Bowyer notes Cup success ‘all about the people you have around you’

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April 23, 2013

martinsville_clintbowyer_barryalbert — Photo Credit: Barry Albert

Once, Clint Bowyer was happy to be amongst the boys of the Sprint Cup Series. Racing weekly with the stars of the NSCS for an organization as storied as the sport itself.

Bowyer though, is a long ways away from his 2006 rookie season and as he continues to search for his first career Sprint Cup Series title with Michael Waltrip Racing, he now does so while thought of as one of the best. He’s now contending for wins on a weekly basis, enjoying more of the spotlight and taking a team of underdogs where they’ve never been before.

“I’m telling you, it’s the people that are around you,” said Bowyer on Tuesday during a NASCAR teleconference about his career turnaround.

“That’s the only thing that’s changed. I went from just kind of being one of the boys to one of the elite, and it’s because of making the change to MWR, to the Toyota camp and having Brian Pattie and everybody on our 15 car. That’s been the thing that’s changed.”

He’s bold move from Richard Childress Racing following the 2011 season is paying off in ways never thought before. And results appeared quicker than expected. Led by crew chief Brian Pattie, who joined Bowyer at MWR from a struggling Juan Pablo Montoya team at Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, the 15 team performed as if they’d been together for years.

They won three races – Sonoma, Richmond and Charlotte – and finished second in points. It was a career year for Bowyer, both in season wins and championship finish.

“It’s all about the people you have around you,” Bowyer reiterated. “Brian Pattie, everybody on our 5-Hour Energy Toyota is just really, really on. I’ve got an awesome group, from the crew chief with Pattie to engineers, over the wall crew has really turned the corner and gotten a lot better this year.

“We just keep perfecting what we’ve got. But everybody at MWR, everybody at TRD, it’s just a really good package and a great program that I’m a part of and I think the results are kind of speaking for themselves.”

Heading into Saturday night’s Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond, in which Bowyer is a previous winner, one of two RIR wins on his resume, he sits ninth in points. Continuing where he left off in 2012, a bit of a surprise for some, but not for Bowyer.

“I think we picked up right where we left off last year,” he said. “Obviously everybody talks about that [second place] jinx and everything else, it just wasn’t the case with us.

“The reason I didn’t think so is everybody else that had finished second, Carl – looking at Carl in particular, he lost by a point. Just the devastation from that can carry over not only just within a driver but everybody across the board on the race team.”

Unfortunately, for Bowyer, he never had a shot at losing the 2012 championship. While he went to finale in Homestead mathematically eliminated because of the now infamous crash the previous week in Phoenix with Jeff Gordon, troubles for contending Jimmie Johnson allowed Bowyer to jump over him in the final standings.

Looking back, the MWR team suffers from of a case of what could have been, instead of what should have been. But for a team of self-called misfits, it was something to be proud of and to use going forward as they learn, age and get better together.

“We were first year in with a brand new team, we finished second in the championship, won three races,” said Bowyer. “There was absolutely nothing to be hanging your head on, holding your head down.

“We were all super pumped up and couldn’t wait to get started in 2013. For us it’s just kind of been business as usual. We’ve had some bumps in the road, we’ve had some bad luck that we’ve had to battle through. But nonetheless, we’ve been able to continue to rebound after a bad weekend and get a good finish.”

NASCAR Fans to Decide Design for Todd Peck’s Helmet

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SM Archive

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April 23, 2013

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Kansas

By

Jeffrey Boswell

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April 23, 2013

no48_kansas_teamchevy — Credit: Team Chevy

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson finished third in the STP 400 at Kansas and lengthened his lead in the Sprint Cup point standings. He now leads Hendrick teammate Kasey Kahne by 37.

“That’s a heck of a cushion after eight races,” Johnson said. “If there were debris cautions in the point standings, NASCAR would fly one now

“Brad Keselowski swears his team did nothing wrong. He gives new meaning to the term ‘defending’ champ. Penske is appealing their punishment, but NASCAR probably won’t change their mind. That ship has sailed, or better yet, that ship has been ‘docked.’”

