The No. 88 car belongs to different drivers depending on the NASCAR series and the year

The No. 88 is not owned by a single driver — it is a car number that moves between drivers as teams hire and release them, or as drivers move between teams. In NASCAR's top series, the Cup Series, the No. 88 has been driven by multiple people over the past decade. The most recent and longest-tenured driver was Alex Bowman, who drove the No. 88 for Hendrick Motorsports from 2018 through 2023. As of 2024, the number has moved to other drivers and teams, which is normal in professional racing.

If you are looking for who currently drives the No. 88, the answer depends on which NASCAR series you are watching and what year it is. Cup Series rosters change every off-season, and sometimes mid-season. The best way to find the current driver is to check the official NASCAR website or the team's roster page, because those update when changes happen.

Key Takeaways

  • The No. 88 car number moves between different drivers and teams from year to year, so there is no permanent driver.
  • Alex Bowman drove the No. 88 for Hendrick Motorsports for six seasons (2018–2023), making it his most recognizable number.
  • NASCAR team rosters change during the off-season and sometimes mid-season, so checking the current team website is the fastest way to find out who drives any number right now.
  • Different NASCAR series (Cup, Truck, Xfinity) use the same car numbers but with different drivers, so the No. 88 in one series is not the same car as the No. 88 in another.

Why car numbers change hands between drivers

In NASCAR, the car number is owned by the team, not the driver. When a driver leaves a team or a team hires a new driver, the number goes with the team. A driver might be famous for one number for years, then move to a different team and drive a completely different number. This is different from some other sports, where a player keeps the same number if they move to a new team.

Teams sometimes retire a number out of respect for a legendary driver, but this is rare. More often, a number is straightforward reassigned to whoever the team hires next. The No. 88 at Hendrick Motorsports, for example, has been driven by several people before Bowman and will be driven by someone else after him.

Alex Bowman and the No. 88 at Hendrick Motorsports

Alex Bowman became the driver most associated with the No. 88 in recent years. He drove for Hendrick Motorsports from 2018 to 2023, giving him six full seasons in the car. During that time, he competed in the Cup Series against drivers like Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and others on the Hendrick roster. Bowman's tenure made the No. 88 recognizable to fans who watched Cup Series races during the late 2010s and early 2020s.

After the 2023 season, Bowman moved to a different team and a different car number, which is how NASCAR driver moves typically work. His departure opened the No. 88 for Hendrick to assign to a new driver. This kind of transition happens every off-season across all NASCAR teams.

How to find the current No. 88 driver

The fastest way to find out who currently drives the No. 88 is to visit NASCAR.com and search for the car number, or go directly to the team's official website. Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske, and other major teams all post their current rosters online. These pages update when drivers are hired, fired, or moved between numbers.

If you are watching a race and want to know who is in a specific car, the broadcast will show the driver's name and number on screen. You can also check the race results after the event, which list every car number and its driver for that day.

The difference between car numbers in different NASCAR series

NASCAR has three main national series: the Cup Series (the top level), the Craftsman Truck Series, and the Xfinity Series. The same car number can exist in all three series, but it will be driven by different people. The No. 88 in the Truck Series is not the same car as the No. 88 in the Cup Series — they are separate teams with separate drivers.

Some drivers compete in multiple series in the same season, so you might see the same person drive the No. 88 in both the Cup Series and the Truck Series. But more often, different drivers use the same number in different series. This is why it matters to know which series you are watching when you ask who drives a particular number.

Why fans care about specific car numbers

Fans often follow a car number rather than just a driver, especially if that number has a long history or is associated with a famous driver. The No. 88 became recognizable during Bowman's years at Hendrick, so fans who watched those races may still think of it as "his" number even after he moved on. This is normal in racing fandom — people develop loyalty to numbers, teams, and drivers all at once.

If you are a fan of a specific driver, the best approach is to follow that driver's name rather than a car number, because the number will change if the driver moves to a new team. If you are a fan of a specific number, you can track which team owns it and which driver that team assigns to it each season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the No. 88 driver change every year?

Not necessarily every year, but often. A driver might stay with the same number for several seasons if they stay with the same team. Alex Bowman drove the No. 88 for six years. But if a driver leaves the team or the team hires someone new, the number goes to the new driver.

Can a driver keep the same number if they move to a new team?

Only if the new team also owns that number. Car numbers are owned by teams, not drivers. If a driver moves to a team that does not own their old number, they have to drive whatever number the new team assigns them.

Is the No. 88 retired in NASCAR?

No, the No. 88 is still in active use. NASCAR teams retire numbers very rarely, and only for legendary drivers. The No. 88 continues to be assigned to drivers by the teams that own it.

Where can I watch the No. 88 car race?

Cup Series races air on Fox, NBC, and USA Network depending on the week. Check NASCAR.com for the broadcast schedule. You can also stream races through the official NASCAR app or through cable provider apps if you have a subscription.

What team currently owns the No. 88?

Hendrick Motorsports owns the No. 88 in the Cup Series, but team rosters change every off-season. Check Hendrick Motorsports' official website or NASCAR.com for the current driver assigned to that number.