NASCAR driver Alex Bowman on his dogs’ destructive tendencies

LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 27: Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, drives during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Gander RV 400 at Pocono Raceway on July 27, 2019 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 27: Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, drives during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Gander RV 400 at Pocono Raceway on July 27, 2019 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

NASCAR driver Alex Bowman tears up the racetrack each week, and his dogs tear up stuff at home.

Racer Alex Bowman pilots one of the top cars in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series each week, but drivers are still human, and their dogs still cause chaos sometimes.

Bowman has two dogs, who he often posts about on his Instagram (@AlexBowman88).

They are Roscoe, a brown Rottweiler/German Shepherd mix rescued around March 2013, and Finn, a black Labrador who was adopted as a puppy about three years ago.

“They’re probably my best and only friends,” Bowman told the Frontstretch podcast. “They ‘re great to come home to, this week they tore some stuff up, but you’ll have that, I guess.”

When host Dustin Albino asked what happened, Bowman told more of the tale.

“Well, they’re really good, and they just roam the house, but it’s like once a month they just pick something and destroy it. This month it was a book, it was actually that book The Art of Racing in the Rain – it’s got to do with a dog and they tore it up? Little ironic.

“But, like, they did it an hour before you get home, and so you go ‘What it this?’ and point at it, and they tuck their tail between their legs and walk away….it is what it is.”

Bowman, who drives the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports, picked up his first career Cup win earlier this season at Chicagoland Speedway, which locks him into the playoffs later this season.

Through 21 races in the 2019 season, the driver from Tucson, Arizona – who Dale Earnhardt Jr picked to succeed him – has four top fives, six top 10s and 182 laps led.

Though Alex Bowman probably posts the most about his dogs of anyone in the garage, racing in general is surprisingly dog-friendly, as can be seen in our NASCAR overview.

Erik Jones’ dog Oscar has his own Instagram (@OscarJamesonJones), Joey Logano‘s family had a beloved Frenchie, and iK9 sponsors Jeffrey Earnhardt, while Nutri Chomps sponsors Chase Briscoe. Mars Pet companies (Pedigree, Banfield Pet Hospital, etc) have backed Kyle Busch and his Truck Series team for years.

IndyCar’s Norman Pagenaud keeps pupdates on things in open-wheel, while motorsports reporter and animal advocate Jamie Little will be part of the team bringing police dog competition series America’s Top Dog to A&E this winter.

Frontstretch is an independent racing news site that primarily focuses on NASCAR, though it also covers Formula One, IndyCar, sports cars and drag racing. (Wesley also writes for them.)

For more racing news and opinion within the FanSided Network, see Beyond the Flag, and Art of Gears for more general car-related content.