2. Kasey Kahne: Kahne posted his fifth top 5 of the year, taking the runner-up spot in the STP 400 at Kansas Motor Speedway. He leaped five places in the point standings to second, where he trails Jimmie Johnson by 37.

“I just couldn’t make the pass on Matt Kenseth,” Kahne said. “He’s like the NASCAR rule book to Penske Racing—there’s just no getting around it.”

3. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski closed an eventful week with a sixth in the STP 400, overcoming early damage to claim his seventh top-10 finish of the year. Earlier in the week, the No. 2 Miller Lite team was docked 25 points for an unapproved part in Texas.

“As you may have seen,” Keselowski said, “my rear bumper cover flew off near the end of the race. That’s not the only time my car’s rear end has been ‘uncovered’ lately.

“I’m sure NASCAR has heard enough me lately. It’s not often NASCAR quotes David Gilliland, but they’d like me to ‘shut up and race.’”

4. Greg Biffle: Biffle finished 19th at Kansas on a tough day for Roush Fenway Racing, as the team failed to produce a top-10 finish. Biffle fell one spot to fourth in the point standings, and now trails Jimmie Johnson by 47.

“Roger Penske said the team was working in a ‘gray area’ of the rule book,” Biffle said. “Apparently, that’s another area in which NASCAR lacks ‘color.’”

5. Kyle Busch: Busch struggled in the STP 400, spinning twice, the second of which sent him into the wall and sliding into the path of Joey Logano’s No. 22 Penske Ford, which slammed Busch’s Toyota. Both cars were done for the day, and Busch finished 38th, his worst finish this season since a 34th at Daytona.

“Logano has a ‘nose’ for Joe Gibbs Racing cars,” Busch said. “That’s in stark contrast to his ‘tail’ for NASCAR inspectors.”

6. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: Earnhardt finished 16th at Kansas, his third consecutive finish outside the top 10. After taking the points lead after a runner-up finish at California, Earnhardt is now tied for fifth, 35 out of first.

“That last caution ruined our chances,” Earnhardt said. “I hate flag waving, unless it’s green, checkered, or done by my fanatical fan base. But I’m not one to complain. I don’t need some two-bit driver to tell me to ‘shut up and race.’”

7. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth won his second race of the year, capturing the STP 400 after a timely caution flag gave him the lead with about 40 laps to go. He held off Kasey Kahne down the stretch, and is now eighth in the point standings, 59 out of first.

“Thank goodness for Brad Keselowski’s rear bumper flying off,” Matt Kenseth. “And I commend Keselowski for his defiance. NASCAR throws the book at him, and he throws back! He’s one tough customer. If he were a professional wrestler, he would hail from ‘Parts Unknown.’”

8. Carl Edwards: Edwards led 19 laps at Kansas but fell a lap down after an untimely caution and finished 17th. He fell one spot to sixth in the Sprint Cup point standings, 49 out of first.

“I’m no stranger to having a muscular physique, Edwards said. “And I’m no stranger to losing points due to a failed inspection. You could say I’ve been ‘sculpted’ and ‘busted.’”

9. Paul Menard: Menard led the Richard Childress Racing charge at Kansas, finishing 10th while teammate Kevin Harvick came home 12th. Menard is now 10th in the point standings, 71 out of the lead.

“Harvick has an average finish of 16th this season,” Menard said. “On a related note, Jimmy John’s has introduced a new topping for their sandwiches in Kevin’s honor—-it’s called the ‘medi-okra.’”

10. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer posted his fourth top-5 result of the season with a fifth in the STP 400. He is ninth in the Sprint Cup point standings, 64 out of first.

“David Gilliland did what many of us have wanted to,” Bowyer said. “No, not put Danica in her place, but talk dirty to her.

“As you may have heard, I just opened the Clint Bowyer Autoplex in Emporia, Kansas. It’s been a dream of mine to own my own car dealership. Let that be a lesson to the youngsters: if you chase your dreams, you may catch them. And, if you chase Jeff Gordon, you may not.”

