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Bowyer wins to end 88-race drought
Source: Agencies |
September 21, 2010, Tuesday
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CLINT Bowyer had stormed out of the gate in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship by ending an 88-race drought and winning at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday.
Bowyer had the most dominant car but lost the lead to Tony Stewart on a restart during a flurry of cautions late in the race. Bowyer couldn't catch the two-time champion with speed, but pounced when Stewart ran out of gas with a lap to go.
Bowyer was nursing his own fuel tank to the finish line, and barely held off Denny Hamlin for the victory. It was Bowyer's third in the Cup series and first since Richmond in 2008.
His first career victory came under similar circumstances. After sneaking into the Chase, Bowyer won the 2007 race at New Hampshire to cement himself a championship contender.
"I hate it for Tony. You hate to win races like that," Bowyer said. "But I got here, and I felt like this race back in 2007. We did it again."
The replay was no different for Bowyer. His Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet was the car to beat, although Bowyer found himself chasing down Stewart after a flurry of cautions chopped away his lead and put Stewart out front. The two-time series champion wouldn't have been caught, but he and Bowyer were both trying to stretch their fuel the final 92 laps and it was anyone's guess if they could make it to the finish line. Bowyer conserved his gas, but Stewart ran wide open - and it cost him dearly.
Stewart ran out of fuel right before the white flag lap, and Bowyer sailed past him for the lead. He still had to contend with a hard-charging Denny Hamlin, who rallied from a mid-race accident to put himself in position to pounce should the leaders run dry. Bowyer made it, then ran out of gas during his victory celebration. Stewart slid from potential winner to 24th, and took the gaffe in stride.
"We went down swinging," he said, shrugging. "It's a tough way to start the Chase. I would have settled for second. If you knew exactly how much gas you have, it would be different, but you never know. It's part of the sport, always has been. It's what makes it exciting when you never know until the last lap who's going to happen."
The final laps were agonizing for Bowyer, who led 177 but thought victory was slipping away when he couldn't aggressively chase down Stewart because of his fuel situation.
Bowyer had the most dominant car but lost the lead to Tony Stewart on a restart during a flurry of cautions late in the race. Bowyer couldn't catch the two-time champion with speed, but pounced when Stewart ran out of gas with a lap to go.
Bowyer was nursing his own fuel tank to the finish line, and barely held off Denny Hamlin for the victory. It was Bowyer's third in the Cup series and first since Richmond in 2008.
His first career victory came under similar circumstances. After sneaking into the Chase, Bowyer won the 2007 race at New Hampshire to cement himself a championship contender.
"I hate it for Tony. You hate to win races like that," Bowyer said. "But I got here, and I felt like this race back in 2007. We did it again."
The replay was no different for Bowyer. His Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet was the car to beat, although Bowyer found himself chasing down Stewart after a flurry of cautions chopped away his lead and put Stewart out front. The two-time series champion wouldn't have been caught, but he and Bowyer were both trying to stretch their fuel the final 92 laps and it was anyone's guess if they could make it to the finish line. Bowyer conserved his gas, but Stewart ran wide open - and it cost him dearly.
Stewart ran out of fuel right before the white flag lap, and Bowyer sailed past him for the lead. He still had to contend with a hard-charging Denny Hamlin, who rallied from a mid-race accident to put himself in position to pounce should the leaders run dry. Bowyer made it, then ran out of gas during his victory celebration. Stewart slid from potential winner to 24th, and took the gaffe in stride.
"We went down swinging," he said, shrugging. "It's a tough way to start the Chase. I would have settled for second. If you knew exactly how much gas you have, it would be different, but you never know. It's part of the sport, always has been. It's what makes it exciting when you never know until the last lap who's going to happen."
The final laps were agonizing for Bowyer, who led 177 but thought victory was slipping away when he couldn't aggressively chase down Stewart because of his fuel situation.
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