Auto Club winner, Alex Bowman, keen to keep Hendrick ride

Alex Bowman will be a free agent at the end of this season. The Hendrick Motorsports driver made a great case with a win at Auto Club to stay on board at on of NASCAR's finest teams.

March 4, 2020 - 10:40 AM

Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Cincinnati Chevrolet, races in the NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday. Photo by MEG OLIPHAT/GETTY IMAGES/TNS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — There is a strong crop of drivers headed into free agency this summer and Alex Bowman has hardly been at the top of the list.

Brad Keselowski is a former Cup Series champion, Kyle Larson is considered the future of NASCAR and Ryan Blaney is poised for a breakout season. Erik Jones is determined not to be the lowest-performing driver at Joe Gibbs Racing, while Corey LaJoie is among a handful of young drivers desperate for a chance to drive competitive cars.

Bowman used to be in LaJoie’s situation, a group of second- and third-tier drivers routinely passed over by the top teams. They settle for underfunded teams, often have to bring their own sponsorship, don’t make much of a salary and never have a fair shot to win each week.

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