Alex Bowman, a seven-time winner in the NASCAR Cup Series, will return to Spire Motorsports for a pair of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts this season, the organization announced on Monday.
Bowman, who competes full-time for Hendrick Motorsports at NASCAR’s top level, will pilot the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado in Saturday’s XPEL 225 at Circuit of The Americas and the May 20 event at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
HendrickCars.com will serve as the primary sponsor of his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entry in both events. Ally Financial, Bowman’s primary sponsor in the Cup Series, will adorn the lower quarter-panels of the No. 7 Chevrolet.
“We see our racing partnerships as a terrific opportunity to continue building HendrickCars.com into a national brand,” said Greg Gach, president of Charlotte-based Hendrick Automotive Group. “With Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman behind the wheel, we’re excited to join forces with Spire Motorsports and Chevrolet for this opportunity. Both have track records of success in the Truck Series and we look forward to seeing the team compete.”
Bowman, a native of Tucson, Arizona, competed in last season’s NASCAR Truck Series event at Circuit of The Americas with Spire Motorsports, and was in the battle for the victory until contact on an overtime restart relegated him to a finish outside the top-25.
“I am excited to get the opportunity to drive the No. 7 truck for Spire Motorsports,” said Bowman. “Last year we were really fast in the truck race at COTA and I am hoping we can be fast again this year. It would be really cool to get a truck win and have won a race in all three of NASCAR’s top series. I feel like racing there in the truck will help me get ready for Sunday as well.”
The addition of Alex Bowman to the team’s NASCAR Truck Series program marks the continuation of a relationship with Hendrick Motorsports. Last year, Bowman, as well as teammates William Byron and Chase Elliott all took turns behind the wheel of the entry.
Getting the opportunity to compete in the NASCAR Truck Series should be a huge opportunity for Bowman, who will get additional seat time before NASCAR Cup Series events at COTA and North Wilkesboro.
“We’re thrilled to have Alex back in the seat of the No. 7 truck for a couple of races this season,” said Kevin ‘Bono’ Manion. “He was a tremendous asset in 2022 and will be again in 2023. Alex is a savvy road racer and as good of a short-track racer as they come. We have no doubt that Alex gives Spire Motorsports a strong opportunity to win races every time he’s behind the wheel.”
Corey LaJoie, who also competes on a full-time basis in the NASCAR Cup Series, is the only other driver currently announced as a pilot of the No. 7, competing in the season-opener at Daytona, as well as Darlington later in the year.
