GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Summer in Michigan means the return of NASCAR, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s official replacement in the No. 88 car is ready.
“Michigan is by far the fastest place we go, so that’s pretty cool,” said NASCAR driver Alex Bowman. “It’s always fun coming to a really fast race track. It adds its own layers of difficulty, but it’s a fast track, super narrow. Racing gets a little tough, but it’s a lot of fun as well.”
Bowman, 25, will compete in the Consumers Energy 400 at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn on Aug. 12.
While expectations for the No. 88 car are high, Bowman says he puts more pressure on himself than anybody else is going to.
“I want to win races and I want to run well. You can’t see the door number from the seat,” Bowman said, in a nod to Ernhardt Jr.’s race legacy.
Bowman has been driving on closed race tracks since he was 7 years old. He says racing for Hendrick Motor Sports is his dream come true.
“Every work day is a bunch of fun. It’s a lot of traveling, but it’s a dream come true… it’s an amazing opportunity just to be here with Hendrick Motor Sports and just trying to make the most of it,” he said during a promotional stop in Grand Rapids.
Tickets to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race start at $35 for adults. Children 12 and younger are free on Fridays and Saturdays; Sunday admission for those ages was $15. Their campsites at the track start at $160. To purchase passes, visit MIS’ website or call 888.905.7223.