Bowyer Returns to Memphis with Hopes of Second Win
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 24, 2006) – ACDelco driver Clint Bowyer heads to Memphis Motorsports Park on Oct. 28 as the returning 2005 race champion. The 27-year-old loves the .75-mile oval for two reasons. The first stems from his win last season after starting from the back of the field, and the second is the coveted Elvis trophy.
Bowyer is a huge Elvis fan and would love nothing more than to bring the trophy home for the second time in as many years. As a child in Emporia, Kan., Bowyer grew up listening to “The King” with his father as they worked in their garage. When he returned home after winning the 2005 Sam’s Town 250, Bowyer gave his Elvis trophy to his father, knowing that he would cherish it forever. “That was a big deal for my dad,” said Bowyer. “He’s always loved Elvis and he’s always been there for me through everything and I thought it would be an awesome way to tell him thanks.”
When asked his favorite Elvis song, Bowyer hesitates because he loves so many of them. “I would have to say that my favorite song is ‘Ain’t Nothin’ But a Hound Dog’,” Bowyer said. “There’s just something about Elvis’ music that keeps you going when you’re working on a real tough project, it’s just got rhythm.”
The entire ACDelco race team will look for that rhythm to get them a second win at Memphis, which would bring their 2006 tally to two wins, 11 top fives and 16 top-10 finishes. Brandon Miller will be on hand practicing and qualifying the ACDelco Chevrolet while Bowyer is in Atlanta preparing for the NEXTEL Cup Series race on Oct. 29.
Bowyer on Memphis Motorsports Park…
You wrecked on the second lap of your qualifying run last year after topping the practice charts. Talk about what went through your mind after it happened and your amazing recovery.
“That’s the best thing about the ACDelco team, we have always been able to bounce back and turn a bad situation into a good one. Our car was really good all weekend in Memphis. Then I got too confident during qualifying and put it in the wall during my second lap. The good thing about it was that it was just cosmetic damage and we were able to work on it. I was really proud of the guys and the effort they put into repairing the car for the race. I felt really bad for making such a big mistake after running so good all weekend. We overcame a lot and after starting from the back of the pack got our second win of the season.”
Points of Interest…
Going to Graceland…The ACDelco Real Car Guys will be in attendance at Graceland at noon on Thursday, Oct. 26 for an autograph session open to the public. Eleven members of the ACDelco race team will be present, including ACDelco crew chief Dan Deeringhoff, four of the over-the-wall team members, and six of the best Real Car Guys in the NASCAR Busch Series garage.
Track Stats…In two appearances at Memphis Motorsports Park, Bowyer has qualified 10th and 35th, respectively. He went on to finish fourth and then secured a win after leading 137 laps.
Record Holder…Bowyer holds the record for most consecutive NASCAR Busch Series races running at the finish. He has completed 56 straight races, beginning at Darlington in 2005.
Worst to First…The Emporia, Kan., native currently holds the record for the worst starting position (35th) for a race winner at Memphis Motorsports Park.
Laps Led…The ACDelco race team ranks fifth in the number of laps led among all drivers in the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series this season, with a total of 471 laps in the 27 times they have been out front.
Points Chase…Bowyer held onto third place in the NASCAR Busch Series driver point standings after his seventh-place finish at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and is now 847 points behind his Richard Childress Racing (RCR) teammate and points leader Kevin Harvick, and 72 points behind second place Carl Edwards.
Double Duty…ACDelco driver Bowyer also will compete in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 for RCR in the No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He ranks 18th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series point standings, 721 points behind 11th place Tony Stewart.
What Ya’ Haulin’…The Real Car Guys will take chassis No. 47 to Memphis Motorsports Park this weekend. They have run this chassis five times this season. The ACDelco team started eighth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and brought home a ninth place finish in March. They then qualified 16th and finished 21st at the Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) night race in April. Bowyer qualified on the outside pole at Richmond International Raceway and finished fifth during the May night race. On June 24, they qualified fourth and finished 18th at the Milwaukee Mile. Most recently, they qualified fifth and finished second at New Hampshire International Speedway in July.
Start Time…The Sam’s Town 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. EDT Oct. 28. Live television coverage of the 250-lap event will begin at 2:00 p.m. EDT on NBC, with live radio coverage at the same time on your local MRN radio affiliate and XM Satellite Radio (channel 144).
