Jeff Gordon could make a return to the Sprint Cup races this season.
If Dale Earnhardt Jr. is not cleared in time to drive at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, Gordon will replace him in the No. 88 car.
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Earnhardt and Hendrick Motorsports announced on Thursday that Junior would not compete at New Hampshire this weekend; he is recovering from concussion-like symptoms. Alex Bowman, who has driven for Earnhardt's JR Motorsports team in the Xfinity Series, will replace him.
On Friday at New Hampshire, Hendrick GM Doug Duchardt said Earnhardt told crew chief Greg Ives at Kentucky that he wasn't feeling well. On Tuesday morning he told the team that he still wasn't feeling well and that the team might need to be thinking of backup plans. At that point, it was just a plan for a driver to fill in if Earnhardt started the race and could not do the entire event.
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Bowman went to the shop Tuesday night to get fitted for the seat. Duchardt said he found out midday Thursday that Earnhardt would not be in the car this weekend.
Duchardt did not offer a timeline for Earnhardt's return, but did say that Gordon would be in the car at Indy, if needed. Gordon, a four-time series champion, retired at the end of last season and spent the first portion of this season working with the Fox broadcasts. Duchardt said that when it came to this weekend, the initial consideration was a backup driver for Earnhardt and then the change came on Thursday. Gordon is vacationing in France.
In order to be cleared to return, Earnhardt will need a notice from an independently board-certified neurologist.
"If Dale is not able to go at Indianapolis, we will put Jeff Gordon in the car," Duchardt said. "That's for sure, if Dale's not ready.
"When Dale is ready, it's his car to get back into. But if Dale can't go next week, Jeff Gordon will be the driver at Indianapolis."
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Bowman wishes he had not gotten his opportunity under these circumstances, but said it was an honor to step into the ride.
"I think I can really thank Dale Jr. for saving my career two years ago, pretty much, with those two Xfinity races at Charlotte and Phoenix and then for the opportunity to run nine races this year with him. Obviously we've been knocking on the door to get some wins and it's been a lot of fun. He's been a good friend to me; he's been somebody that I could lean on all the time. I hate to see him not feeling well, that was my first thought.
"He's done a lot for my career and I couldn't be any more thankful than I am. I owe him a lot."
Bowman will drive the No. 88 car in Friday's qualifying at New Hampshire and compete in Sunday's New Hampshire 301. Race time is after 1:30 p.m. ET.