No. 14 Mobil 1 Racing: Clint Bowyer Daytona 500 Advance
CLINT BOWYER
New Team, New Manufacturer, Same Desire to Win Daytona 500
KANNAPOLIS, North Carolina (Feb.15, 2017) – Let us re-introduce you to Clint Bowyer.
You might remember him. He finished second in the 2012 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship and third in the 2007 title chase. He has eight NASCAR Cup Series victories and won the 2008 NASCAR Xfinity Series title after leaving his hometown of Emporia, Kansas for racing glory in 2004.
He’s NASCAR’s everyman, whose collar is as blue as his Kansas City Royals hat and his smile as wide as a wheat field.
He’s been quiet the last two seasons, but that only proves how much of a team sport NASCAR is these days. Midway through 2015, his two-car Michael Waltrip Racing team announced it was going out of business at the end of the season. In 2016, Bowyer, needing a temporary home before joining Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) in 2017, drove for an HScott Motorsports team that was still early in its development.
Out of sight usually means out of mind in NASCAR, but Bowyer will be front and center in 2017. He’ll climb into a car worthy of his skill as he replaces the retired and future Hall of Famer Tony Stewart in SHR’s No. 14 Ford Fusion under the leadership of second-year crew chief Mike “Buga” Bugarewicz. After engineering a playoff appearance with Stewart in 2016, expectations of pairing Bowyer with “Buga” – the only rookie crew chief in the 2016 playoffs – are sky high in 2017.
Bowyer will make his SHR debut Feb. 26 driving the No. 14 Mobil 1 Ford Fusion in NASCAR’s most prestigious event – the 59th running of the Daytona 500.
“This is the best opportunity I’ve ever had,” Bowyer said. “Everybody knows that. Getting in the No. 14 Ford isn’t easy. It’s going to be a challenge. The first thing you think about is Tony’s fan base. There are a whole lot of people I don’t want to let down. I want to make all those people proud of the No. 14 this year, proud of me being in that No. 14, and proud of Tony’s decision to put me in it this year. The pressure is probably there but, to be honest with you, from where I’ve come to looking forward to this opportunity for more than a year, there’s more excitement than pressure.”
Bowyer won’t be the only new addition to SHR in 2017. Since its inception in 2009, SHR has posted 36 victories and two championships with Stewart and Kevin Harvick, so it came as a bit of a shock to the motorsports world when it was announced in February 2016 that SHR would welcome Ford Performance as the four-car team’s manufacturer beginning in 2017. The move should provide a boost under the hood and in aerodynamics, as well as in the SHR engineering meetings with the global motorsports company bringing its expertise to its Kannapolis, North Carolina, operation. As the sport grows, the long-term alliance of SHR and Ford Performance could lead to the next wave of dominance that Bowyer expects to surf for the next several years.
If the SHR-Ford-Bowyer combination bears the fruit many expect, then Bowyer’s return to prominence will be a boon to NASCAR. The former dirt racer can boast success on every type of track the series visits. Four of his eight career NASCAR Cup Series victories have come on short tracks, two on restrictor-plate tracks, one on an ultra-fast 1.5-mile track and one on a road course. He’s won everywhere and he’s won in everything. Three times he’s finished in the top-five in the standings and earned eight victories in the Xfinity Series and three in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Chasing checkered flags is what has driven Bowyer since racing dirt bikes in Kansas. He proved proficient at collecting trophies as he transitioned from two wheels to four, from dirt to asphalt, from Xfinity to Cup. Another trophy and another checkered flag is what drives Bowyer, and from the cockpit of his No. 14 Mobil 1 Ford Fusion, he’s in the best position to secure those highly-sought items.
CLINT BOWYER, Driver of the No. 14 Mobil 1 Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing:
What does the Daytona 500 mean to you?
“This is the biggest race of the year. It’s the race everyone wants to win. You know we have spent a lot of time talking about the stages and new format this offseason but, for this race, throw all that out the window. I’m here to win this Daytona 500. I can’t wait. I have a new opportunity with a new race team. It’s a new everything for me so I’m going down there to work hard in every practice session and get myself prepared to win this baby. I’m hungry and I want to go out there and get established right off the bat as a frontrunner with our team. And I think, ‘Hey, I think I can win the Daytona 500.’ I’ve come close many times.”
How predictable is the Daytona 500?
“It’s one of those things where you can be leading coming to the white flag and finish 15th to 20th. I’ve done that. I’ve also been way back in the pack, then somehow picked my way through it on the last lap and got a good, solid finish. It’s a rollercoaster, just like it has been with everybody. I mean, that’s what the Daytona 500 is. You go from thinking, ‘I got ’em!’ to ‘Oh, no! How have we done so wrong?’ I mean, it’s just one of those emotional rollercoaster races where you just never know what’s going to happen. I had the thing won in 2010, and they literally used the Bondo out of the haulers to fix the track. I didn’t win that year but, before that happened, I just knew I had it won. Whether it’s a track surface, somebody hitting a jet dryer and blowing up, or coming down to a green-and-white checkered at the end, you just never know the recipe and what it’s going to take to win that ultra-special race.”
