Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Phoenix–Alex BOwman

CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP
ROUND 9 OF 10
CAN-AM 500
PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
NOVEMBER 11, 2016

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media Friday at Phoenix International Raceway. He discussed his role driving the No. 88 Chevrolet SS, his future plans in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and other topics. Full Transcript:

DO YOU HAVE A DRIVE IN PLACE FOR 2017?
“No, I’m still waiting for the right opportunity to come along. There’s nothing that has really fit that has come along. I’ll still probably have my day job at Hendrick Motorsports driving the simulator. We’ll go from there.”

THIS SEASON, STEPPING INTO THE NO. 88 CHEVROLET WASN’T THE EASIEST SITUATION TO STEP INTO BUT YOU’VE GOTTEN SOME SIGNIFICANT SEATTIME IN A QUALITY RIDE. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE MOST IN THE WHOLE PROCESS OF DRIVING THE NO. 88 CHEVROLET?
“Really it’s been a big learning process on how Hendrick Motorsports works – the process on doing things, how they operate as a team. It’s been incredible to be a part of it, and I feel like I’ve learned a lot doing it. It’s been a lot of fun and a huge blessing in my life to do this. I’m trying to make the most of it but at the same time trying to have as much fun as I can. You never know when this is going to end or if you’re ever going to get an opportunity like this again. So it’s been a lot of fun.”

YOU’RE RACING AT YOUR HOME TRACK THIS WEEKEND. IS THAT A LITTLE MORE PRESSURE?
“There’s probably a little more pressure for sure, especially on the Xfinity side. We’ve been close to winning here before, so it would be amazing to pick up a first win here. We’re going to do everything we can to make that happen and hopefully sweep both races and make it easy.”

IT’S YOUR LAST RACE ON THE XFINITY SIDE FOR JR MOTORSPORTS THIS YEAR. HOW HAS YOUR YEAR BEEN DRIVING THE NO. 88 XFINITY CAR THIS YEAR.
“It’s been a lot of fun. David (Elenz, crew chief) and everyone have worked hard all year and have had some great runs. There has been some stuff here and there that have kept us from winning races that we could have. But to be in the top-five or top-10 every week and always there in contention has been a lot of fun.”

HOW MUCH DISCUSSION HAS THERE BEEN AT JR MOTORSPORTS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF A WIN AS FAR AS THE OWNER’S CHAMPIONSHIP?
“Well we have to win, right? That’s the only way we get in is with a win. Coming to Phoenix anyway, there’s a lot of pressure on getting a win with it being my hometown, how well we’ve run here in the past and how well we’ve run this season. So the importance of getting a win here was already very high. The Owner’s Championship… we have to win to make Homestead and that’s what we plan on doing.”