Spire Motorsports announced today that Alex Bowman, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) race winner, will return to the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado for the March 25 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA).
Bowman will also race the No. 7 Silverado at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 20.
The effort’s principal sponsor will be HendrickCars.com, while Ally, Bowman’s primary sponsor in the NCS, will be shown on the truck’s lower-rear quarter panels.
“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 Tucson native, is the full-time driver of Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the National Championship Series. The 29-year-old driver has four top-10 finishes in five NCS races this year, which is the greatest start to a season in his career.
“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.”
Mike Greci and Kevin “Bono” Manion, both championship-winning industry veterans, lead the squad.
Spire Motorsports made its first NCTS start of the season at Daytona International Speedway in February, where Corey LaJoie led three times for a total of 19 laps. Sadly, due to rain, the race was declared official 21 laps short of the original 100-lap course, halting his push for the checkered.
Bowman drove the No. 7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports at COTA and Sonoma Raceway last season, where he honed his road racing talents in preparation for the NCS event at both circuits. Similarly, he’ll look forward to the 2023 opportunity to make more laps at COTA and prepare for the famed Wilkes County (N.C.) racetrack. The oval is 625 miles long.
“We’re thrilled to have Alex back in the seat of the No. 7 truck for a couple races this season,” said 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.”
The NCTS race from Circuit of the Americas will be televised live on FS1 Saturday, March 25 beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The race will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Source: Hendrickmotorsports.com