What are your thoughts on SHR?
“These are the best teammates I’ve ever had, the best equipment I’ve ever had, the best ownership and a fantastic lineup of sponsors. Everything is here. That’s what will breed all of the success. When Tony Stewart and Gene Haas hire you and put you in a car that Tony drove to a championship, that gives you a great deal of confidence. It was a huge confidence booster and it’s what I needed.”
Why do you say you feel more excitement than pressure in 2017?
“You know, you walk into SHR and you see everyone busting their rear ends to make this transition to Ford. Doug Yates (President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines) was at the shop the other day and I laughed because I’ve had my butt whupped by his horsepower for a lot of years, especially on restrictor-plate tracks. I always took notes on how well those Roush Yates engines ran. I’m really looking forward to getting that horsepower under the hood. You see how much success (Ford drivers) Brad (Keselowski) and Joey (Logano) have had with these aero packages. You go back to having teammates – particularly teammates like the ones I now have at SHR. Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Danica Patrick, who each bring a lot to the table. I think they will help me be a better racecar driver and ultimately more successful. That’s all exciting.”
Is joining SHR the year it moves to Ford good timing?
“If you are going to change, you might as well change everything. If there was ever a culture that was a great fit for me, it’s SHR. It seems like everybody at SHR is someone I’ve either worked with before or I’m already friends with. It’s just a perfect fit. The culture is me. They take care of business and have a lot of fun doing it. That’s what I love that about SHR. I think I’ll fit in well. With the transition to Ford, the thing I’ve noticed right off the bat is you are talking to the head honchos. Raj Nair (Executive Vice President of Global Product Development and Chief Technical Officer) is the guy who brought Ford Performance to what it is today. Whether it’s a meeting at the shop or going over to Ford Performance, he and his counterparts are the ones you talk with, making sure you have what you need to be successful at the racetrack. That means a lot to a racecar driver.”
Mobil 1 Ford Team Report
Round 1 of 36 – NASCAR Monster Cup Series – Daytona 500
Car No. 14: Mobil 1 Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing
At Track PR Contact: Drew Brown with True Speed Communication (704-498-7596 or Drew.Brown@TrueSpeedCommunication.com)
Primary Team:
Driver: Clint Bowyer
Residence: Emporia, Kansas
Crew Chief: Mike Bugarewicz
Hometown: Lehighton, Pennsylvania
Car Chief: Jerry Cook
Hometown: Toledo, Ohio
Engine Specialist: Matt Moeller
Hometown: Monroe, New York
Engine Builder: Roush Yates Engines: Mooresville, North Carolina
Spotter: Brett Griffin
Hometown: Pageland, S.C.
Over-The-Wall Crew:
Front Tire Changer: Ira Jo Hussey
Hometown: Manchester, New Hampshire
Front Tire Carrier: Brett Morrell
Hometown: Windham, Maine
Rear Tire Changer: Chris McMullen
Hometown: Canton, Michigan
Rear Tire Carrier: Josh Sobecki
Hometown: New Kensington, Pennsylvania
Gas Man: James “Ace” Keener
Hometown: Fortuna, California
Jackman: Getty Cavitt
Hometown: Owensboro, Kentucky
Windshield: Justin Peiffer
Hometown: Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Road Crew:
Truck Drivers: William “Stump” Lewis and Rob Fink
Hometown: Linkwood, Maryland and Baltimore, Maryland, respectively.
Engineers: Lee Deese, Chris Chidgey and Kenny Oates
Hometown: Rockingham, North Carolina, Gainesville, Florida and Huntersville, North Carolina, respectively.
Mechanics: Tony Silvestri and Rich Letendre
Hometown: Sylvania, Ohio and Lowell, Massachusetts, respectively
Tire Specialist: Russell Simpson
Hometown: Medford, New York
Shock Specialist: Wayne Smith
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
Chassis Information
Primary Chassis No. 14-836: This car made its debut during preseason testing in 2014 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and its only race that year came with Tony Stewart behind the wheel in May at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, where it started 12th and finished 43rd after suffering damage in a multicar accident on lap 137. After countless hours in the wind tunnel in preparation for its second career start in the 2015 Daytona 500, it started seventh and finished 42nd due to a lap-42 accident.
