. Alex Bowman drew first blood when he snatched pole position for this weekend’s Daytona 500.
Speaking after the qualifying session, he declared that he was really proud of the team. Bowman was also glad that William Byron made it a Hendrick 1-2 on the front row.
He said, “Pretty awesome for the #24 and #48 teams to be on the front row. I’m just so excited, ready to get going tomorrow night and on Sunday. Proud of my whole race team and thanks to Chevy.
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Everybody at Hendrick Motorsports for working so hard on the race cars. Gave us some really fast cars and it should be a good one.”
Alex Bowman is making his predecessor proud
It is also worth mentioning that Bowman is driving the car that powered Jimmie Johnson to 7 Cup titles. Suffice to say, the younger driver has a daunting legacy to live up to.
However, Johnson will likely want Alex Bowman to establish his own legacy in the sport. On the other hand, it will take some time for the fans to get used to seeing someone else in the #48 car.
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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)
Now, Alex Bowman will be looking forward to the Daytona 500 race, with Byron lining up alongside him. Meanwhile, reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott could only muster 12th fastest. Finally, Kyle Larson brought up the last of the Hendrick quartet in 15th place.
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Behind Bowman and Byron are Aric Almirola and an impressive Bubba Wallace. Additionally, Ricky Stenhouse Jr completes the top-5 ahead of Kevin Harvick, Christopher Bell, Ryan Preece, Austin Dillon and Daniel Suarez.
Denny Hamlin just missed out on a top-10 slot, with Elliott behind him in 12th. Kyle Larson finds himself as the meat in a Busch brothers’ sandwich, with Kurt ahead of Kyle.
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Ryan Blaney leads the Penske charge ahead of Austin Cindric in 18th and 19th respectively, with Joey Logano in 21st and Brad Keselowski in 26th places.
READ MORE – Alex Bowman Claims Record Pole Position as Hendrick Dominates NASCAR Daytona 500 Qualifying Again
