Dale Jr’s Replacement Has Been Named Ahead of Race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Monster Energy Cup series hits the brickyard this weekend at Indianapolis.

FOX’s Matt Napolitano has “FOX in the Fast Lane”:

The Cup series goes racing at Indy Sunday for the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the country music superstar telling Kix 92.1 he’s still shocked that a race is named after him:

(Gilbert) “It’s pretty nuts, right? Hell, I’d have been happy with tickets.”

Gilbert will not only attend, but perform for fans in the pre-race celebrations.

Hendrick Motorsports making a major announcement Thursday that Alex Bowman will take over behind the wheel of the No. 88 next season, replacing the retiring Dale Earnhardt Jr. Bowman and Jeff Gordon filled in for Dale Jr. last season and Gordon tells Sirius XM NASCAR Radio the decision was a no brainer:

(Gordon) “I think Alex proved himself last year when he got in the car.”

Nationwide and Axalta will return to sponsor the 88 next year and crew chief Greg Ives will helm the team in 2018.

Meantime, Kurt Busch and Daniel Suarez’s teams have been assessed penalty for lugnuts not properly installed last weekend at New Hampshire. Both crew chiefs fined $10,000 ahead of Sunday’s racing at Indy.

FOX in the Fast Lane, I’m Matt Napolitano, FOX News.

Follow Matt Napolitano on Twitter: @MattNapolitano