Clint Bowyer discusses the dark days; Explains motivation during a drought

Clint Bowyer is chasing a rush of anxiety

Ahead of Martinsville, Clint Bowyer was in a 190-race winless streak. The gap between wins is 6 years. That’s a lot of time to contemplate your racing career.

A drought like that makes a racing driver contemplate things. Clint Bowyer started to open up about that in the media center, “Hell yes. Yes, it was pretty dark.”

Now, the doubt is gone, Stewart-Haas Racing is on fire and Clint Bowyer has found victory lane. But, did Clint Bowyer consider giving up before he reached this career-saving moment?

You spoke of ‘dark days’ during his 190-race winless streak. 

“There’s been a lot of good things happen in my life,” Clint Bowyer reiterates.

But, in the case of dark moments. What keeps you going?

“Well, there’s one thing that I hope everybody knows is how much I do love this sport. I love the opportunity. I love people. I love coming to the truck every week.”

“It’s always been a big thing to me, having that damn thing parked up front. The parking stall, that’s what I hated. When they moved to team stalls and everything else.”

“When you’re parked up front, you’re with the men and not with the boys. And I’ve been with the boys a few times. There’s a lot of pride of being up there with the men and racing up front.”

“The competition. But, more than that, it’s being able to get out and have an opportunity to have your nerves run through the roof, cottonmouth, to have your legs shakin’ and everything else.”

“It’s been a long time since I felt that anxiety, that much emotion. To cap it all off, I look over after the race and here comes my kid running down the front straight-away. I lost it then. I’m not going to lie.”

“That’s why you keep doing it. It is fun. We’re very fortunate to be a part of a very wonderful thing.”

He was once a shop-guy for RCR before climbing into the seat. Since, Clint Bowyer has spent the last 14 years of his life as a driver in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. He’s collected nine wins and masses 439 career starts.

After leaving RCR, Bowyer moved to Michael Waltrip Racing. When that team closed, Bowyer found a temporary home at HScott Motorsports as he waited for a seat to open up at Stewart-Haas Racing. Last year, Bowyer made his debut with the team. He finished 2nd, three times in 2017.

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Clint Bowyer | Martinsville | NASCAR

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