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[/media-credit]CLINT BOWYER
No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota
ALL–STAR RACE AT CHARLOTTE
CORNELIUS, N.C. — Clint Bowyer knows exactly what is on the line when he gets behind the wheel of the No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. One million dollars. No points. No excuses.
CLINT BOWYER ON THE SPRINT ALL-STAR RACE: “There is $1 million on the line. That’s a huge deal. It’s the best of the best – the best drivers at the highest level of the sport all giving everything they have to bring home a big prize. Winner takes all. No points for second place. I can tell you one thing – I wouldn’t want to be the guy coming off of turn four standing between me and $1 million! I don’t know if either of us would finish, but it’d be one hell of a show!”
ON SPRINT PIT CREW COMPETITION: “The Sprint Pit Crew Challenge is the all-star competition for the pit crew guys. Those guys put a ton of work and hours of training into the competition. My 5-hour ENERGY crew is all new this year. They have come together much faster then I think we all expected. They’ve been exceptional all year long. I’d put our group of guys against anyone on pit road – and that’s saying something because there are some great groups out there. I’ll be pulling for them and I’m pretty confident they are going to have a great night.”
ADDITIONAL NOTES OF INTEREST
· BOWYER THE ALL-STAR: Bowyer will make his fourth career All-Star start at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday night. In three previous starts, his best finish is 12th in 2009. Last year Bowyer started on the outside of the front row but finished 16th. Bowyer averages a ninth place starting spot and 15th place finish.
· CHASSIS NOTES: Primary Chassis No. 730 started 18th and finished 17th at Texas Motor Speedway. Chassis No. 721 is the backup and previously served backup duty at Las Vegas, Fontana, Texas, Kansas and Darlington but never raced.
· MWR FAN FEST: Michael Waltrip Racing will hold its sixth annual Fan Fest at its race shop in Cornelius, N.C. on Wednesday, May 23. MWR NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Clint Bowyer, Mark Martin and Martin Truex Jr. will sign autographs from 1-3 p.m. For details visit www.michaelwaltripracing.com and follow all the action on Twitter using #mwrfanfest.
· SPRINT PIT CREW CHALLENGE: The No. 15 5-hour ENERGY pit crew will compete in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge on Thursday night at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte. The family-friendly competition features the top-24 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pit crews in a head-to-head competition to determine individual and team champions.
· VICTORY BURNOUT: Bowyer will compete in the Shell-Pennzoil Victory Burnout Challenge on Saturday before the start of the Sprint Showdown. The fifth-annual event is known as NASCAR’s version of the “slam dunk contest,” with the sport’s top talent showing off their post-win celebration abilities in classic NASCAR tire-smoking burnouts. Bowyer has participated in all four previous events. He will compete against four other drivers performing their best 30-second freestyle burnout for a chance to win a $10,000 donation to his favorite charity. Bowyer’s charity is the Emporia Community Foundation. A text-to-vote opportunity by fans will advance the top-two drivers to the final voting round where a panel of celebrity judges will determine the 2012 champion.
· VOTE FOR AL!: 5-hour ENERGY hauler driver Al Nelson needs help in getting voted back in to the 2012 Freightliner Run Smart Hauler Challenge and another shot at the $30,000 top prize. Vote for Nelson by clicking here or by visiting the Freightliner Truck Hauler Challenge page on Facebook.
· RACE FOR EDUCATION: Charlotte Motor Speedway paired North Carolina mayors with drivers qualified for the Sprint All-Star Race for its “May Race for Education” contest. Bowyer is paired with the city of Gastonia. If Bowyer wins the Sprint All-Star Race the city of Gastonia will win a $20,000 educational grant from Charlotte Motor Speedway.
BOWYER ALL-STAR RESULTS
Year Start Finish Led
2008 9 18 –
2009 17 12 –
2011 2 16 –
BOWYER IN 2012
Race Start Finish Led
Daytona 30 11 –
Phoenix 16 30 –
Las Vegas 5 6 3
Bristol 16 4 –
California 11 13 –
Martinsville 4 10 2
Texas 18 17 –
Kansas 8 36 –
Richmond 23 7 –
Talladega 24 6 –
Darlington 26 11 –
No. 15 CREW ROSTER
Crew Chief Brian Pattie
Car Chief Billy Curwood
F. Changer Danny Kincaid
R. Changer Lee Cunningham
F. Carrier Jason Gay
R. Carrier Richard Coleman
Jackman Shaun Peet
Gas Man Mike Metcalf
Spotter Ty Norris
Engineer Dax Garringer
Engineer Tim O’Brien
Interior Nate Kennedy
Mechanic Travis Stock
Mechanic Rick Ramsey
Tire Specialist Scott Swift
Shock Specialist Adam Cooke
Engine Tuner Joe Bullard
Truck Driver Al Nelson
Truck Driver Ray Erwin
