Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Clint Bowyer one of best flat track drivers, should fare well at Phoenix

Clint Bowyer was 2008 runner-up at Phoenix; he's 12/1 to win Sunday
CORNELIUS, N.C. — With two races remaining in the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, No.15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota driver Clint Bowyer’s goal is no different than the day his team left for the season-opening Daytona 500 in February— secure a top-five points finish.

Bowyer ranks seventh in the Chase after seven races 69 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson and seven points out of the top-five finish his Michael Waltrip Racing crew set as a goal before the season.

BOWYER ON PHOENIX: “I like going to Phoenix. It’s a great city and the racetrack there produces some of the best races we’ve seen the last couple years. Unfortunately our stats don’t’ show how good we’ve been there the last couple years. In the second race I was at MWR we had an issue that put us a lot of laps down early, but we were fast once we got it figured out. We were fast last fall, but didn’t make it to the end of the race – and we were fast this spring. I have a lot of confidence coming into Phoenix and we still have some goals to finish up this season. I think a top-five for our team, with everything that we’ve gone through, a top-five finish in the Chase would be a great accomplishment and goal for us and that is where my mind is at right now.”

MWR: “All-in-all I’m very proud of where we’re at considering the circumstances. We’re top six or seven in points and with all the distractions and melees going on we could have very easily taken our eye off the ball, lost focus and not be a factor at all. I’m pleasantly surprised by the dedication, hard work and drive of everyone involved. We’ve worked hard to be where we’re at. Hard work and dedication will get us through all of this and the future will be brighter ahead.”

NOTES:
MWR in 2013:
MWR cars have combined for two wins (Truex Jr. – Sonoma; Vickers – Loudon-1), 20 top-five and 43 top-10 finishes. The three-car team has led 834 laps and won one pole award (M. Martin – Phoenix-1). Bowyer is sixth in points trailing Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson by 69 with two races remaining. 

Racing for a Cause: From now through December 31, 5-hour ENERGY will donate five cents from the sale of every limited edition, specially marked, bottle of raspberry flavored 5-hour ENERGY to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a national nonprofit education and support organization serving women and families affected by breast cancer. The minimum guaranteed donation is $75,000. 

Chassis: Primary chassis No. 761 finished second at Martinsville in April, 13th at Loudon in the July and 17th in September. Backup chassis No. 743 raced at both Richmond races. 

Where It All Began: Bowyer made his Sprint Cup Series debut at Phoenix International Raceway on April 23, 2005 – his only Sprint Cup Series start that season.

- Michael Waltrip Racing

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