The Final Word – NASCAR goes green for Earth Day…humbug, I say

By

Ron Thornton

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April 23, 2013

I have known for a long time that I tend to march to the beat of my own drummer. Maybe that is why I am not surprised to see that such notions as Earth Day, Mother Earth, and Going Green simply do not resonate with me. Of all the things that make me warm and fuzzy, the parade that is all preoccupied with the environment or carbon credits or global warming leaves me rather cold.

Don’t get me wrong. If a Love Canal type toxic waste dump appears in my neighborhood, I’ll be carrying a placard. If we have an industrial threat such as the Bhopal disaster situated in a populated area I am on the bull horn. If the powers that be are so inept, so reckless that another Chernobyl could take place, I will be writing letters and screaming at the top of my lungs. Such threats are real.

If you can see the air where you live, you might have a problem. My city has oil refineries, yet experiences a lesser pollution index than such fellow industrial wastelands as Anchorage, Richmond, Vienna, and Vancouver. Those low levels are but 20 – 30% of what they record in many places in India, China, Romania, and Mexico, for example. If you can chew what you breathe, I would think it time to take action. However, if the United Nations brings up what it claims to be a problem, yet its only solution is for you to pay for carbon credits and the privilege of continuing what you are already doing, while offering much worse offenders a free pass, forgive me for being a tad skeptical.

Being green is becoming the new religion, the new flavor of the decade. Now we have NASCAR touting its own horn about how green they have become. They claim the largest recycling program in sports, Sunoco has its ethanol-infused fuel, and Pocono has a solar farm. It is good to recycle, to have cleaner burning fuel, and even seek out alternative, affordable, and readily available forms of energy. If you can not replace, at least improve. None of it replaces oil just yet, but I applaud their resolve.

Who knows, maybe one day all this might actually solve something. However, I could not care less that NASCAR, its sponsors, or the Arbor Day Foundation plans to plant 8000 trees, at least 90 in each racing market. What NASCAR giveth in carbon emissions these trees are supposed to taketh away?

Earth Day is everyday in NASCAR, or so I recently read. We plant a few trees and spread around some recycled rubber mulch and we want to pat ourselves on the back as if we are really doing something. Shoot a man and offer to replace him with a new baby, and if that rings logical to you then maybe planting that tree or buying that carbon credit might make some sense. It just does not to me.

Plant enough trees and your conscience is cleared of the emissions from a single race, a single season. My wife uses Fabreze to control my emissions, and thanks to her actions I can now sleep like a baby. I am proud of my aboriginal heritage, but Mother Earth? My Mom is made up of flesh and blood, not dirt. One tries to protect me, while the other would kill me if “she” had half a chance through exposure or disease. If I wanted to worship a tree I would have been a Druid.

Here is a thought. How about making sure people count and to ensure what we do in this modern world impacts our fellow man in the least intrusive fashion, without retarding our progress. An automotive industry that might produce and allow carburetion systems that can greatly extend fuel mileage might be a start in showing the green parade is for real. An oil industry that ensures that when an oil well or pipeline springs a leak there is a fast action method of taking care of the problem quickly with only short term damage is another thought. Maybe if we would properly compensate those who are adversely affected by the production, transportation, and refining of fossil fuels, just maybe those who feel screwed won’t be out to screw big oil in return. Do things that matter, that have a real demonstrable positive impact, and just maybe we could be on to something.

Maybe then we can continue enjoying the benefits of oil, such as a longer healthier life or that computer screen you are looking at right now, until such time as a new age source of energy can be developed and put forth. Planting a few trees and paying for carbon credits is just playing pretend. While such actions might make one feel good, imagine what doing something tangible, something that really accomplishes something, might make one feel. You are probably feeling green with envy at the prospect.

Gearing Up for Race Weekend at Richmond with the Track President

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SM Staff

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April 23, 2013

Some of the best short-track racing in the world occurs at the Richmond International Raceway. Twice a year, fans pour into the facility to witness classic short-track racing and to see the stars of NASCAR do what they do best. The whole show is run by many people, but Track President Dennis Bickmeier oversees the entire facility. He is just as excited as race fans are for the upcoming race weekend and he expects fans to have a great experience. In addition to all of the great things that the track has had in the past, they have added even more for this season.

