Race 2 Win: Salute to the Troops 250 presented by Dodge

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Salute to the Troops 250 presented by Dodge - Clint Bowyer Notes

CLINT BOWYER
Real Car Guys Looking to Rebound Strong

Huntersville, N.C. (July 19, 2005) – Last weekend’s New England 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway definitely ranks high on ACDelco driver Clint Bowyer’s list of most frustrating races. That’s why the Emporia, Kan., native quickly began to focus his attention on this Saturday’s running of the Salute To The Troops 250 at Pikes Peak International Raceway (PPIR) shortly after he took the checkered flag last weekend. After all he did finish fourth in his first trip to PPIR last year in RCR’s No. 21 Reese’s Chevrolet.

“We missed it big last weekend,” said Bowyer. “We started off great and were running in the top-five and top-10. I was thinking this is going to be a good day. Then all of a sudden we just went backwards and were dealt a bad hand. The cautions definitely didn’t help our situation out any. It really hurt to let (Martin) Truex, Jr. double his points lead on us.”

If there is one race track that Bowyer welcomes more than any right now, it’s definitely the one-mile oval in Colorado Springs, Co. During his part-time schedule last year with NASCAR Nextel Cup star Kevin Harvick in the No. 21 Reese’s Chevrolet, one of his 17 starts took place at PPIR. Bowyer started 10th and finished six spots ahead in fourth. He hopes to mirror that performance this Saturday and regain some solid ground on series leader Martin Truex, Jr. in the championship hunt.

“We really need to have a strong run this weekend,” said Bowyer. “The No. 8 car is really on a roll right now. We could use a top-3 finish or a win to keep him in check and regain what we lost last weekend, that’s for sure. I couldn’t be more pleased to be heading to Pikes Peak this weekend.”

Points of Interest…

Runnin’ It…The Real Car Guys will take chassis No. 035 to Pikes Peak Int’l Raceway this weekend. They have run this chassis four times this season. It brought home a fourth place finish after starting 11th in February at California Speedway. Then a seventh place finish after starting 13th in the inaugural Mexico City, Mexico race and a ninth place finish after starting fifth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. It was last run at Phoenix International Raceway in April where it brought home a 13th place finish after starting 14th.

Track Stat…Bowyer has raced once at the one-mile oval. That start came last year in the No. 21 Reese’s Chevrolet. He started 10th and finished fourth.

NBS Points…After 20 races in the 2005 season, Bowyer sits second in the points standings. He’s now 142 markers out of the lead with one win, five top-five and 12 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 Friday, approximately from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.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 afternoon’s Salute To The Troops 250 is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EDT. TV coverage of the 250-lap event on TNT begins at 3:30 p.m., with live radio coverage also beginning at 3:30 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 Pikes Peak Int’l Raceway…

Talk about your run there last year.
“It was definitely a great run for my first time being there. We qualified well and finished in the top-five. It was an overall good weekend for us. I really like the track. It reminds me a lot of a small Michigan (Int’l Speedway). It’s a mile-oval where you can run three to four wide. It’s fun.”

What is it going to take to close in on Martin Truex, Jr.?
“Right now I think top-three finishes and a win are what need to be on our minds. Truex, Jr. is on a hot streak and I don’t think top-five finishes are going to help us that much right now. We need the finishes that will give us the most points as possible.”

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