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Alex Bowman
Alex Bowman is a professional stock car racing driver born on April 25, 1993, in Tucson, Arizona. He began racing at the age of seven, and by the time he turned 18, he made his debut in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.
Bowman rose to national prominence when he made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in 2012 and competed in four races. In 2013, he ran a full season for RAB Racing, where he earned six top-fives, 13 top-10s, and finished 11th overall.
In 2014, Bowman signed a contract with BK Racing to run the full NASCAR Cup Series season. His first season was tough, as the team didn’t have the resources to run competitively. However, he has proven himself as one of the sport’s most talented young drivers through multiple top-15 finishes and leading laps at several high-profile races.
Following his first NASCAR Cup Series season, Bowman moved to Tommy Baldwin Racing in 2015 and earned two top-10 finishes in 36 starts. In 2016, he drove part-time for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series before joining Hendrick Motorsports as a test driver in 2017, working with the team and its drivers to help develop cars and improve performance.
Bowman’s big break came in October 2017 when Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced his retirement. Bowman was picked by Hendrick Motorsports to replace Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 the following season. Since then, he has improved every year, making the playoffs in each of the past four seasons.
Bowman’s consistency and improvements make him a potential replacement for Jeff Gordon. As Gordon transitions to the broadcast booth full-time, Bowman could be the driver to fill his seat at Hendrick Motorsports. He has proven himself as a fierce competitor with a desire to win races and championships. Bowman’s youth and driving style fit in well with the team’s culture and could lead to continued success for Hendrick Motorsports.
William Byron
William Byron is a 24-year-old American professional stock car racing driver. He began his racing career in 2013 in the U.S. Legend Cars International division. In 2015, he moved up to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East where he won both the Sunoco Rookie of the Year and series championship awards. This set the foundation for his future in stock car racing.
Byron’s success continued in 2016 when he began competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports. During his rookie season, he won seven races and finished in fifth place in the championship standings. The following year, he moved up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series, racing for JR Motorsports. In his rookie year in the Xfinity Series, he won four races and finished in third place in the championship standings.
But it was his performance in the 2018 racing season that earned him the attention of Hendrick Motorsports, one of the most successful teams in NASCAR history. Hendrick Motorsports signed him on as a development driver and put him in the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro in the Xfinity Series, the same car number Jeff Gordon drove before he retired.
Byron’s performance in the Xfinity Series was so impressive that Hendrick Motorsports promoted him to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2019, driving the iconic No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro. Though his rookie season had its ups and downs, he finished strong, placing in the top 10 in six of his last nine races.
Fast forward to 2020 and Byron had improved further. He won his first Cup Series race, the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, and made it to the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Playoffs. He ended the season with 10 top-10 finishes and a career-best 14th place in the championship standings.
Byron’s consistent improvement and performance earned him the opportunity to fill Jeff Gordon’s spot at Hendrick Motorsports after he retired. Gordon himself had identified Byron as a promising talent and had been instrumental in grooming him for success.
Byron not only has a promising career ahead of him, but he also has the support of an established and successful team backing him. With Hendrick Motorsports and his talent combined, he has the potential to achieve even greater success in the future.
Chase Elliott
Chase Elliott is a rising star in NASCAR and has quickly become a fan favorite. The 25-year-old Georgia native began his racing career at the young age of 13 and quickly rose through the ranks. In 2014, he became the youngest driver to win a NASCAR national series championship title, taking the checkered flag in the Xfinity Series.
Following his success in the Xfinity Series, Elliott made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2015, driving part-time for Hendrick Motorsports. He impressed in his limited outings, ultimately leading to him replacing Jeff Gordon in the iconic No. 24 car for the 2016 season.
Elliott has since become a consistent performer in the Cup Series, earning seven poles and 11 victories, including a memorable win at the prestigious Daytona 500 in 2020. He qualified for the NASCAR Playoffs in each of his first five full-time seasons in the Cup Series, making it as far as the championship four in 2020.
Elliott’s success on the track is due to his natural talent as well as his work ethic and dedication to the sport. He comes from a racing family, with his father Bill Elliott being a former Cup Series champion and his cousin Casey also racing professionally. Chase has shown signs of following in his family’s footsteps and becoming one of the sport’s all-time greats.
As far as replacing Jeff Gordon goes, Chase Elliott has been the heir apparent for quite some time. He has already established himself as one of the sport’s top drivers, and his youth and potential for long-term success make him a logical successor to Gordon’s throne. Fans and analysts alike have been impressed by Elliott’s driving ability, and he has quickly become one of the sport’s biggest stars.
In addition to his talent on the track, Elliott is also known for his likable personality and marketability. He has a dedicated fanbase and has already landed endorsement deals with major brands such as Hooters, NAPA Auto Parts, and Mountain Dew.
All in all, Chase Elliott is a natural choice to replace Jeff Gordon in NASCAR. His success on the track, dedication to the sport, and potential for long-term greatness make him one of the top contenders in the sport today.
