Friday, January 31, 2014

Driver Spotlight: Clint Bowyer (Preseason Addition)

Clint Bowyer's 2014 Preview


By Richard Tix

The 2013 season was not the season Clint Bowyer was hoping it would be. After finishing the 2012 season hot during the Chase and looking like a real contender, he entered 2013 as a consistent top 10 driver week after week.

That sounds great doesn't it? The problem with Bowyer's 2013 season was closing. 2013 was the first season since 2009 that he didn't find a win. "Loopies" awards can tell us a lot at times and 2013 can be explained for Bowyer by the fact that he won the No, Really, It's Go Time, Why Aren't You Going? Award. Clint won this award for one reason(Loop Data), "He lost 67 positions in the final 10 percent of races, the second highest figure in the series."

So even though Clint had a great season because he was consistent, we can now see why he couldn't get a win in 2013, he couldn't close the deal. As if that wasn't bad enough, look at his 10 race Chase run. In 2012 he ended the season hot (9.4 average finish in the Chase with a win), but in 2013 he finished the Chase with a 10.9 average finish position and no wins. So not only did Bowyer not finish during the season, but he also couldn't close the deal during the Chase.

Most fans will also remember 2013, Bowyer, and MWR for a huge fiasco to end the NASCAR regular season. Scandals and a lot of controversy surrounded the Chase and the MWR drivers that either got in (Clint Bowyer) or kicked out (Martin Truex Jr). It will be a huge step for Bowyer and MWR to get past the way 2013 ended and make a big move forward to forget about it.

So let me know what you think on Twitter! Do you think Bowyer can bounce back and find a win or two in 2014? Will the MWR Scandal hang over the #15 team this season? Will Bowyer finally close the deal at the end of races this year? Will Clint make the Chase? Get your opinion out there!

Let the count down to Daytona Continue!

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