Why Alex Bowman skipped out on work early

BROOKLYN, Mich. – Alex Bowman had to take a half-day off from work in order to race at Michigan International Speedway.

Bowman, 23, works for Hendrick Motorsports during the week in the simulation department. He wouldn’t go into specifics about what his job entails (“I can’t 100% talk about it,” he said), but it likely involves testing setups on the General Motors simulator in Huntersville, N.C.

So when the opportunity came up to substitute for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 car this week, Bowman had to ask to leave work early in order to make the team’s flight to Michigan.

“They’re pretty flexible when you tell them you’ve got to drive the No. 88 car and you need to leave a couple hours early and get to the airport,” he said Friday with a wry smile.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will miss races at Michigan, Darlington

With Earnhardt out at least two more weeks while trying to recover from a concussion - bringing the number of races he will miss to at least seven - Bowman was asked to drive the No. 88 for the second time. He also drove at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the first race Earnhardt sat out, in July and finished 26th after a cut tire and crash. Jeff Gordon filled in at the next four events, but informed the team he had a prior commitment this weekend. Gordon will return at Darlington Raceway next week.

The car for this weekend's event has a University of Michigan-themed design as part of sponsor Axalta’s partnership with the school’s business and engineering program. Bowman will meet with students this weekend.

Tony Stewart to appeal insurance ruling in Kevin Ward Jr. case

A Tuscon, Ariz. native, Bowman said he’s never been much of a college football fan -- but he’s willing to try.

“My whole life, I’ve raced so much that I haven’t really been able to be a big fan of anything,” he said. “This year has been a big change in that. Obviously, with football starting up here next week, I’m going to be a University of Michigan fan and go from there.”

A NASCAR moderator observed that Michigan's fight song, "The Victors," might be appropriate this week if Bowman is able to get into victory lane. And despite never having finished in the top 10 in 72 career Cup Series races, Bowman said he's optimistic based on his practice speed (he was 14th in Friday's session). He later qualified sixth.

"I feel like we have a good shot at it this weekend, and it’s so much fun to be able to come to a Cup race and be able to say that,” he said.

Follow Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck