On Sunday, the 2009 NASCAR racing season will shift into high gear with the running of the Daytona 500. The 2008 season saw Emporia native Clint Bowyer win the Nationwide title and finish fifth in the Sprint Cup series.
This year, Bowyer continues to race with Richard Childress Racing, but enters the season with a new sponsor, new crew chief and new team.
Q How is your new team coming together?
A It is good. We have been able to round up a good bunch of guys. We have brought some guys up from the Nationwide and we were able to go out and take advantage of some other race teams going under and get some good personnel. We have been able to get the cream of the crop because we had the funding with our sponsor.
Q With a new crew chief will there be a learning curve?
A It will take time. It took Gil (Martin) and I four or five years to get where we were. I want to win a championship at the Cup level, and I certainly want to win more races. I feel Shane Wilson is qualified to do that. He has shown a lot of leadership and organization. He is very methodical, and I see a lot of good qualities in him to help propel me to the next level.
Q Have you made the right advancements with the cars during the off season?
A We think so, but it is always hard to tell. We know what improvements we have made but you never know what your competition has done. We won’t know until about five races in.
After Bristol, we will have been on a good mix of tracks and can figure out where we are and where we need to be. It is hard to start out with Daytona because so many things depend on the work that was done in the shop from the engines, chassis body. When you leave Daytona, you really don’t know how you are going to stack up against the competition during the season.
Q In the off season, lots of drivers were switching around. Do you feel fortunate to be with RCR who has some stability?
A I do feel fortunate and that says a lot about Richard and it has always been that way. I have definitely found a family at RCR, and I love racing there. Last year, I had the opportunity to look at other teams, and they just don’t have that family atmosphere like RCR does.
We definitely have something we can build on and improve. With the economy as rough as it is, we are very fortunate to have good sponsors and be able to keep almost all of our employees.
Q How is the new sponsorship with General Mills?
A It is really going to be awesome. Jack Daniels was a fun sponsor, and they did a lot for my career, but I don’t think they will be able to do what General Mills can do. The merchandise is probably double what it was last year and being in mass retail like Walmart is important.
I am on the cover of 30 million packages of General Mills products and that does lot for myself as a brand and will open a lot of doors.
Q What do you want to accomplish this year?
A First things first — win more races. That is what we are paid to do, and if you don’t win, you just don’t feel like you have accomplished a whole lot. From that, it is to be solid and be in the Chase.
Q You are consistent when you race. Will you take more chances this year?
A We are going to be prepared more. You can only gamble so much. Throwing your chances in the air is not smart racing. We need to be consistent and more upfront to be with the lead pack. I think with my new crew chief’s leadership that will happen. I see a lot of good qualities in him.
Q How was the off season?
A Having two new sponsors on both the Nationwide and the Cup series, there was a lot of running back and forth from Minneapolis to Atlanta to get acclimated to the sponsors. They make you run through media training so you can know about their brands so you can sell it. In the Nationwide, I am running 10 races in the Holiday Inn car. I am splitting duties with Jeff Burton and Stephen Leicht.
Q Casey Mears will be a new RCR teammate. How is he fitting into the team?
A It’s going pretty good. It’s weird to see him running the 07 car. He is a good guy and a team player and someone we needed. It’s hard to find someone who fits into your program and wants to push the package, and I think he does.
Q Last year, you started a dirt track car program. How is that going?
A I hired a new driver, Dale McDowell, and he will run the car this year. I have been over a couple of nights running it, and we have been having some fun.
admireed (anonymous) says...
Great start Clint. #4 in the rain!!!!!!!!!!
February 15, 2009 at 7:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )