One of NASCAR’s most engaging personalities and 16-year Cup Series veteran Clint Bowyer will drive in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rackley Roofing 200 on June 28 at Nashville Superspeedway.
Bowyer, who retired from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition following the 2020 season finale at Phoenix Raceway, is currently an analyst for NASCAR on FOX. He is a 10-time Cup Series race winner who also boasts three Craftsman Truck Series checkered flags.
The 44-year-old will reconnect with crew chief Brian Pattie who guided Bowyer’s Cup Series efforts from 2012-15. Pattie led the affable racer to three wins in 2012 and ultimately a runner-up finish in the Cup Series championship point standings when the potent duo was paired together at Michael Waltrip Racing.
“For me, it’s the tie between working with (Brian) Pattie and the good old days,” said Bowyer. “Putting the band back together, so to speak, and having some fun. Nashville is a cool racetrack that has meant a lot to me over the years. Separate from that, it’s about the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. That’s a really fun series. It’s a fun vehicle to drive. There’s a lot of drag and you can drive them hard and get away with it. You can really hustle a truck. This race should be right in my wheelhouse.”
Bowyer made his second career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at the 1.33-mile oval in 2004 tallied nine total starts from 2004-08. The Emporia, Kansas, native has one win over those nine starts and parlayed those efforts into an uber-impressive 2.8 average finish on NASCAR’s junior circuit.
“Nashville means a lot to me. Fate is the only thing that I can attribute to this opportunity coming about,” Bowyer added. “My career in NASCAR happened because of Nashville. My first race win in NASCAR was at Nashville. It takes me back to my first ARCA race in 2003. I’ve always raced well there. Not to put pressure on myself, but I have. I’ve never finished outside the top five at Nashville Superspeedway, and I think I’ve got close to a second-place average finish. That doesn’t necessarily mean anything but what’s important is the opportunity to get back together and work with Brian Pattie. I had so much fun racing with him during the MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) days. We about won a championship together.”
In 14 NCTS starts from 2006-16, Bowyer recorded two pole positions, three wins, nine top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. While he hasn’t competed in a NASCAR sanctioned event since dropping the window net for the final time in November 2020, Bowyer made three Superstar Racing Experience starts last season and while winless, was a threat for the win in each outing.
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