Clint Bowyer calls interest from teams for 2016 ‘humbling’
If Clint Bowyer has decided on the team he’s going to drive for in 2016, he’s not saying it publicly.
Bowyer said any negotiations for his future plans were put on a brief hold as he works to make sure he qualifies for the 2015 Chase. Bowyer is currently the final driver in the Chase. If there’s no new winner at Richmond on Saturday night, he’s likely in.
Aric Almirola, the first driver out of the Chase, needs Bowyer to struggle mightily if he wants a shot at the Chase without a win. If Bowyer finishes 28th and one of the 11 drivers in the Cup Series who has won a race this year wins again, he’s in the Chase.
“I think first of all it’s very humbling, the phone calls,” Bowyer said. “As soon as the news comes out that you’re not going to have a future at your present employment, obviously you’re nervous and you’re worried about what that means for yourself or your people and with everything. It’s humbling the people that have reached out and been interested in me, but truth be told man, look what we’re in the middle of.
“Timing is good that it’s ahead and not the end of the year that you’re finding this out, but nonetheless it’s pretty crunching times right here and it’s like I told them, ‘I don’t want to use the word back burner, but let’s just take a timeout right here for a couple weeks and take care of business.’ That’s kind of what we did this week.”
Michael Waltrip Racing won’t exist as a Sprint Cup team next year, or if it does, it will be running a part-time schedule. Despite going winless since 2012, Bowyer is still considered a top talent and has sponsor 5-Hour Energy that will likely go with him wherever he ends up in 2016. And that team could also be a different team from where he drives in 2017. Rides at top-tier teams aren’t plentiful for the upcoming season.
Bowyer just missed out on the Chase a year ago at Richmond. The odds are with him this year, and he said he has his sights set on Paul Menard, who is 10 points ahead of him. If Bowyer makes up a spot in the standings Saturday night, the winner of the race doesn’t matter. He’d be in the Chase. With 12 winners, four drivers make the Chase on points. Bowyer is currently the fifth driver in on points.
“He’s only 10 points ahead of me and it’s one of my best race tracks and honestly, that was the first thought in my mind when I looked at those points is that I saw where Menard was and thought that was doable. It’s kind of weird, nobody ever likes looking over their shoulder and worrying about what’s behind them. You want to worry about what’s ahead and for me in this weekend it’s an attainable task to beat him out of that.”
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
