Alex Bowman is set to drive in two races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series as the replacement for the suspended Spencer Gallagher at GMS Racing.
GMS Racing’s Spencer Gallagher was suspended for violating NASCAR’s substance abuse policy following his win in the Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway in his #23 Chevrolet on Saturday, April 28, which was his first career win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Because of Gallagher’s suspension, GMS Racing replaced him with NASCAR Truck Series regular Johnny Sauter in the #23 GMS Racing Chevrolet in the race at Dover International Speedway a few weeks ago, and they replaced him with NASCAR Cup Series regular Chase Elliott in the races at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway over the last two weeks.
Elliott is set to drive the #23 GMS Racing Chevrolet in three more races throughout the rest of the Xfinity Series season. The team have now announced who another one of Gallagher’s replacements will be for two races, and that driver is one of Elliott’s three teammates in the Cup Series.
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Alex Bowman, who drives the #88 Chevrolet full-time in the Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports, is set to replace Gallagher in the #23 GMS Racing Chevrolet in two Xfinity Series races over the next few weeks.
In his 52 career Xfinity Series races, including 32 races over the course of his lone full-time season in the series in 2013, Bowman drove for six teams, but none of them were GMS Racing. He drove for Turner Motorsports, RAB Racing, Hattori Racing Enterprises, JR Motorsports, Athenian Motorsports and Chip Ganassi Racing. When he drove full-time in the series, he drove for RAB Racing.
The 25-year-old Bowman last drove in the Xfinity Series earlier toward the end of last season in the race at ISM Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. He finished in eighth place in that race as the driver of the #42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet.
Bowman won the only other Xfinity Series race in which he drove last season. His win in that race, which was held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, was his first career Xfinity Series victory. He drove the #42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet in that race as well.
Bowman is set to return to the Xfinity Series this Saturday, June 9 in the LTi Printing 250 at Michigan International Raceway before he drives in the Firekeepers Casino 400 at the track the following afternoon in the Cup Series.
The other race in which Bowman is scheduled to drive the #23 GMS Racing Chevrolet this season is the Alsco 300 at Kentucky Speedway on Friday, July 13 before he drives in the Quaker State 400 at the track the following night in the Cup Series.
Here is what Bowman had to say about getting the chance to drive in two races for GMS Racing in the Xfinity Series, according to NASCAR.com.
"“I want to thank GMS Racing for letting me race the No. 23 Chevrolet this weekend in Michigan. Last time I was in the Xfinity race at the track, we started on the pole and I was able to lead some laps. I am looking forward to this weekend and what we can do on track with the No. 23 team.”"
Bowman is still set to compete full-time in the Cup Series.
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How will Alex Bowman perform in the Xfinity Series as a part-time driver for GMS Racing in his two races driving for the team over the course of the next few weeks? Tune in to Fox at 1:30 p.m. ET this Saturday, June 9 to watch the live broadcast of LTi Printing 250 at Michigan International Speedway to watch him make his debut driving the #23 GMS Racing Chevrolet.