Clint Bowyer, No. 2 Camping World Chevrolet Stater Bros. 300 Preview

NOTES:

* This Week’s Camping World Chevrolet at California Speedway … Clint Bowyer will pilot Chassis No. 073 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) stable. Formerly a No. 29 Holiday Inn racer, Jeff Burton won the Camping World 300 presented by RVs.com with this car last September at the two-mile Fontana oval. Burton also won races with this car last fall at Charlotte and Homestead. In four races last season, Chassis No. 073 won three times and finished eighth at Kansas Speedway. * Camping World Colors in California … After sporting its traditional burgundy, white and gold BB&T colors last weekend at Daytona, Bowyer’s No. 2 Chevy will showcase a Camping World paint scheme for this weekend’s Stater Bros. 300. * A Look Back at Last Week … In last weekend’s season-opening Camping World 300 presented by Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway, Bowyer started on the outside pole and finished 25th. The NNS veteran was running third on lap 93 when contact with another car forced him into the back stretch wall and, ultimately, onto pit road. The untimely green-flag pit stop cost him one lap and a shot at the win. Bowyer comes into this weekend’s race 25th in points. * The Truth … In five previous Nationwide Series starts at California Speedway, Bowyer boasts two poles and three top-five finishes. The Emporia, Kan., native has a rock-solid 6.8 starting average coupled with an impressive 8.2 average finish at the two-mile D-Shaped oval. Over those same five races, Bowyer has completed all 750 laps of competition and earned just over $219,000. * RCR Busch Cars in Fontana … In 26 NNS starts in Fontana, RCR has earned one win, (Burton – September 2007) three poles (Bowyer - September 2006 & 2005; Kevin Harvick April 2003), 10 top-five and 13 top-10 finishes. RCR Busch cars have also led 246 laps at California Speedway. * Happy Birthday Dan … Bowyer’s crew chief Dan Deeringhoff is celebrating his birthday this week. Deeringhoff turned 36 on Tuesday. * A New Face … This weekend, Stephen Leicht will climb behind the wheel of RCR’s No. 21 Chevrolet. In 57 NNS starts Leicht owns one win, three top-five and eight top-10 finishes. The Ashville, N.C., native earned his first win last June at Kentucky Speedway and finished seventh in points. * Sunday, Sunday, Sunday … Following his duties behind the wheel of the Camping World Chevy, Bowyer will turn his attention to the No. 07 DIRECTV Chevrolet Impala SS for Sunday’s Auto Club 500. Live coverage of the second race on the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) schedule will take the green flag Sunday, Feb. 24 beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). The race will be televised live on FOX and broadcast worldwide on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the second stop on the 2008 NSCS tour will be televised live on SPEED Friday, Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m. EST. * Catch the Action … Flag-to-flag coverage of the Stater Bros. 300 will be televised live on ESPN2 Saturday, Feb. 23 beginning at 7 p.m. EST. The second of 35 races on the 2008 calendar will also be broadcast live MRN and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the second bout on the 2008 NNS ticket will be telecast live on SPEED the same day at 12:30 p.m. EST.

CLINT BOWYER QUOTES

You finished fifth in the Nationwide Series race at California last September. Can you win the race this year?

“I’m looking forward to going to California and building on what we had last year. We had a great run with the No. 21 car last year and I think we can build on that this year. We’re running full-time for the championship this year so I’m excited to see what we’ve got.”

It seems like you have a certain level of consistency at California. Are you comfortable with that?

“We sat on a couple poles out there and I like the race track. It seems like you have to run the car pretty free on the long run and that’s one of my strong points.”