Jeff Gordon: Alex Bowman should be first call if Hendrick needs a sub

CHARLOTTE — Four-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon said he would be willing to return as a replacement driver for Hendrick Motorsports if needed in an extreme circumstance, but believes 23-year-old Alex Bowman should have the opportunity.

Gordon replaced Dale Earnhardt Jr. in eight Cup races last season as Earnhardt experienced a recurrence of concussion. Bowman, who does not have a NASCAR ride this season, replaced Earnhardt 10 times, and scored three top-10 finishes. He won the pole and had a best finish of sixth at Phoenix International Raceway after leading 194 laps. Bowman’s lone scheduled Cup start is in the exhibition Clash in the No. 88 Chevrolet because of the Phoenix pole.

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“I think that you’re looking at Alex Bowman, who has done an excellent job stepping in,” Gordon told USA TODAY Sports. “He’s in a position with Hendrick Motorsports doing a lot of simulation work and debriefs. He did a great job behind the wheel last year. So, I think that a lot of it had to do with they weren’t real sure what the scenario was going to be with Alex and then also with sponsors or how long Junior was going to be out, so that was a pretty unique scenario.

“And I think it would have to be a very unique one for me to step in (in 2017.)”

That said, team owner Rick Hendrick is hard to refuse, Gordon admitted.

“If Rick Hendrick calls me and he says, ‘Man, we need you to do this and this is why’ … I’m not going to say ‘no’,” the 93-race-winner laughed. “I would do it, but I might bring up some suggestions of what might work better. … But he is a car salesman.”

Follow James on Twitter @brantjames

PHOTOS: Jeff Gordon through the years