Race 2 Win: Dover 200 - Clint Bowyer Notes

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Dover 200 - Clint Bowyer Notes

CLINT BOWYER
Focused on the Title

Huntersville, N.C. (Sept. 21, 2005) – ACDelco driver Clint Bowyer heads to Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del., this Saturday for the running of the Dover 200 more focused on the championship title than ever. Four races ago, Bowyer sat 204 points out of the lead with the championship title a rather strong task at hand. Now, after NASCAR threw Martin Truex, Jr. a penalty that resulted in a 25 point deduction and a strong finish by Bowyer in the Richmond race, the championship title has turned into one the closest title races in NASCAR Busch Series history leading into the last seven races of the season.

“I believe we can beat him from here on out,” said Bowyer. “All the tracks remaining we have been to. Hopefully we can stay in front of him and lead some laps. The points he is ahead of us with are bonus points and that is something we didn’t take care of at the beginning of the year. We just weren’t quite there yet as a team, but now we are running towards the front each week and that is what helps win championships.”

Bowyer struggled in his first trip to the Monster Mile in June. After starting third, when NASCAR was forced to set the field by 2005 owner’s points due to rain, the 26-year old quickly had his hands full with an ill-handling racecar and went on to finish 19th. However, the Empoira, Kan., native is coming off a string of strong runs since Michigan where he has finished ahead of Truex the last three out of four races and hopes the momentum will continue in his favor this weekend.

“Now is the time to take advantage of a great opportunity like this,” said Bowyer. These don’t come around very often in this sport. I did struggle a bit our first go around, but I’m not even concerned about that this time around. I am hungry for this championship and I am going to do everything I can do to keep Truex from finishing ahead of me.”

Points of Interest…

Runnin’ It…The Real Car Guys will take chassis No. 019 to Dover Int’l Speedway this weekend. They have run this chassis three times this season. This is the same chassis Jeff Burton drove to a second place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway in April after starting second in the No. 21 Reese’s Peanut Butter Lovers Chevrolet. Burton led 93 laps. It was then used at Indianapolis Raceway Park where Bowyer finished second after starting eighth and leading 40 laps. The last time it ran was at Bristol Motor Speedway in August, where Bowyer finished fourth after starting 14th.

Track Stat… Bowyer’s first start at the one-mile concrete oval came earlier this year on June 14th. He started third when the field was determined by the 2005 owner’s points due to qualifying getting cancelled for rain. Bowyer went on to finish 19th.

ACDelco DuraStop ‘Brake Bucks’…Bowyer’s No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet will carry the logos of ACDelco’s DuraStop ‘Brake Bucks,’ a promotion where consumers will receive a cash rebate on the purchase of ACDelco premium brakes.

Career Top-10’s… In Bowyer’s 45 starts he has made in the NASCAR Busch Series, more than half of his finishes have been in the top-10. He heads to Dover Int’l Speedway with 24 top-10 finishes in 45 starts.

NBS Points…After 28 races in the 2005 season, Bowyer sits second in the points standings. He’s now 69 markers out of the lead with one win, nine top-five and 17 top-10 finishes.

Media Opp…Bowyer will be available outside the No. 2 ACDelco hauler for 30 minutes to field any questions from the media after the first NBS practice on Thursday, approximately from 3:05 p.m. to 3:35 p.m. This exercise will be in effect for the remainder of the year. A reminder will be in each advance updating time and location.

Start time…Saturday’s Dover 200 is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. EDT. TV coverage of the 200-lap event on TNT begins at 1:00 p.m., with live radio coverage beginning at 1:00 p.m. EDT on your local MRN Radio affiliate and XM Satellite Radio. Remember times and dates of the race may change so check your local listings.

No. 2 ACDelco driver Clint Bowyer on Dover International Speedway …

Did you guys go back and test at Dover after the first race was such a struggle?

“My teammate Brandon Miller had a test there last Wednesday and I went with him to kind of assist him and possibly get some laps in. I only took a few laps, but was able to see immediate results compared to when we raced there earlier. I have picked up around six tenths from what I ran in the first race there. We should be good.”

What is your take on Truex’s penalty?

“It’s too bad for those guys, but we have had our fare share of bad luck also. We took a pretty big hit in the points after Michigan and have rebounded pretty well since then. This time we lucked out and have been able to take advantage of their misfortune. I am really looking forward to these last seven races.”

You just finished a 16 race stretch. Were you ready for a weekend off?

“I am still new to all of this, but it has been a long season so far. We have been having a lot of fun together, but I believe everyone is a little worn down and needed a weekend off. I think it was good for all of us to get away from the track for a weekend and regroup.”

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