Clint Bowyer went from two consecutive top-5 finishes in the NASCAR Sprint Series Point Standings to 15th in 2009. His average finish for 2009 was 14.9. That is just 0.8 off from 2008 and 1.1 off from 2007. Which means, when Bowyer was ‘bad’ in ‘09 he was REALLY BAD. Clint had 6 finishes of 26th or worse. He led a lap in only five races all season. A total of 41 laps. Compare that to the 387 laps led in 2007 and the 188 laps led in 2008! Clint didn’t like it when Childress switched crew chief and crew on him to try and give Casey Mears a chance. I think Clint’s trepidation was spot on.

Bowyer’s over-the-wall crew seems to be making progress as a team through the 2009 season. When they perform well, it shows in Clint’s favor with improved finish positions. Case in point, his over-the-wall crew won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award at the next to last race of the season in Phoenix. Meaning they kicked-ass and spent the least amount of time on pit road compared to all the other teams. Bowyer finished that race in 7th. Clint’s team won the award three times in 2009 with similar results.

Clint Bowyer is an extremely talented driver. I’m inclined to believe that 2009 was tough for him because of the fundamental team change forced on him at the beginning of the season as well as an overall lack of competitiveness from the whole RCR organization. I’m willing to go out on a limb for Bowyer in 2010 and hope for better things for him. RCR is good at re-building and re-bounding and Bowyer now has a year of ‘gel’ time with his new crew under his belt. Clint should be a good driver to have in your fantasy NASCAR lineup for 2010.

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