TROUBLE COMES IN PAIRS FOR BOWYER, JACK DANIEL’S CHEVROLET AT TALLADEGA

Clint Bowyer

Talladega, Ala. – Clint Bowyer, driver of the No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet, was sidelined early after being collected in the notorious “big one” that consumed 14 cars on lap nine in Monday’s rain-delayed NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway.

To add insult to injury, after his team affected the necessary repairs to get their black and white Chevy Monte Carlos SS back in the race, an engine failure proved to be the ultimate demise for the “Old No. 7 Gang.”

While the end result was less than desirable, Bowyer was competitive on the race track all weekend. The NEXTEL Cup Rookie of the Year contender was fifth-fastest in Friday’s first practice session and was strong in qualifying the following day.

In time trials early Saturday afternoon, Bowyer toured the behemoth 2.66-mile Alabama track in 51.340 seconds (186.521 mph). The lap proved to be the 15th-fastest time of the session, lining up the Emporia, Kan., native on the inside of row eight for Sunday’s spring classic at Talladega.

Later that day, the 26-year-old driver finished fifth in the Aaron’s 312 NASCAR Busch race and confidence abounded within the Jack Daniel’s Racing Team heading into Sunday’s 188-lap race.

Mother Nature pushed the race back to Monday morning as rain showers plagued the Talladega area on Sunday, forcing NASCAR to postpone the event until the next day.

When the green waved in front of an estimated 135,000 race fans, Bowyer settled into a rhythm and began biding his time in search of a second consecutive top-five finish at the legendary Alabama speedway.

Much to his chagrin, time wasn’t on his side as the multi-car incident sent him to the garage for repairs early in the race. After just under an hour in the team’s garage stall, Bowyer returned to track near the race’s one-third mark. Disappointingly, after a spirited effort by Mr. Jack’s Pit Crew to get their car back in the race, the car’s motor let go just a handful of laps later.

Bowyer’s RCR teammates Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick finished the event fourth and 23rd, respectively.

Next week, short track action heats back up when the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series visits Richmond for the first of two stops at the division’s famous three-quarter mile “Action Track.”

Live coverage of the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway will take the green flag Saturday, May 6 beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time and will be telecast live on FX. The event will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and XM Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 10th of 36 points-paying NEXTEL Cup Series races will air live on Speed, MRN and XM Satellite Radio Friday, May 5 at 6 p.m. EDT.

CLINT BOWYER QUOTES:
“It’s just unfortunate. Everybody is just riding around, killing time until that last 50 (laps) and trying to stay out of trouble, then that happens. It’s just stupid, real stupid. I got stopped and somebody hit me from behind. I guess they didn’t see the wreck. I hit twice pretty hard. The guys worked hard to get me back out there and then the motor let go. But, the engine was just a casualty from the wreck. Tough day.”