Bowyer hoping he can give 'hometown' fans something to cheer for
By Michael Ashford
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Usually, the thought of returning home evokes images of lazying around on the sofa or eating Momma’s home-cooked meals.
For Clint Bowyer, returning home is about as far from that dream as it gets.
“I’ve been really busy since we got here,” Bowyer said by phone Thursday afternoon in between scheduled appearances in Kansas City, “but that’s what it’s all about. I’ve met up with a lot of family and friends and people that I haven’t seen in a while. There’s been a lot of catching up.
“It’s been a good time so far.”
The Emporia native could make his trip back to his home state a great one, provided he performs well in the Nextel Cup Lifelock 400 race Sunday at Kansas Speedway, which is why he came back to Kansas in the first place.
In the thick of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Chase for the Championship, Bowyer enters Sunday’s race with hopes of continuing his recent streak of impressive racing. He won his first Nextel Cup race two weeks ago at New Hampshire and finished 12th at Dover last Sunday, putting him just 18 points behind Chase leader Jeff Gordon (5,340) in the Chase standings.
“We’re right in the middle of this Chase hunt, and we’ve got just as good a shot as anybody to win it,” Bowyer said. “I really feel like we’ve stepped up to the occasion with our race team, and we’re going to be a contender.”
Bowyer has a history of some success at Kansas Speedway, however brief it may be.
In his second start at the track in 2005, Bowyer finished 16th in the Busch Series race. Last year, Bowyer fared even better, placing ninth after starting sixth in his first Nextel Cup start at Kansas, including leading 41 laps before a late spin-out ripped away a shot at winning at what he calls his “hometown track.”
Bowyer said he enjoyed racing at the 6-year-old track, and he said the experience gets better every time he comes back.
“As it ages, it’s really widened out and become a racy racetrack, which everybody likes,” he said. “That puts on a better show for the fans and it’s certainly a lot more fun for us drivers. I really like driving on it. It’s really important to unload off the truck and be good.
“I can’t wait to get the car unloaded off the truck and see what we’ve got.”
He knows the pressure will be on him come Sunday, as he expects many friends, family members and acquaintances from Emporia and the rest of the state to be in the stands cheering for a victory for the Jack Daniels 07 car.
Make no mistake about it — there’s nothing Bowyer would like more than to give those fans what they want. He will start Sunday’s race in the 10th spot.
“Anytime you come back to your hometown, you just want to run good,” Bowyer said, “and obviously, everybody wants to win — of course you want to win. I want to get a win in front of the home crowd. It would be a dream come true.”
neighbor (anonymous) says...
I went to the practice and qualifying rounds yesterday(good time) and unless things changed after we left, he will start in the 11th position, not the 10th.
September 29, 2007 at 11:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )