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‘Bubble Boy’ on favorite track
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| ASSOCIATED PRESS Danny Hamlin (11) takes a low line against Clint Bowyer (6) during the Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., on Sunday. With one race remaining to determine the 12 drivers who will advance into the Chase, Bowyer is holding down the 12th and final qualifying spot and Hamlin is 11th. |
Chase No. 12 driver Bowyer at ease for race postponed to Sunday.
By JENNA FRYER
Associated Press
RICHMOND, Va. — Clint Bowyer would maybe be nervous about making the Chase for the
championship if the 12-driver field was finalized at any place other than Richmond International Raceway.
But Bowyer is pretty good at Richmond — so good that if he’s worried about not making the Chase, he certainly didn’t show it Friday.
“This is my favorite race track, and I love racing here,” he said. “What better race to come to and try to put yourself in the Chase than at one of your favorite
race tracks? I’m looking forward to it, trying to stay focused and go get ’em.”
Bowyer is holding down the 12th and final spot in the Chase field entering the race. It was scheduled for Saturday night, but rescheduled to Sunday afternoon in anticipation of Tropical Storm Hanna hitting the area.
It’s the last event used to determine the title contenders and Bowyer’s spot is certainly not secure.
Bowyer holds a mere 17-point lead over 13th-place driver David Ragan, and he’s up just 48 points over Kasey Kahne. He doesn’t want to know where the two are
running during the race, saying he’d prefer to focus on his own race and see where he winds up when the checkered flag falls.
If history is any indication, Bowyer will be just fine. In five previous races, he’s scored three top-10s and earned his only win of this season at the 0.75-mile oval in May.
“I’d rather be me in the Chase right now then them trying to
figure out how to beat me at one of my favorite tracks,” Bowyer said.
But it’s not like the challengers are sweating it out, either.
Much like Bowyer, Ragan was totally at ease. In his three
previous Cup starts, he has one top-10 finish and is confident he can put together a strong run in the most meaningful race to date of his young NASCAR career.
“If I had to pick any track to go to, Richmond would probably be in the top two or three or three choices,” Ragan said. “So it’s the perfect situation for us to go out and try to be the heroes of the weekend.”
He also didn’t envy Bowyer’s position. Bowyer can clinch his spot by either winning, or finishing
second or third and leading the most laps. Ragan’s situation is more complicated: If he wins, he’s in is one of the many mathematical
scenarios Ragan needs.
“I think the pressure’s probably on Clint more than anybody because it’s his spot to lose and it’s ours to gain,” Ragan said.
But Bowyer said he really doesn’t feel any pressure. He was one of the surprise Chase qualifiers last season, then put together a great 10-race run to put himself in contention to challenge Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon for the title.
He ultimately finished third in the final standings.
“Trying to figure out how to beat Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson to win a championship, that’s a lot of pressure,” Bowyer said. “I like pressure. Pressure is good.”
Kahne was up for the challenge, too.
A two-time winner this season, he has faltered over the past month to drop to 14th in the standings and a long shot to race his way into the Chase field. But he isn’t daunted by the fact he has to finish the race with 48 points more than Bowyer and 31 points more than Ragan to clinch a spot.
championship if the 12-driver field was finalized at any place other than Richmond International Raceway.
But Bowyer is pretty good at Richmond — so good that if he’s worried about not making the Chase, he certainly didn’t show it Friday.
“This is my favorite race track, and I love racing here,” he said. “What better race to come to and try to put yourself in the Chase than at one of your favorite
race tracks? I’m looking forward to it, trying to stay focused and go get ’em.”
Bowyer is holding down the 12th and final spot in the Chase field entering the race. It was scheduled for Saturday night, but rescheduled to Sunday afternoon in anticipation of Tropical Storm Hanna hitting the area.
It’s the last event used to determine the title contenders and Bowyer’s spot is certainly not secure.
Bowyer holds a mere 17-point lead over 13th-place driver David Ragan, and he’s up just 48 points over Kasey Kahne. He doesn’t want to know where the two are
running during the race, saying he’d prefer to focus on his own race and see where he winds up when the checkered flag falls.
If history is any indication, Bowyer will be just fine. In five previous races, he’s scored three top-10s and earned his only win of this season at the 0.75-mile oval in May.
“I’d rather be me in the Chase right now then them trying to
figure out how to beat me at one of my favorite tracks,” Bowyer said.
But it’s not like the challengers are sweating it out, either.
Much like Bowyer, Ragan was totally at ease. In his three
previous Cup starts, he has one top-10 finish and is confident he can put together a strong run in the most meaningful race to date of his young NASCAR career.
“If I had to pick any track to go to, Richmond would probably be in the top two or three or three choices,” Ragan said. “So it’s the perfect situation for us to go out and try to be the heroes of the weekend.”
He also didn’t envy Bowyer’s position. Bowyer can clinch his spot by either winning, or finishing
second or third and leading the most laps. Ragan’s situation is more complicated: If he wins, he’s in is one of the many mathematical
scenarios Ragan needs.
“I think the pressure’s probably on Clint more than anybody because it’s his spot to lose and it’s ours to gain,” Ragan said.
But Bowyer said he really doesn’t feel any pressure. He was one of the surprise Chase qualifiers last season, then put together a great 10-race run to put himself in contention to challenge Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon for the title.
He ultimately finished third in the final standings.
“Trying to figure out how to beat Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson to win a championship, that’s a lot of pressure,” Bowyer said. “I like pressure. Pressure is good.”
Kahne was up for the challenge, too.
A two-time winner this season, he has faltered over the past month to drop to 14th in the standings and a long shot to race his way into the Chase field. But he isn’t daunted by the fact he has to finish the race with 48 points more than Bowyer and 31 points more than Ragan to clinch a spot.
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