Clint Bowyer 2014 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
2013 Stats: Points Finish 7th, 0 Poles, 0 Wins, 10 Top Fives, 19 Top Tens, Average Running Position 12.8, Average Finish 11.9, Laps Led 354, Driver Rating 93.54
Strengths- Clint Bowyer is an elite performer on short tracks, plate tracks, and road courses. Another strength of his is taking care of his equipment and avoiding really bad finishes.
Weaknesses- Clint Bowyer has never been a prolific winner. Also his performances on intermediate tracks aren’t a huge concern but he rarely is a contender on that track type. His one career win on an intermediate track was due to fuel mileage (Charlotte).
NASCAR 2014 Printable Schedule
Intermediate Track Grade- A-, For Bowyer to truly compete for a championship he needs to improve on intermediate tracks. He’s a strong performer but he’s only won on this track type once and it was a fuel mileage race. In 2013 on this track type he was only a serious contender for the win once (Atlanta) and in that race his engine blew up. Last season on this track type minus his two engine failures and Las Vegas Gen 6 debut struggle he had an 8.5 average finish, 11.8 average running position and finished in the top ten 70% percent of the time. In 2012 he scored the 8th most points on this track type.
Flat Track Grade- A-, Clint Bowyer is a strong performer on shorter flat tracks. I would feel comfortable having him on my team any day of the week on that sub track type. Last season he didn’t have the greatest year on them but that doesn’t really concern me. Throughout his career he’s proven he can get the job done.
At New Hampshire he’s a two-time winner. If he didn’t run out of fuel a few years ago at the end of the race he would be a three-time winner. Last season he was off his game there and had two teens finishes. In 2012 he had results of 3rd and 4th. At Phoenix he hasn’t had as much success but I wouldn’t bet against him there.
At Pocono last season he had results of 14th and 15th. In 2012 he had results of 6th and 8th. In the last eleven Pocono races he has 5 top tens and has finished in the top 18 every race. At Indy in 2013 he finished 20th. In 2012 he finished 15th. His Indy average finish is 13.3.
Short Track Grade- A, Clint Bowyer is a top tier elite talent on short tracks. When you pair that with his consistency he belongs in the conversation as to who the best short track driver in NASCAR is. In terms of points accumulated no driver scored more points than him on short tracks in either 2013 or 2012.
Prior to running out of gas at Bristol in August on the last lap he had 9 consecutive top tens on this track type. Bristol has been a good track for Bowyer. In August he led 50 laps but coasted to a 14th place finish when he ran out of fumes. Before he ran out of gas he was running around the top five. Last spring at Bristol he finished 5th. In 2012 he had results of 7th and 4th.
Martinsville has been a very good track for Clint Bowyer. At that venue he’s a lock for a great finish. He currently has 3 consecutive top fives and 4 consecutive top tens. Last season he had results of 2nd and 3rd.
Richmond has historically been a great track for Clint Bowyer. Last season he was capable of winning both races. In September he was leading the race but he was burned by a caution during the pit cycle. Prior to that he led 72 laps. In the spring he finished runner-up and led 113 laps. In 2012 he had results of 1st and 7th.
Restrictor Plate Track Grade- A-, Clint Bowyer is a popular pick on restrictor plate tracks. He’s always performed better at Talladega though. At Dega he’s a two-time winner and as long as he doesn’t have problems he’s a lock for a top ten. If it wasn’t for Matt Kenseth forcing him out of line in 2012 during a green-white-checker while he was leading he could possibly have three wins.
At Daytona in July he finished 4th. That tied his all-time best result. At Daytona he’s finished in the top ten 44% percent of the time and his average finish is 14.8.
Road Course Track Grade- A, Last season on road courses Clint Bowyer scored the 3rd most points. In 2012 he scored the most points. In 2013 had results of 5th and 6th.
At Infineon last season he finished 5th. In 2012 he went to victory lane. In six of the last seven Infineon races he’s finished 8th or better. Watkins Glen drives differently but he’s also successful there. Last season he finished 6th. In 2012 he finished 4th.
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