Pedal to the Metal – Bowyer makes his move with first Cup win
‘I knew we could do it,’ Clint Bowyer said. ‘Hopefully it just proves that we earned a spot here and we’re here for a reason. I’m just so happy to be a part of the Chase; it’s such a neat deal. This is the Nextel Cup, baby!’
Words from the winner of the first race for the Championship. This was also Bowyer’s first-ever NASCAR Cup win. Bowyer filled the 12th and final spot in the Chase and was the only one of the 12 not to have won a race this year. All that is out the window now, and with the win, he moved into 4th place in the standings.
As for the race itself, it lacked excitement. Bowyer drove the only COT that hit the right set-up and he completely dominated the race. It seems that there are not many ways to tweak the cars, so if one team finds the right set-up from the git-go, they can dominate a race.
As far as the 12 drivers in the chase, none of them hurt their chances any, as they all finished the race. Having 7 of the top 10 finishers being Chase drivers is not surprising. The 12 drivers in the Chase are by far and away the best, and have dominated the races this year. It could happen again, especially in one or more of the COT races left on the schedule. Remember, consistency will win the Championship so these drivers will drive with care, looking for a top 10 finish.
Kurt Busch developed a carburetor problem while he was running in the top five. He finished 25th which dropped him to 12th in the Chase, 102 points behind Johnson and Gordon. This can easily be made up with nine races to go.
Brad Daugherty, a former NBA player and Busch Series team owner, has taken up being a NASCAR TV analyst. During the pre-race show he stated that none of the Chase contenders could catch the top three drivers: Johnson, Gordon and Stewart.
‘To come from the bottom, it’s insurmountable,’ he claimed. ‘It cannot happen. It’s too big of a deficit because those guys don’t make mistakes. It’s not going to happen.’
While I agree with him on those three drivers being the favorites to win the Championship, The revamping of points for the Chase makes it very possible for any of the 12 to win. Remember that at the start of last week’s race, only 60 points separated the 12. Bowyer is now only 15 points out of the lead and five points behind Stewart. That’s only a bonus for leading a lap.
All 43 cars in the field finished the race. This was the first time in modern NASCAR history for a 43-car field to accomplish that feat.
When Bowyer won the Sylvania 300 at the New Hampshire International Speedway, it was the first time ever for the number 07. There have now been 100 different car numbers to have won a Cup Series race. #43 is the all time leader in wins, mostly under the Petty banner. Car numbers in today’s race never to have won a race are #70 driven by Johnny Sauter, #00 driven by David Reuitimann, and #84 driven by A. J. Allmendinger.
Today’s race is another COT race at the Dover International Speedway. Of the 12 Chase drivers, Martin Truex Jr. won the June 3 race with Edwards, Hamlin, Kenseth, Bowyer and Gordon all having top-10 finishes. Stewart finished 40th. So what does this mean? Not a thing, just thought I’d mention it. Bowyer finished 37th in the first New Hampshire race this year and look what he did.