NASCAR: Earnhardt explains Bowman's Clash run

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s instant reaction to Alex Bowman winning the pole at Phoenix International Raceway on Nov. 11 probably wasn't what many expected.

Bowman (at left, above), filling in for Earnhardt, had just captured the first pole of his Sprint Cup Series career and did so at his home track. Yes, Earnhardt was happy for Bowman and his No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports team, but something else immediately came to mind.

"My first reaction and the first words out of my mouth were that If the rumors are true that it's pole winners, Alex is going to be available to run in 'The Clash,' and I turned to Doug Duchardt (Hendrick Motorsports general manager) and said he should drive the No. 88, he earned it with the No. 88 guys. He has done a great job as a substitute driver."

The rumors were true: NASCAR announced later in the month that eligibility for The Clash – the non-points exhibition race at Daytona on Feb. 18 – would be expanded to include pole winners from the previous season.

Earnhardt was cleared by his doctors last week to return to NASCAR competition in February at Daytona International Speedway nearly five months after being diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms. It resulted in the sport's most popular driver missing the final 18 races of the season, with Bowman and Jeff Gordon splitting time in the No. 88.

Earnhardt will reclaim his car for the 59th running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 26. But it raised eyebrows when it was said that Bowman, not Earnhardt, would run The Clash. Under the revised rules, both Bowman and Earnhardt are eligible to compete in the event, which left Earnhardt having to explain it was his idea to again turn the car over to Bowman.

Simply put, just consider it a reward for the job Bowman did in his absence. In 10 starts, Bowman earned three top-10 finishes and led 200 laps.

"I really have a great friendship with Alex, and I felt like if he was going to be in the race, he deserved to be in that car," Earnhardt said. "My eligibility comes from winning the race in 2008, and I can't remember the last time I won a pole. For whatever reason, that was just my initial gut reaction, and it feels important to me that is owed to Alex. He deserves it.

"It is a bit of a tip of the cap to not only his pole win and how well he did at Phoenix, but how he stepped in and did a great job every week for our guys. That is not an easy job to do. He helped maintain and improve the health and performance of the team in a critical time, so we can go into Daytona (next) year confident that we are going to be competitive and we are not behind the eight-ball or have any catching up to do. I'm excited for Alex to get that opportunity and I'm happy that it's with Greg (Ives, crew chief) and the guys that he has worked with over the last several races."

The 2017 season will be Earnhardt's 19th behind the wheel of a Cup car. However, Bowman is still searching for a ride.