'Alex was the guy' for the 88 - Hendrick

Rick Hendrick didn't know much about Alex Bowman before his substitution role in the No. 88 last year.

It was Dale Earnhardt Jr. who went to bat for the young driver, and soon the Hendrick Motorsports team owner began to keep an eye on him. So when Earnhardt Jr. informed Hendrick earlier this year of his plan to retire at the end of the season, Hendrick admitted it was an easy process to prepare for next season.

"I didn't want to see Dale tell me he was going to want to retire, but we had Alex in the back of our mind for whatever opportunity we had," Hendrick said at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday morning. "It wasn't much of a decision at all. Alex was the guy."

In his 10 fill-in starts for Earnhardt last year, Bowman earned one pole and three top-10 finishes. He also led 200 laps. Hendrick called it a pressure situation considering he was driving the car of the sport's most popular driver.

But between that and all Bowman has done for Hendrick Motorsports in terms of simulator work and supporting his teammates, Hendrick said he deserved the opportunity. 

"We didn't know what was going to happen and we were very, very careful not to guarantee [Bowman] anything, other than if opportunities arose he would have a shot," Hendrick said. "I can't make all the decisions – the sponsors have to be involved – but in my mind, Alex was going to get the next up."

That was the case even with other options available on the driver front, such as Matt Kenseth – who Hendrick said he loves and is a tremendous talent.

"But [Matt] and I have actually talked about in the past," Hendrick said. "Sometimes things just don't line up at the right time."

Throughout the nearly 30-minute press conference, Bowman received high praise from Hendrick, Earnhardt, and sponsor Nationwide. And all involved can't wait to see what he'll be able to do starting in 2018.

"When we called on Alex when Dale got hurt, to be honest with you, I didn't know a lot about Alex. I was going off Dale's recommendation," said Hendrick. "Then when he got in the car and the way he performed and the feedback that he had with all the teammates and the crew chiefs, and they were just super excited about how he performed.

"Then his relationship with the sponsors through that period, and really the fit factor. The thing that really impressed me was he was so committed to our organization that he was willing to sign a deal just to do the wheel force car for (Chevrolet) or the simulator and wait for an opportunity. ... I'm super excited to have him in the car. I think he's going to do an awesome job. Fast. Smart. Committed. I'm super excited about Alex."