Clint Bowyer wins Nationwide Championship
Post your congratulations message for Clint below
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Former Emporian Clint Bowyer wins the NASCAR Nationwide Championship. Post your congratulations message for Clint below. Show your hometown pride by posting a message for Clint. We will send him the link so he can see your comments.
Pick up the Monday Emporia Gazette for our commemorative edition celebrating this historic win.
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) _ Carl Edwards won the season-ending Ford 300 on Saturday night, but came up 21 points short in his attempt to overtake Clint Bowyer for the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship.
All Bowyer had to do to keep Edwards from winning a second straight title was finish in the top eight, and he did that easily. He grabbed fifth to stay on top of the standings, right where he has been most of the year despite winning only one of 35 races.
"We've been consistent," Bowyer said after climbing out of his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. "We did the things it takes to win championships. I want to thank Richard for giving me the opportunity.
"We've raced a long time, we're both from the Midwest and he's a good competitor," Bowyer said of Edwards. "He's last year's champion and it feels really good to beat him."
Edwards wrested the lead from Kyle Busch late in the race and stayed out front to the end of the 200-lap event at Homestead-Miami Speedway, earning his seventh Nationwide victory and keeping Busch from recording a record 11th Nationwide victory.
Edwards did all he could, other than getting the five-point bonus for leading the most laps, but it wasn't enough.
It was a disappointing finish for Edwards, who faces even bigger odds Sunday trying to make up a 141-point deficit against Jimmie Johnson in the Sprint Cup finale. Johnson can wrap up the title by finishing 36th or better, no matter what Edwards does.
"Man, that's a great win, to be able to hold off that (No.) 18 (Busch), as strong as that group has been," Edwards said. "It's no good to finish second, but I know Clint will be a great champion."
Both Edwards and Bowyer, another Cup star, had consistent seasons, but the difference at the end was Edwards failing to finish two races.
"It's not tonight that decided this championship," Edwards said. "It's an all-season thing. We've got a great team here and on the Cup side. There's no shame in finishing second."
The last of eight caution flags in the race came out with nine laps remaining
Bowyer, who started the night with a 56-point lead, fell out of the top 10 several times in the first half of the race. He actually trailed Edwards in points several times, but his team used a two-tire pit stop during a caution just past the halfway point to get its driver into the top five, and he managed to stay there the rest of the race.
Rookie Joey Logano, Busch's Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, started from the pole and finished 10th. That wrapped up the car owner title for Gibbs in the No. 20 Toyota, a car Busch drove part of the season.
Pollyanna (anonymous) says...
Awesome Clint! It's been a blast watching you race this year. Keep up the great work!
PS Kudos to Edwards for giving Emporia Kansas a shout out! SWEET!
November 15, 2008 at 6:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slimbolen99 (anonymous) says...
It's great to see something great happen to an Emporia guy! These guys work their TAILS off...everyone in Emporia should be very proud for supporting Clint and everything he has and will do.
November 15, 2008 at 6:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nascar_02_07 (anonymous) says...
Outstanding job Clint!! You drove so hard and deserved this so much! Congratulations to the whole team!
November 15, 2008 at 6:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
Outstanding! Simply Outstanding!! A well-deserved honor.
November 15, 2008 at 7:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
powercat (Jerry Seinfelt) says...
Great Job Clint! Next year lets get the Sprint Cup title!
I also want to congratulate the Gazette on great coverage of Clint. The weekly nascar page with Clint updates were great. As well as the stories with him through out the year.
November 15, 2008 at 7:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pencilguy (anonymous) says...
Nice Job, Mr. Bowyer! You give so much back to Emporia!
November 15, 2008 at 7:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hottopics (anonymous) says...
I couldnt watch the race till the last few laps, I couldnt take that much suspense for that long. LOL!!
We are super proud of all your accomplishments. You have proven yourself to be a great dirt racer but you have earned and truly are a Champ in the Nascar industry!!
Congrats from Zilla and Huey!! LOL!!!!
November 15, 2008 at 8:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
supernanny (anonymous) says...
AWESOME JOB CLINT! We are all sooo proud of you!
November 15, 2008 at 9:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whatajoke (anonymous) says...
Congrats on not totally choking away your lead. Good thing the season is only 35 races instead of 36 like the cup series. Otherwise we would be crowning Carl Edwards with the Nationwide championship.
November 15, 2008 at 10:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Congrats Clint, Dan and crew for a great season. Have a good race tomorrow, then enjoy your off season in style.
November 16, 2008 at 12:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chiefsfan (anonymous) says...
Congratulations, Clint Bowyer!! We've just gotten into watching the races and it's because of you! We now live in Denver and it's been great to say, "see, that Clint Bower? He's from Emporia!!" Again, Congratulations, enjoy your victory,you deserve it!
November 16, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Alpha_Man_777 (anonymous) says...
Thank you, Clint, for Being You, and showing the World that there is one more person we Emporians can be proud to claim as one of our Hometown Heroes!!! Congrats! You have reminded us all that this eclectic town does indeed produce Champions!!
November 16, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
socialmancan (anonymous) says...
Awesome job! Keep up the great work next season!
November 16, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eiggohp (anonymous) says...
I never watched car racing until Clint started racing....and I so enjoyed seeing him....and Congrats to him on the win!!! I think my neck muscles were more tense that yours were LOL.
November 16, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cheryl (anonymous) says...
Yay! Way to go, Clint!
November 16, 2008 at 6:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hickory (anonymous) says...
Great year Clint........Sprint next year...... so the highway dept. can put up the sign with both championships on it. "Home of Clint Boyer, 2008 Nationwide Champion and 2009 Sprint Cup Champion". Thanks for doing everything you're doing for Emporia with your new foundation. It seems that all Nascar drivers are so unselfish with their winnings and time.
November 16, 2008 at 7:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
crossriverjordan (anonymous) says...
God bless you Clint...we never watched racing until you started. Awesome!
November 17, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
photobuggy2 (anonymous) says...
Congrats on living your dream! ENJOY!
November 17, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yellow82 (anonymous) says...
Clint, you rock my world! Congratulations on an amazing season! You make Empora proud!! I hope you plan a meet and greet back home for all your loyal supporters! I'll miss the 07 car, but gladly welcome Cheerios. That just means new car decals and clothes!!
November 17, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slegault (anonymous) says...
Congratulations, Clint! Now everyone else knows what we have known all along - that you are an incredible driver! This is just the first win of many. And congrats on the Sprint Cup finish! Enjoy the success and we hope to see you in Emporia over the holidays!
November 17, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weltha (anonymous) says...
Yes, great job Clint. crack- leave your smoking comment where it belongs. It sure isn't on this thread. How childish and totally uncalled for.
November 17, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
Excellent job, Clint! I wish we could have watched it but only have an antenna. Good job in the Sprint cup race Sunday! I think being consistent is very hard and you are doing a great job of it. Keep up the great work!
November 17, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kcfan (anonymous) says...
Crack, you are funny. Let it go man, not everything has to be about CAE. However, you do make it very apparent that you NEVER visit the bars when Clint is home. Obviously this issue is not one that really impacts you and you step down from the soapbox!
November 17, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )