Motorsports

Bowyer adds spice to Chase

By BRANT JAMES
Published September 18, 2007

Clint Bowyer, an unassuming sort, once deflected questions about his winless resume entering the Chase for the Championship with a chuckle and a retort to the effect of, "thanks for reminding me."

Those nagging queries officially retired after he not only won, but dominated in the first Chase race at Loudon, N.H., on Sunday. The 28-year-old second-year Cup driver established himself as an interesting fresh ingredient in a field marinated in experience and victory. His victory could mean everything, and yet be meaningless. Kurt Busch won at New Hampshire in 2004 and then the championship. But neither Ryan Newman nor Kevin Harvick gained the same catapult effect in 2005 and 2006, respectively.

But for a few days, winning his first Cup and Chase races on the same day will keep that smile on his face. And there's one less annoying question to field.

WINNERS

1. Clint Bowyer: Banked 195 points, the maximum possible, by leading a race-high 222 laps.

2. Jeff Gordon: A 317-point lead went away when the Chase field was reseeded, but not the high level of performance that built it. His second-place finish was his 16th top-5 in 27 races this season, tying him in points (5,210) with teammate Jimmie Johnson.

3. Jimmie Johnson: Leading the standings is what matters. And the defending champion does, by virtue of six wins to Gordon's four.

LOSERS

1. Kurt Busch had seven top-10s and two wins in his last nine races before the Chase, defining pre-Chase momentum. Then the sublime nature of a playoff system where a part can derail a championship made itself evident again, as he went from the top-5 early in the race to 25th after having carburetor problems. He fell from fourth to 12th in the standings.

2. The rest of Richard Childress Racing, as Bowyer's teammates, Harvick and Jeff Burton finished 17th and 18th, respectively.

3. Denny Hamlin (15th) and Carl Edwards (12th) need top-5s and wins to atone for this points hit.

WHAT WE LEARNED

1. Bowyer has impeccable timing.

BIG PICTURE

Bowyer's team clearly nailed this one, making hardly any changes on the car. His 222 laps led were more than his previous 63 Cup races combined (196).

But the three drivers - Gordon, Johnson and Tony Stewart - who have collectively won seven titles remained ensconced atop the standings and will be tough to depose.

Like old times

Aric Almirola spent Sunday afternoons as a child on the couch of his parents' Tampa home, screaming at the television with his grandfather, hoping to cajole Dale Earnhardt's No. 3 Chevrolet around the track with the force of their passion.

Now 23 and a NASCAR driver,Almirola is biding his time and absorbing as much as he can waiting to take over the flagship car of the team his hero founded: the No. 8 Chevrolet to be vacated at the end of this season by Earnhardt's son and namesake.

"It's kind of neat for me to drive a race car that has those E stripes on the side of it," he smiled.

Almirola will share the No. 8 next season and into the foreseeable future with semi-retired Mark Martin (Almirola is likely handling 12-to-15 Nextel Cup races) but they have spoken about the pupil one day taking the wheel alone.

"We've talked about it and it's definitely something we're looking at," Almirola said of Martin eventually stepping aside. "Not really sure on a timeline or something like that. I'm just thrilled to be sharing a car with Mark Martin. Whenever he decides to step out, if I'm the right guy for the job, then that's great."

Almirola knows replacing Earnhardt Jr. even on a part-time basis will generate scrutiny, another reason why he's glad to have Martin around. Few drivers foster as much respect in the garage as the 25-year veteran, which should provide Almirola a certain buffer by association.

"Obviously with the circumstances we're getting ourselves into I think it will be a help," Almirola said. "I'm looking forward to next year. ... This year I am just trying to get my feet wet, get to know the guys. I think next year will be a really fun year and hopefully we can put that 8 car in the owners' Chase."

[Last modified September 17, 2007, 23:53:53]