Clint Bowyer talks the west coast swing and his season so far
Five Ford’s finished in the top-five at Atlanta Motor Speedway. 3 of those five came from the Stewart-Haas camp. Harvick (1st), Bowyer (3rd), Kurt Busch (8th) and Aric Almirola was knocking on a top-ten with his 13th place run.
Clint Bowyer is in his 14th season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. On Sunday, he’ll make his 436th start. This is the second season with Stewart-Haas.
It’s also the 2nd season for Stewart-Haas with Ford as they made the switch ahead of the 2017 season. Call the first year growing pains on both fronts.
Now, the footing is there and the speed is as well. Clint Bowyer is in the right equipment and opportunity to preform is there. All of those things have Clint Bowyer excited.
“Yeah, it was a good weekend for Ford and for our team, Stewart-Haas Racing and our 14 team in general,” Bowyer told NASCAR of Harvick’s win.
“You can use races like that for confidence and momentum for this west coast swing. It is taxing on everyone, a lot of fun but also a lot of work to come out here. To get the year started with a good run at Atlanta feels good.”
“I am looking forward to being out here in Vegas. Hell, who doesn’t like being in Vegas?”
Earlier in the day, Clint Bowyer said he wasn’t sure who would like the west coast swing. Saying, “If you like it, you’re either 19 or you don’t like your family. Or maybe they don’t like you. Something’s going on there.”
He was partially kidding as he said that. But, it’s 3 straight weeks on the road and that’s his point.
Clint Bowyer just want to win. And he’s now in a position to make that happen.
Even on the dirt side, which Bowyer owes a two car Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series team. In an interview with me a few weeks ago, he said he doesn’t jump in the cars because he wants to be able to win.
At that level, you can’t just jump in a car in a fill-in or even part-time basis and expect to run at the front. Really, that could be said for any level of motorsports.
Related: Clint Bowyer explains why he doesn’t run his dirt cars
Of course, Clint Bowyer is very excited to be with Stewart-Haas Racing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. They’re fast. All the Ford’s are fast. 5 Ford’s sit in the top 10 for Sunday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“It is funny,” Bowyer said. “We say after Daytona, ‘That isn’t the real season.’ Then if you have a bad run in Atlanta, ‘Well, that isn’t really the regular season either.’ If you run good at Atlanta you are going to say, ‘Hell yes, that is what you will see all year long.’ ”
Las Vegas Motor Speedway marks the first true 1.5-mile track on the schedule. Atlanta does really count because it’s characteristics are so different from the others. But, NASCAR is near a 35% 1.5-mile schedule. To run well in the series, you better be fast when you head to Las Vegas.
“This repave out here [at Las Vegas], the grip level and the tire that we run is similar to the feel I guess in the car that you will have at a lot of tracks. It is a lot different. Atlanta, you are slipping and sliding around. You come here and the car is instantly a lot faster.”
“The grip level and comfort in the sidewall of the tire and stiffness of the tire is a whole different animal. Throw in the wind aspect of it and even going to that short track at Phoenix next week, you will have that same type of feel with the tire.”
Yesterday during the first practice the wind gusts reached 35 mph. The winds continued throughout the day and into MENCS qualifying.
“There is a little bit of truth to that. But it still feels good to run good though.”
Clint Bowyer will roll off 11th on Sunday.
More
Related: LVMS – Practice 1 Results
Related: Clint Bowyer debuts a new wrap in Las Vegas
Related: Atlanta Race Results
Links
Clint Bowyer | Stewart Haas | LVMS | NASCAR