Other Options
Jeff Gordon’s announcement that he would be retiring from NASCAR after the 2015 season has left a gaping hole to be filled. With his exit, NASCAR fans are left wondering who will be tapped to replace the racing legend. Here are some potential replacements:
1. Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson is one of the most promising young talents in NASCAR. The 23-year-old has been racing in NASCAR’s top series since 2013 and has already notched up two wins, with many more expected in the future. Larson’s aggressive driving style and incredible car control make him a formidable force on the track, and he could very well be the next Jeff Gordon.
2. Chase Elliott
Chase Elliott is another young driver that has been making waves in NASCAR. The 21-year-old earned his first NASCAR win in the Xfinity Series in 2014, and in 2016, he became the first rookie to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship. In 2018, he made the jump to NASCAR’s top series, and he has already won two races. Many experts predict that Elliott will be the face of NASCAR for years to come.
3. Daniel Suarez
Daniel Suarez could also potentially be a contender for Jeff Gordon’s spot. The 25-year-old Mexican driver made history in 2016 when he became the first foreign-born driver to win a championship in a NASCAR national series. He took home the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and made his debut in NASCAR’s top series the following year. Suarez has notched up several top-ten finishes and could be a dark horse in the race to replace Jeff Gordon.
4. Fernando Alonso
Could a Formula 1 driver jump ship to NASCAR? It’s not unheard of, and Fernando Alonso is one driver who has expressed interest in racing in NASCAR in the past. Alonso is a two-time Formula 1 world champion and one of the most talented drivers in the sport’s history. If he were to make the jump to NASCAR, it would certainly be a headline-grabbing move and could add some extra excitement to the sport.
5. Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch is one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history. The 35-year-old has notched up over 200 wins across NASCAR’s top three series and has two Cup Series championships under his belt. While Busch is already established as a star in the sport, he could be a front runner to replace Jeff Gordon if he were to retire at the end of the 2020 season.
6. Justin Allgaier
Justin Allgaier is another up-and-coming talent in NASCAR that could be a contender for Jeff Gordon’s spot. The 34-year-old driver has been racing in NASCAR’s top series since 2014 and boasts several wins across all three of NASCAR’s national series. Allgaier is known for his versatility and ability to adapt to different styles of racing, making him a strong candidate for a top spot in NASCAR.
The search for Jeff Gordon’s replacement: 7 strong contenders
With Jeff Gordon’s retirement from NASCAR in 2015, everyone has been eagerly anticipating who will replace him as one of the sport’s top drivers. In the years since, multiple drivers have emerged as strong contenders for the job. Here are seven drivers who are heavily tipped to take over as the next top superstar of NASCAR:
1. Chase Elliott
The son of another racing legend, Bill Elliott, Chase Elliott is widely regarded as the top pick for Jeff Gordon’s replacement. He has already won multiple championships and has the backing of JR Motorsports, a top NASCAR team. With a natural talent for racing and a family legacy to uphold, Elliott is perfectly poised to step into Jeff Gordon’s iconic shoes.
2. William Byron
Another driver from the JR Motorsports team, William Byron is a prodigy who has shown immense skill and talent despite his young age. At just 19 years old, he has already won multiple truck races and was crowned the champion of the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2017. With a bright future ahead of him and a strong track record, Byron could well be the one to take over as NASCAR’s newest superstar.
3. Ryan Blaney
A third generation race driver, Ryan Blaney has been making waves in the NASCAR scene for several years now. He has shown consistent results and has the raw talent and drive to become a top driver. Despite being relatively young and inexperienced, Blaney has already demonstrated that he has what it takes to become a racing legend.
4. Erik Jones
At just 22 years old, Erik Jones is already a force to be reckoned with on the NASCAR circuit. He won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship at the age of 19, and has since gone on to become the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion. With a strong work ethic and a passion for racing, Jones has all the makings of a true legend in the sport.
5. Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson is a driver known for pushing the limits and taking risks. He has a natural ability to read the track and make split-second decisions that have often led to his success. Larson has already won multiple NASCAR races and has a large fan base that is eagerly anticipating his ascent to the top ranks of the sport.
6. Alex Bowman
Alex Bowman has a lot to prove as he steps up to take on Jeff Gordon’s legacy. He has only recently joined Hendrick Motorsports, one of NASCAR’s top teams, and is yet to establish himself as a top driver. However, Bowman has shown that he has a strong work ethic and is committed to continual improvement. If he stays the course and continues to push himself, Bowman could well become a top driver for years to come.
7. Daniel Suarez
The first driver from Mexico to win a NASCAR championship, Daniel Suarez has a lot to offer the sport. A natural talent behind the wheel, Suarez has shown that he can hold his own against some of NASCAR’s top drivers. He has been pushing himself continuously and has demonstrated his potential to become a top performer.
In conclusion
There you have it, seven potential superstars who could take over from Jeff Gordon as NASCAR’s top driver. Only time will tell which of these drivers will ascend to the top, but one thing is for sure – each of them has the talent and determination to make it happen. NASCAR fans around the world will be watching with bated breath to see who goes on to make their mark as the next big thing in the sport.