I was fortunate enough to interview Dennis and he gave me some great insight on what is happening behind the scenes to prepare for race weekend at RIR. Below, you can read the interview and get stoked about the upcoming races that will be occurring at RIR.

What are some of the exciting things you and the Richmond International Raceway staff have in-store for race weekend?

“I think the biggest thing that comes to mind right now is “new.” We have a lot of new initiatives we are rolling out, as well as finalizing some new construction in an effort to enhance the facility that will greet our fans. Some examples include: a new frontstretch gate and redesign of our midway area; new food courts with some local and national restaurant flavor; new tent camping; additional traditional camping opportunities; new flow for our pit pass guests to enjoy more in the infield.”

Through social media, I see that you guys have many more exciting additions scheduled for race weekend this year, it’s a great thing to see, but how did you guys come up with all of these new and exciting things?

“Our team has gone through an extensive strategic planning process on what we want to be and then how do you get there and make it happen. So, you need a plan first and part of that plan is generated by feedback from fans. We get a lot of that via social media and post race surveys, but we also utilize our fan advisory council to provide input. Most importantly, a lot of the ideas are generated by one on one conversations that I have and our team has with fans on race weekend.”

As track president, what are the things that you most look forward to on race-weekend?

“There are many but I really like seeing the place come to life. Each day during the week something new is happening. People are arriving to set up the midway or the TV compound or something in the infield. Then, campers start arriving, followed by the drivers and teams. Then, it’s time to get into the on-track schedule and the fans are arriving. Each day builds and I really enjoy the energy that builds with it.”

What do you believe is the one factor that keeps bringing fans back to Richmond each year?

“One factor is probably difficult to chose, but I will say the short track racing action that is produced here! I think the fact that we’ve been doing NASCAR racing here for more than 60 years is a great advantage.”

Kyle Busch has been super successful in the Spring Races at RIR, do you believe his fans are attracted to the track because of his dominance and do you think he can make it five straight Spring Race victories?

“I think he is off to a tremendous start of the season and has certainly rebounded from a tough season-opening race in Daytona. Yes, I do believe he can make it five; however, I do think there are some unknowns with the new Gen-6 car, so I think everyone will be on a bit of a learning curve. I think his fans appreciate him for who he is and he wins. We had a great turnout of his fans recently at an event in the DC area, and I could definitely see their appreciation for “their” driver.”

Truck Series fans love short-track racing and many of them would like to see the Trucks back at RIR, do you see that as an option for your track in the coming years?

“I would never say never. I love the Camping World Truck Series, but you have to have a lot of things align on the scheduling and ticket sales side to make it all work.”

As the race weekend grows closer, are your ticket sales where you would like them to be for the race weekend?

“There continues to be room for growth, but I like our plan and I like our momentum being a week out. There are some great wins that we’ve experienced in some our ticket initiatives, for example, we implemented tent camping for the first time, and it is sold out; we’ve launched a car corral for car clubs for the first time and it has sold out. We’ll keep building every day.”

What are a few of things that you are most anticipating for race weekend?

“For me, it’s getting around to see and talk to the fans. I look forward to hearing their stories and putting on a good show for them. Our satisfaction comes in knowing we executed a great event. I think the other thing is seeing all the hard work and dedication our team puts in to staging these events come to life.”

Is there anything you want the fans to know regarding the upcoming races at RIR?

“I want people who have never been here before to come check us out, and for our fans who are attending or returning to have a good time. I want everyone who is coming to prepare for a great weekend of racing and take advantage of our mobile app and the information on our website to help them enjoy the weekend. We have a lot of new initiatives here this race, and I hope everyone enjoys what they see. And, as a reminder, we have three days of racing for this event, April 25-27, and go to rir.com for ticket and event information!”

If you don’t attend the races at Richmond next weekend, you’ll be missing out on a great show. The track always puts on a great race weekend for the fans and this year’s races will be as thrilling as always. You can keep up with the happenings at Richmond next weekend on twitter if you follow Dennis on twitter (@RIRPrez) and follow the Richmond International Raceway (@RIRInsider). Get ready race fans because NASCAR will be invading Richmond very soon for some classic short-track racing.