Bowyer feeling his age, with baby on the way

Kansas native Clint Bowyer admitted to feeling a bit older this week. No, not because he has developed a need for bifocals, nor because he’s begun getting mail from AARP. Making the Michael Waltrip Racing driver feel his age were a couple of recent real-world incidents.

First, there was a visit to his old high school in Emporia.

“Last time I left there was in 1998 – a free man,” Bowyer said. “I went back and it was so fun to talk to the students. It’s really probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done because I remember when I was a senior in high school and you’re not a kid anymore and you don’t want to be talked down to. You hear all these people come in and tell you stats and everything and I was ‘that guy’, I couldn’t help it. I was like, ‘Trust me kids, I know this, I’ve lived it – don’t screw up and listen to us.’ “

The message Bowyer had for the high schoolers was a worthy one: Don’t text while driving.

Second, was the announcement this week that Bowyer and his wife Lorra are having a baby. It will be a boy. And the name? Good question. One for which Bowyer has no answer yet. He knows that it will not be Clint Jr., however.

“No. No Juniors. Can’t have Juniors,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to it. That’s the question, I know everybody you talk to, ‘What are you going to name him.’ I’m scrambling right now. Really, really excited about our boy. Casey (Bowyer, Clint’s brother) brought in nieces and nephews to our family a few years ago. And ever since then Lorra (his wife) and I are like ;we got to have one soon.’”