MORE THAN LOBSTER ON THE LINE FOR BOWYER
SEEKS 3RD NHMS WIN IN 5-HOUR ENERGY 301
CORNELIUS, N. C. – There’s a lot on the line Sunday for No. 15 5-hour ENERGY driver Clint Bowyer when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races 301-laps at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Bowyer is 16th – the final playoff spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup standings- with just eight races remaining before the end of the regular season. A good run could add to his lead over 17th place while a victory at the “Magic Mile” would likely propel him into the Chase.
If past performance is indicative of future success then there’s plenty of reason for optimism in the No. 15 Toyota camp. Bowyer owns victories in the 2007 and 2010 fall races at NHMS plus he’s posted seven top-10s in 18 races.
Along with raising the traditional winner’s trophy, Bowyer would love to once again raise the live rock lobster the track presents to the winner in victory lane.
Adding to the incentives is this week’s announcement that Bowyer’s primary sponsor 5-hour ENERGY will serve as the race’s title sponsor for the 5-hour ENERGY 301.
Bowyer on New Hampshire: “Man, everything is lining up for us. New Hampshire has been a track where we’ve been to victory lane before, 5-hour ENERGY has stepped up and become the title sponsor of the race, the track its celebrating its 25th race weekend anniversary, there’s so many things aligning. Sure we have a lot on the line this weekend, but everyone does at this point in the season. It’s pretty simple for us really. Go out and win or go out and get good finishes and all the points and Chase stuff will be fine. I’d love for the track to give me another big old lobster.”
What does it take to get around New Hampshire?
“New Hampshire can be a tricky little race track. You’ve got to be able to roll the middle faster than the next guy and you’ve got to be able to put that throttle down. It may sound simple but those two things together are actually pretty difficult. You get the thing to where it will really roll the middle good and it’s pretty free and now you’re too loose up off. You get the thing tightened up in the center and now you can’t get off the corner right to pass anybody. It can be a tough thing to juggle.”
NO. 15 CREW ROSTER
Billy Scott
Crew Chief
Terry Spalding
Front Tire Changer
Allen Steele
Front Tire Carrier
Lee Cunningham
Rear Tire Changer
P.J. Briody
Rear Tire Carrier
Brian Chase
Jack Man
Evan Marchal
Gas Man
J.D. Frey
Car Chief
Brett Griffin
Spotter
Dax Gerringer
Race Engineer
Joe Bisson
Race Engineer
Adam Cooke
Shock Specialist
Travis Stock
Rear Mechanic
Chris Sherwood
Front Mechanic
Kyle Anderson
Interior Mechanic
James Davis
Tire Specialist
Gregg Huls
Engine Tuner
Ray Erwin
Truck Driver
Jeff Shano
Truck Driver
NEW HAMPSHIRE STATS
· One win (July 2010)
· Five top-five and seven top-10 finishes in nine starts
· Completed 997 of 997 laps (100%) and led 78 laps
· Average start 16.7 and average finish 9.2
· No DNFs (Did Not Finish)
CHASE ELIGIBLE
1 – Jimmie Johnson (4 wins) … 624 points
2 – Kevin Harvick (2 wins) … 692 points
3 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2 wins) … 616 points
4 – Kurt Busch (2 wins) … 542 points
5 – Joey Logano (1 win) … 624 points
6 – Martin Truex Jr. (1 win) … 596 points
7 –Brad Keselowski (1 win) … 559 points
8 – Matt Kenseth (1 win) … 540 points
9 – Denny Hamlin (1 win) … 522 points
10 – Carl Edwards (1 wins) … 449 points
11 – Jamie McMurray (0 wins) … 556 points
12 – Jeff Gordon (0 wins) … 537 points
13 – Kasey Kahne (0 wins) … 513 points
14 – Paul Menard (0 wins) … 509 points
15 – Ryan Newman (0 wins) 497 points
16 – Clint Bowyer (0 wins) … 490 points
DRIVERS OUTSIDE THE CHASE
17 – Aric Almirola (0 wins) …17 points behind 16th
18 – Greg Biffle (0 wins) … 70 points behind 16th
19 – Kyle Larson (0 wins) … 86 points behind 16th
20 – Casey Mears (0 wins) 91 points behind 16th
WINNERS NOT IN TOP 30 IN POINTS
37 – Kyle Busch (2 win) … 87 points behind 30th
