Race 2 Win: O'Reilly Challenge - Clint Bowyer Notes

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O'Reilly Challenge - Clint Bowyer Notes

CLINT BOWYER
Real Car Guys Look to Carry Momentum to Texas

Huntersville, N.C. (Nov. 1, 2005) – Before the start of the 2005 NASCAR Busch Series (NBS) season, ACDelco driver Clint Bowyer sat down and put forth a list of goals he expected to meet before closing time in Homestead-Miami (Fla.). Being top-five in points, amassing three wins, and the NBS championship are all three on the 26-year old’s list. With the season winding down, he is closing in on accomplishing what he set out to do at the beginning of the year. He has locked up a top-five points finish, and after last weekend’s dominant win in Memphis, Tenn., Bowyer is one step closer to putting a check mark beside his goal of three wins. As far as the championship race goes, only time will tell.

“Last weekend’s win was awesome and showed how determined we all are,” said Bowyer, who will be driving a specially designed No. 2 Timberland Pro Series paint scheme this weekend. “One of my goals was to get three wins this year and we are one win away from reaching that goal. I felt so bad about wrecking in qualifying last weekend. I think that was what helped fuel my fire for the win and not to mention the unbelievable racecar Gil (Martin) and my crew gave me. These last three races are going to be exciting. We have to make sure we take care of business this weekend.”

Heading into this weekend’s O’Reilly Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway, Bowyer finds himself amidst a three-race sprint to the finish, sitting 100 markers behind Martin Truex, Jr. Bowyer knows he’ll have to put more distance in between his finishes if he is going to catch the reigning series champion, but does have a positive precedent for motivation. In 1989, Rob Moroso was in third place in the standings, trailing Tommy Houston by 125 points with three races left. Moroso overcame both Houston and second-place Tommy Ellis to capture the title that season.

“It is nice to know it has been done before,” said Bowyer. “All we can do is continue to do what we have been doing. If we lead the most laps, gain all the bonus points, and win, then that is the best we can do. We know we need to finish ahead of Truex in these remaining three races to close in on the championship. Ultimately we need to stay focused on our program and the task at hand and let the rest fall into place.”

Points of Interest…

Runnin’ It…The Real Car Guys will take chassis No. 041 this weekend. This chassis was brand new prior to the Kansas race on October 8th. It finished 16th after a wheel became loose with seven laps remaining. It started 10th.

Track Stat…Bowyer has raced twice at Texas Motor Speedway. His first start came on April 3, 2004 in the No. 21 Reese’s Chevrolet where he started sixth and finished 36th due to an early wreck. His second start came earlier this year on April 16th, in the No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet where he started 29th and finished sixth.

Timberland Pro Series…Bowyer will be driving a specially designed No. 2 Timberland Pro Series paint scheme this weekend. This is the last of a two-race deal between Timberland Pro and ACDelco. The United Way 300 at Kansas Speedway on October 8th was the other race the No. 2 Chevrolet donned this special paint scheme. Bowyer finished 16th.

2005 Top-10’s… In Bowyer’s 32 NASCAR Busch Series starts this year, more than half of his finishes (59%) have been in the top-10. He heads to Texas Motor Speedway with 19 top-10 finishes this season.

NBS Points…After 32 races in the 2005 season, Bowyer sits second in the points standings. He’s now 100 markers out of the lead with two wins, 11 top-five and 19 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 final NBS practice on Friday, approximately 11:20 a.m. to 11:50 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’s O’Reilly 300 is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. EDT. TV coverage of the 200-lap event on TNT begins at 2:00 p.m., with live radio coverage beginning at 2:00 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 Texas Motor Speedway…

Out of the last three tracks you go to which one will be best fitted for you and your championship chances?
“Our mile-and-a-half program has been and is really strong. So, I like the looks of Texas and Homestead. We should be alright at Phoenix also. We finished well earlier in the year at Texas and we had a good run going early in Phoenix, but got collected in a wreck. I didn’t fair to well at Homestead last year, but we are going there to test before our season comes to a close. I can sit here and speculate which ones may or may not be good to me and our chances for a championship, but bottom line is we just have to make sure we are leading laps and collecting bonus points at all of three of the tracks remaining. You never know until the green flag falls and the checkered flag waves.”

Has the Jack Daniel’s Cup series announcement distracted you in any kind of way?
“No not really other than the fact that I have already done a photo shoot for Jack Daniel’s. That happened the next week after the announcement. It is pretty exciting, but I am not letting it get in the way of my focus on the Busch series and ACDelco though. The ACDelco car is the only car I am driving now and that is where my focus is. Right now and the rest of this year it is all about ACDelco and getting our Busch team a championship. Next year will be a slightly different story having to balance two series.”

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