CONCORD, N.C. --?Alex Bowman doesnt know what 2017 has in store for him.With no solid Sprint Cup rides available -- and most of the top rides open in developmental series in need of serious sponsorship dollars -- the best Bowman might be able to hope for is to be top-of-mind when a team needs a substitute driver.If thats the case, he can thank Dale Earnhardt Jr., who recommended to Hendrick Motorsports that Bowman replace him while he recovers from a concussion. At first it was just to be a relief driver if Earnhardt needed one in July at New Hampshire, but it turned into a role where Bowman will compete in 10 races this year for Hendrick Motorsports.Bowman has one top-10 finish, and he posted his best qualifying effort Thursday, as he will start from the front row beside pole sitter Kevin Harvick. He hopes more top-10s and qualifying runs such as what he had Thursday will make a difference for his future.The Showman Bowman was fast tonight. Great job @AlexBRacing and @AxaltaRacing gang. P2 @CLTMotorSpdwy- Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) October 7, 2016The 23-year-old Bowman has 75 career Cup starts but mostly for underfunded teams. He had a handful of Xfinity races for JR Motorsports coming into 2016 and spent most of his time working for Chevrolet as a driver in its simulator before the call from Hendrick.We all hope that nobody needs a substitute driver, Bowman said. Its obviously a situation that nobody wants to have come up, and I dont want to sit here and say I want to take advantage of that.But it doesnt hurt my feelings if that does come up, that Im the guy that gets called.In a perfect world, Bowman said he would love to run a fourth Xfinity car for JR Motorsports next year, but unfortunately the chips didnt line up in my favor, so I dont really know whats going on.Bowman said he has tried not to think as much about the future as much to relish the opportunity.These ... races left that we have may be the rest of my Cup career, Bowman said. You never really know what the future holds. Not having anything set in stone, the one thing I said I was going to do throughout all these races was to make the most of it and to have the most fun I possibly could.Im not going to let the pressure kill me.In four races in the No. 88 car, Bowman hasnt done anything to hurt his reputation.Hes finished all the races, most all of them, that hes running, Harvick said. I think thats probably the biggest goal. But hes had speed everywhere hes gone and hes done a good job.But with Hendrick having signed William Byron as a development driver to be in a JR Motrosports Xfinity Series car full time in 2017, the reality for Bowman is that he isnt necessarily in the pipeline for a Hendrick ride.Hes their development guy, Bowman said. I would like to think that hopefully Im that [next] guy, but well just kind of have to wait and see. You never know what is going to happen in the next couple of years and who is going to decide to do what.For now, hell settle for that amazing feeling of driving some of the top equipment in the Sprint Cup garage. He goes to the track with a chance to run well if not win.If youre in one of the back 10 cars, youre not really almost even looked at as a race car driver sometimes, Bowman said, until you do something that youre not supposed to do. .... Nobody on the Cup side really knew who I was until I [nearly] out-qualified Dale Jr. at Richmond two years ago and he gave me a shot in his Xfinity car.I did something I wasnt supposed to do in the car that I was driving -- it opened one persons eye.Hendrick Motorsports announced four weeks ago the schedule for the rest of the season, enabling Bowman to prepare more for races.It also allowed him to get more entrenched in Hendrick, where he is splitting time with four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon in the No. 88 car and working alongside drivers he has looked up to for much of his racing career.I get to work with basically all my childhood heroes between Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne, Bowman said. I dont think [20-year-old] Chase Elliott was born when I had my childhood heroes, but hes my hero now.Its been amazing to get to work with all of them. Kyle Turris Jersey . 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