Bowyer Satisfied To Fight The Good Fight
When the dust finally settles, Clint Bowyer could be crowned 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. Although 36 points out of the standings lead with two races remaining, Bowyer – with some help – could rally for what’s become an improbable title.Realistically, the Kansan probably will settle for a career-best season in terms of wins (three) and top-five (nine) and top-10 (22) finishes. If Bowyer retains his current third position in the standings, he’ll match his 2007 points effort.
To say Bowyer has come out of nowhere is an understatement. With a first-year team, he ignited Michael Waltrip Racing’s first journey to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™. There’s no doubt that MWR, Bowyer and the No. 15 Toyota team’s crew chief Brian Pattie will be a stronger presence in 2013.
"I’ve said this all along: It’s fun to be racing for the championship but I’m more proud of where we’re at contending for that championship," Bowyer said. "We just keep polishing the edges and keep getting better fixing our program week-in and week-out. We’ll [eventually] be there."
Bowyer probably will be among the final three competitors standing after Sunday’s AdvoCare 500. Keselowski and Bowyer are Johnson’s only rivals currently within a 49-point championship window – outside of which means title elimination after Phoenix.
Three former NASCAR Sprint Cup champions likely must wait for next year to hoist another Sprint Cup. Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon are fifth and sixth, 72 points behind Johnson. Reigning champion Tony Stewart is eighth, 80 points back.
Two Chase qualifiers were eliminated in Texas – Kevin Harvick, 11th, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., whose two-race hiatus due to injury likely will relegate him to 12th in final points.
Reluctant Onlooker Busch Could Have Say In Phoenix
Kyle Busch had a ringside seat for Sunday’s Texas championship rumble between Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski. He just wished there could have been a third fighter in the ring – himself. Unfortunately for Busch, he missed this year’s Chase but has run as well – or better – than many of the 12 qualifiers who made the cut into the post season. His third-place finish in the AAA Texas 500 was his fifth top-five finish over the eight Chase races.Two finishes of 28th or worse would have made a title run unlikely but Busch definitely would have been a contender. Still, Busch has scored the fifth-most points in this year’s Chase.
He’ll accept the spoiler’s role – not gladly – but Busch’s No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota is certain to be in the thick of the struggle on Sunday in Phoenix. He finished sixth, just behind Johnson and Keselowski, when the series visited the one-mile track in March. Busch has a victory (2005) and nine top-10 finishes in 15 trips to the Valley of the Sun.
"This last 10 weeks have been pretty good. We've run well. We've been fast. We've shown speed," said Busch, who holds 13th place in the standings by a whopping 79 points over Ryan Newman. "It's just a matter of continuing to evolve and get better as a team and communicate because this car is obsolete in two weeks. So we'll work on all of that stuff in 2013."
The last time a non-Chase driver won a Chase race was, coincidentally, Phoenix, when Kasey Kahne accomplished the feat last season. Kahne, of course, qualified for this season’s Chase field.
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