Race 2 Win: Federated Auto Parts 300

Busch Series

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Federated Auto Parts 300 - Clint Bowyer Notes

CLINT BOWYER
Federated Auto Parts 300

Huntersville, N.C. (June 7, 2005) – ACDelco driver Clint Bowyer may have dropped two spots in the NASCAR Busch Series standings after last weekend’s 19th place finish at Dover (Del.)International Speedway, but he still managed to gain some ground on series leader Carl Edwards. Bowyer dropped to fourth in the points standings, but actually gained 31 points on Edwards in the process. The Emporia, Kan., native finds himself trailing Edwards by his smallest margin to date since securing the second position in the points standings after the Aaron’s 312 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in April, and couldn’t be happier to have Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway as the next track on the schedule.

Bowyer has visited the 1.333 mile concrete oval three times with the NASCAR Busch Series and once in the ARCA Series, and has never finished outside the top-five. Between the two series, the 26-year old has completed 100 percent of the laps he has run and led 151 of the 826 total laps in doing so. This Saturday night, during the running of the Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway, Bowyer hopes to take advantage of this favorable relationship and put his hands on that elusive win that is just fingertips away.

“Nashville is the first big track I ever raced on outside of my short track days in the Mid-West and it just fit my driving style so well,” says Bowyer. “I had never been to a track that big before so I didn’t know what to expect, but immediately took a liking to it. I have been so close to winning there and getting my hands on that guitar.

“I am coming off a couple disappointing finishes recently and couldn’t be more pleased to know that I am going to a track that I have always run really well. I hope to be able to take advantage of a track I know so well and regain the couple of spots I lost in the points standings after last weekend. I may have gained some actual points on Carl (Edwards), but sitting first or second definitely is much better than sitting fourth no matter how many points out you are.”

If all the pieces to the puzzle fit this weekend under the lights at Nashville, then look for Bowyer and his No. 2 ACDelco racing team to continue to close in on their quest for a NASCAR Busch Series championship.

Points of Interest…

Runnin’ It…The Real Car Guys will take chassis No. 27 to Nashville Superspeedway this weekend. This chassis brought home a ninth place finish at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway in May after leading 66 laps.

Track Stat…Bowyer has raced once in the ARCA Series and that start came in August of 2003. He started seventh and finished second. Bowyer has also raced three times in the NASCAR Busch Series, and in those three starts he has three top-five finishes. In April of 2004, he started 19th and finished fourth, and in June of 2004 he started fifth and finished third, both in the No. 21 Reese’s Chevrolet. On March 26, 2005, Bowyer started second and finished fifth in the No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet.

Laps complete/led…In four races at Nashville Superspeedway, Bowyer has completed all 826 laps (100%). Of those 826 laps, he has led 151 (18%). Bowyer led 47 of 151 laps before finishing second in the ARCA race back in August of 2003, and 104 of 225 laps before finishing fourth in NASCAR’s Busch Series Pepsi 300 in April of 2004.

Law of Averages…Bowyer has an average starting position at the 1.333 mile oval of 8.7 and an average finishing position of fourth.

NBS Points…After 14 races in the 2005 season, Bowyer sits fourth in points, with two top-five and seven top-10 finishes. Bowyer now sits 140 markers out of first.

Media Opp…Bowyer will be available outside the No. 2 ACDelco hauler for 30 minutes to field any questions from the media in between the two NBS practices on Friday, approximately from 2:50 pm to 3:20 pm. 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 Federated Auto Parts 300 is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. EDT. TV coverage of the 225-lap event on FX begins at 7:30 pm., with live radio coverage also beginning at 7:30 p.m. EDT on your local MRN Radio affiliate and XM Satellite Radio – channel 144. Remember times and dates of the race may change so check your local listings.

No. 2 ACDelco driver Clint Bowyer on Nashville Superspeedway…

Why do you think you grew to like Nashville so quickly?
“It was my very first race at a big track, at least what I called a big track at the time, and that track pretty much allowed me to be seen by Richard Childress. I was running in a guy’s ARCA car from Kansas City and just immediately took a liking to the place. I went there pretty blind, but loved how fast it was. I have led a lot of laps there and almost one a couple times. When you have those kind of stats, it makes it easy to say that Nashville is one of my favorites.”

What surprised you the most about Nashville when you first raced there?
“I couldn’t believe how big it was. I pulled in the infield and was amazed that you could put a couple short tracks from back home in there. I grew up racing on the small short tracks in the Mid-West and had never been to a track that big yet.”

What is your mindset going into this weekend?
“I am really focused on a win. It would be really neat for Gil (Martin) and myself. It is Gil’s hometown and he has been there a lot and never won there. That guitar is a pretty neat trophy. I have been there four times and haven’t been able to capitalize on a win yet. It would be a big weekend for this whole ACDelco team if we could walk out of there with a win to rebound from the last couple of disappointing finishes.”

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