Clint Bowyer Gets First Taste of Gen-6 Racing Thursday in Duels

Clint Bowyer is 8-to-1 to win Bud Duel No. 2 (Getty)

CORNELIUS, N.C. — 5-hour ENERGY Toyota driver Clint Bowyer will get his first taste of drafting in race conditions at Daytona during Wednesday’s two practice sessions and in the second 150-mile Duel on Thursday. The two Duel races set the 43-car field for Sunday’s Daytona 500.

Despite finishing second in the 2012 points, the Michael Waltrip Racing driver did not qualifying for last Saturday’s Sprint Unlimited because he didn’t win a pole during the season. Bowyer spent Saturday watching the dirt late model teams he owns race in Tampa. He also watched the Unlimited on television to learn what he could about NASCAR’s new Gen-6 cars on the Daytona high-banks.

Bowyer tweeted:

“I have officially reset my 2013 goals … win a damn pole, this sucks!!!”

QUOTES

ON WATCHING THE SPRINT UNLIMITED: “I didn’t enjoy watching the Sprint Unlimited on TV. I know that I didn’t win a pole and I didn’t earn my spot in that race, but watching everyone else strap in and go for broke when you’re watching on TV is not my idea of a good time. I am going to have to fix that for next year and make sure we get our chance to race. When cars are going around Daytona – I want to be in one of those cars.”

ON DUEL No. 2: “We qualified about how I expected we would based on our practice times, so I’m good with that. It put us in a pretty good position. We are racing in the second duel with our teammate Mark Martin and I think we’ll do just fine. We’ll run our race, learn as much as we can and get a good starting spot for the Daytona 500.”

ADDITIONAL NOTES OF INTEREST

· Daytona Qualifying: Bowyer qualified 18th in single lap qualifying at Daytona. As a result, Bowyer will start ninth in the second Budweiser Duel. The second Duel is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 21.

· Commercial Success: During the off-season Bowyer filmed new commercials for 5-hour ENERGY, PEAK and several different NASCAR commercials featuring the Gen 6 2013 Toyota Camry and its new fantasy games.

· Rookie Orientation: Bowyer is scheduled to be a featured guest at NASCAR’s Rookie Orientation on the importance of maintaining a positive relationship with sponsors and partners on Wednesday, Feb. 20 in Daytona.

· At Daytona: Bowyer will make his 15th career NSCS Daytona start on Feb. 24, 2013. In 14 previous Daytona starts, he has two top-five and six top-10 finishes. He started a career-best third in July 2011. Bowyer has an average starting position of 20th and finish of 16th.

· The Great American Race: Bowyer has raced in every Daytona 500 since 2006. In Bowyer’s previous seven starts in The Great American Race he has a best finish of fourth, two top-five and three top-10 finishes. He started the 2011 Daytona 500 in sixth position – a career best for the season opener. His average starting position is 21st and finishing position is 12th.

· Super Bowl: Bowyer joined Brad Keselowski as NASCAR’s guest at the Super Bowl on Feb. 3 in New Orleans.

-  Michael Waltrip Racing Press Release