Race 2 Win: Sprint Cup Series Race Notes

Sprint Cup Series

NASCAR All-Star Race - Clint Bowyer Notes

Clint Bowyer
No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet Impala SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet

Event/Date: NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race XXIV – May 17, 2008
Venue: Lowe’s Motor Speedway – Concord, N.C.

This Week’s Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet at Lowe’s Motor Speedway … Clint Bowyer will pilot Chassis No. 225 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new for 2008, this is the same Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet Bowyer and his Gil Martin-led team shook down Jan. 15-16 at the Goodyear Tire test at Texas Motor Speedway.

The Field … The NASCAR Sprint All-Star race is comprised of Sprint Cup Series race winners from the 2007 and 2008 seasons. Winners of the all-star race from the previous 10 seasons are also eligible. Additionally, former series’ champions from the past 10 seasons who have competed in at least one Sprint Cup Series race in the last two years are also pre-qualified for the event. The top-two finishers in the Sprint Showdown qualifying race will transfer into the feature along with one driver who wins the Sprint All-Star Fan Vote provided that driver finishes on the lead lap of the Sprint Showdown.

The Race … The NASCAR Sprint All-Star race consists of four 25-lap segments. The caution flag will wave for five laps following the first segment for an optional pit stop. There will be a 10-minute break following the second segment when teams will be allowed to make adjustments to their cars. Drivers will maintain their positions from the previous segment before taking the green flag for the third quarter. The caution will wave again following the third segment for a mandatory pit stop before the green flag waves for the final 25-lap sprint to the checkered flag. Only green-flag laps will count during the final 25 laps with the winner being paid a minimum of $1 million.

How He Got Here … Bowyer secured his eligibility in NASCAR’s annual all-star race by winning the Sylvania 300 last September at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The Emporia, Kan., native backed that up two weeks ago by winning the Sprint Cup Series event at Richmond International Raceway. Saturday night’s race will mark Bowyer’s first start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star Race.

Time to Make Their Mark … “Mr. Jack’s Crew” will participate in the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge Thursday, May 15 at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C. The Jack Daniel’s racing team secured its spot in the competition by virtue of being locked in to the all-star race. Seating is general admission and tickets are available online for $15 at www.pitcrewchallenge.com, or by calling 1-800-495-2295. The grand-prize for the winning seven-person, over-the-wall team is $70,000 with individual position champions being awarded $10,000 each. The annual pit crew showcase will be televised on SPEED Thursday, May 15 at 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

RCR at the All-Star Race … RCR has won four NASCAR Sprint All-Star Races (formerly The Winston). Kevin Harvick is the defending winner. Dale Earnhardt won the event in 1987, which included the legendary “Pass in the Grass.” Earnhardt also went on to claim the checkered flag in 1990 and 1993.

Up for the Challenge … Bowyer, along with Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle and Kyle Busch will participate in the inaugural Pennzoil Victory Challenge. The event is NASCAR’s take on the NBA’s Slam Dunk contest and Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby. Each participant will begin from a standing start and complete a drag-racing style tire burnout. Upon completion of the burnout, each driver will execute complete 360-degree donuts before racing to a designated Victory Lane marked on either side with traffic cones and into the "Finish Box," stopping the clock. A time penalty will be accessed for hitting lane marking cones or the end cone. The winner will be determined by the fastest time after penalties (if any) are accessed. Each driver will be in similarly prepared Richard Petty Driving Experience cars wrapped with Sprint All-Star Race decals. A $10,000 donation will be made to the winner's designated charity. The inaugural Pennzoil Victory Challenge will be televised during SPEED’s pre-race coverage of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

After 11 … In the season’s first 11 races, Bowyer has notched one win, three top-five and seven top-10 finishes. The 28-year-old driver has a logged a 21.4 starting average and a sturdy 11.5 finishing average. He has completed 3,662 of the 3,664 (99.94 percent) total laps run this season and sits fifth in the Sprint Cup Series championship point standings.

Testing One, Two, Three, Testing … Bowyer and the Jack Daniel’s racing team tested at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Monday, May 5 in preparation for this weekend’s Sprint All-Star Challenge and the Coca-Cola 600 Memorial Day Weekend. This was the fifth of seven tests allowed under NASCAR’s 2008 testing policy. The remaining tests available to teams in NASCAR’s top division are scheduled for Pocono Raceway (May 27-28) and at LMS (Sept. 23-24).

Up to Speed … Live coverage of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race XXIV will be televised on SPEED Saturday, May 17 beginning at 7 p.m. EDT. The second and final non-points event of the 2008 season will be broadcast live from coast to coast on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the Sprint Cup Series annual all star extravaganza will be telecast live on SPEED Friday, May 16 at beginning at 5 p.m. EDT.

CLINT BOWYER QUOTES
Humpy Wheeler has added a new twist to this year’s all-star festivities. He’s added the Pennzoil Victory Challenge and you were the first confirmed participant.
“The NBA has a slam dunk competition. Major League Baseball has a home run derby and now NASCAR has the Pennzoil Victory Challenge. It’s going to be a neat event and hopefully, it will catch on and we’ll do it for years to come. I’m looking forward to it. The Richard Petty Driving Experience is going to provide the cars so we’ll have good cars to do burnouts and donuts in. Hopefully, we’ll put on a good show for the fans because that’s what it’s all about.”

How exciting is it for you to be in your first all-star race?
“Growing up racing dirt cars, you always went where the money was at. You always wanted to race the big money shows. That’s where it was, and still is, at. Everybody who was anybody would show up at the big money races in the Midwest. That’s what it’s all about. For me, to finally be guaranteed a starting spot and not have to qualify my way in is exciting. It’s very important to be in the show.”

There aren’t really any consequences to the all-star race other than hurt feelings.
“You’ll do some pretty crazy things for a million bucks. Some wild things have happened at Lowe’s Motor Speedway because of that. Hopefully, the Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet will be out front and we won’t have to worry about wrecking any body. If that’s the case, all I’ll have to worry about is them wrecking me.”

What are your expectations?
“Obviously, the all-star race, with $1 million to win, that’s what we’ve got our sights set on. It’s a go for broke deal and that’s what everyone comes to see.”