Bowyer hopes to turn season around at Martinsville--again
Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images
Clint Bowyer’s season turned around with his win in the 2018 STP 500.
Following a six-year drought, the driver of the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford didn’t mind racing on Monday when snow delayed the race at Martinsville Speedway.
For Bowyer, it was well worth the wait.
“It was very impactful for myself, more than anything,” Bowyer said. “Then you start thinking about the impact it had on our race team and on our performance for the rest of the year—our confidence level and everything that goes along with that. The pride level, everything.
“That really boosted us to a level I knew we were capable of running, and I was excited that it happened.”
Bowyer’s Martinsville win was the first for the Emporia, Kansas, native at the half-mile paper clip, his first with Stewart-Haas Racing and his first in 190 races.
When Bowyer was selected to replace team owner Tony Stewart in the No. 14 Ford, the expectations were high. But the affable driver struggled to acclimate with the team in his new surroundings. In top-of-the-line equipment, Bowyer posted six top fives and 13 top 10s and missed the 2017 Playoffs.
His Martinsville win signaled a turnaround for the driver and the Mike Bugarewicz-led team. Bowyer went on to score four additional top-10 finishes en route to his second win of the season at Michigan in June.
For the first time in five seasons, Bowyer was a lock for the Playoffs. He finished 12th in the standings but enjoyed his first multi-win year since 2012.
Unfortunately, 2019 has not unfolded the way Bowyer had hoped. Adjusting more slowly than expected to the new Mustang, a new aero package and a new qualifying procedure, the team is mired at 15th in the standings. Bowyer's best result so far was a fifth-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway in February.
Last week at Auto Club Speedway, Bowyer ended up ninth after a bizarre exercise in qualifying on Friday, then lost a cylinder early in the race, damaged the car after contact with Corey LaJoie, overheated and finished 38th.
With a tough start to this season, Martinsville couldn’t come at a better time for Bowyer. In addition to his win last March, Bowyer has six top fives and 15 top 10s in 26 starts at the half-mile. His confidence is high returning to Martinsville.
“I’ve felt like I’m someone that’s capable of winning at Martinsville for several years,” Bowyer said. “It felt good to finally check that box. When I look at race tracks and my future, that was always one that I said, ‘Damn it. I can win at that place.’ And we finally did.”
The Martinsville win also provided Bowyer with one of the most unique trophies in NASCAR—the grandfather clock.
“It’s super cool,” Bowyer added. “But it’s a pain in the ass. I’m not lying. It dings and chimes and stuff, but it’s a good reminder of that day and what we accomplished that day.”
Our Partners
.png)