Backup Chassis No. 14-947: This car made its debut in July 2015 with Stewart at the wheel for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona. It qualified 31st but rallied its way up to sixth in time for the green-white-checkered finish that decided the race in spectacular fashion. But, rather than being able to leverage his track position, Stewart was shuffled back to 14th place, where he was running when the frontrunners collided as the field came to the checkered flag. The incident triggered a dramatic accident that caused Austin Dillon’s No. 3 Chevy to take flight, smashing into the protective fencing and connecting with several cars before coming to rest directly in front of pit road. Chassis No. 14-947 suffered a good bit of damage but was still able to finish the race. Rebuilt in the months afterward, the car made its second start at Talladega in October. Stewart qualified 12th but started at the back of the field after a suspension change before the race. He laid back for most of the race before making a charge to the front in the closing laps. His bid for victory ended when the No. 14 suffered damage as the field came to green for overtime racing. Stewart finished the race 25th. Brian Vickers substituted for the injured Stewart in the 2016 Daytona 500, driving Chassis 14-947. The team’s decision to take two tires during a caution with 44 laps remaining vaulted Vickers from midpack to fourth. He stayed at the very front of the field, running side by side with the leaders and racing in the top-10 with 10 laps remaining before drifting to midpack in the closing laps. At Talladega last May, under his doctor’s orders, Stewart drove the first 52 laps before turning the car over to Ty Dillon, who survived wild racing in the final laps to finish sixth. In his swan song at Daytona in July, the three-time champion Stewart finished 26th after looking like he might win his second consecutive race of the season. Stewart avoided early trouble, and then battled in the top-five as the race wound down. But, with 10 laps to go, the No. 14 slammed into the wall, ending his chances for victory. Stewart’s final career restrictor-plate race in October 2016 netted a 32nd-place finish at Talladega.
Notes of Interest:
· The Daytona 500 will mark Clint Bowyer’ 398th career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start and 12th career Cup Series start in the Daytona 500. He owns four top-seven finishes in the sport’s most important race and has led 73 laps.
· Bowyer owns career totals of eight wins, two poles, 58 top-five finishes, 167 top-10s and 2,338 laps led in 397 NASCAR Cup Series races. He also owns eight Xfinity Series victories.
o His most recent Cup Series victory came at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway (Oct. 13, 2012).
o His most recent Cup Series pole came at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon (Sept. 16, 2007).
· Bowyer has three top-five finishes, 11 top-10s and has led a total of 153 laps in his 22 career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Daytona. His average start is 18.9, his average finish is 15.7 and he has a lap-completion rate of 97.7 percent.
· Mobil 1, in its 15th consecutive season as the “Official Motor Oil of NASCAR” will provide full primary sponsorships for each SHR NASCAR driver at various races throughout the 2017 season Mobil 1 is used by more than 50 percent of the teams in NASCAR’s top-three series
· Crew chief Mike Bugarewicz is in his second season after overseeing Tony Stewart’s final campaign in 2016. Bugarewicz’s pit strategy played a key role in Stewart’s victory at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway in June 2016. The Lehighton, Pennsylvania native served as the lead engineer on Stewart-Haas Racing’s (SHR) No. 4 entry in 2014 and 2015. The Penn State graduate was the only rookie crew chief to be part of last year’s Cup Series playoffs.
· Tony Stewart and Gene Haas co-own SHR, which has recorded 36 victories and 30 poles since its inception in 2009. Stewart won the 2011 NASCAR Cup Series title and Kevin Harvick gave SHR its second title in 2014.
· SHR at Daytona: In 46 overall starts at Daytona, SHR-prepared cars have earned one pole (Danica Patrick, February 2013), two wins (Tony Stewart, July 2009 and July 2012), 10 top-five finishes and 15 top-10s; have been atop the leaderboard for 262 laps; and have completed 92.1 percent (7,443 of 8,083) of the laps contested.
· Bowyer Cup Series Career Victories:
o Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway (Oct. 13, 2012)
o Richmond (Va.) International Raceway (Sept. 8, 2012)
o Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway (June 24, 2012)
o Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway (Oct. 23, 2011)
o Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway (Oct. 31, 2010)
o New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon (Sept. 19, 2010)
o Richmond International Raceway (May 3, 2008)
o New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon (Sept. 16, 2007)
· Bowyer Cup Series Career Poles:
o New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon (Sept. 14,2007)
o Darlington (S.C.) Raceway (May 11, 2007)
· Bowyer Career Cup Series Points Finishes:
o 2016 27th
o 2015 16th
o 2014 19th
o 2013 7th
o 2012 2nd
o 2011 13th
o 2010 10th
o 2009 15th
o 2008 5th
o 2007 3rd
o 2006 17th
· Bowyer Cup Series Career Stops:
o 2017 Stewart-Haas Racing
o 2016 HScott Motorsports
o 2012-2015 Michael Waltrip Racing
o 2006-2011 Richard Childress Racing
· Bowyer Xfinity Series Career Victories:
o Dover (Del.) International Speedway (Sept. 26,2009)
o Daytona (Fla) International Speedway (July 3, 2009)
o Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (March 15, 2008)
o Richmond (Va.) International Raceway (May 4,2007)
o Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway in Avondale (April 20, 2007)
o Dover (Del.) International Speedway (Sept. 23, 2006)
o Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park (Oct. 22, 2005)
o Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway (June 12, 2005)
· Bowyer Camping World Truck Series Victories:
o Kansas (Kan.) Speedway in Kansas City (June 4, 2011)
o Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway in Avondale (Nov.12, 2010)
o Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth (Nov 3, 2006)
Sources: Drew Brown/True Speed Communication