Clint Bowyer 2015 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
Clint Bowyer 2014 Stats: Points Finish 19th, 0 Poles, 0 Wins, 5 Top Fives, 15 Top Tens, Average Running Position 16.8, Average Finish 17.1, Laps Led 109, Driver Rating 83.4
Strengths – 2014 was a disaster for Clint Bowyer and I’m willing to look beyond it. Historically Bowyer has been at his best at short tracks, road courses and restrictor plate tracks.
Weaknesses – The #15 team had lots of problems in races last year and lacked speed. 2014 is a poor representation of Clint Bowyer so I would recommend studying him from a historical perspective.
Track Type Fantasy Value Key = Elite > High > Moderate > Low
Intermediate Track Fantasy Value – High
At intermediate tracks last season Clint Bowyer had a ton of problems that cost him a chance at getting a good finish. For the season on this track type he had a 19.4 average finish and scored the 19th most points. In only 7 of these 17 races did he finish in the top fifteen. From a historical perspective on this track type he’s never been elite good, but he has typically been about a 6th through 13th place performer.
In 2013 on this track type he scored the 8th most points.
2015 Printable PDF NASCAR Schedule <— Print yours today!
Flat Track Fantasy Value – High
Last season on flat tracks minus his fall Phoenix wreck he had a 10.7 average finish. Through the first six flat track races of the 2014 season he scored the 6th most points in the series. Between the flat tracks I like him the most at New Hampshire where he’s been to victory lane twice. At Phoenix he’s always seemed to be a little bit off and has only finished in the top ten in 2 of the last 9 races.
At Indy his average finish is 13.6. I would take that result to the bank because it’s not skewed. At that venue he’s finished in the top twenty 100% percent of the time. Last year at Indy he finished 16th. At Pocono I think his expected finish range will likely be between 5th and 15th. Since the spring 2008 Pocono race he’s finished within that range 100% percent of the time with a deviation of three.
Read his teammates fantasy NASCAR preview: Brian Vickers
Short Track Fantasy Value – Elite
Clint Bowyer is one of the best in the business at short tracks. Between the short tracks I like him the most at Martinsville. He’s never won there but he’s come within a failed “Hail Mary” from victory lane. Currently at Martinsville he has 6 straight top tens.
At Richmond Clint Bowyer is a two-time champion and he’s a driver who you can normally count on to come home with a good finish. Last fall at RIR he finished 3rd. In the spring race he finished 43rd but I think that poor result can sort of be attributed to all of his “bad mojo” heading into the race following his fall 2013 “itchy arm”. If the fall 2013 race would’ve played out “conventionally” without a caution during the pit cycle I think he had a car that could win. In the two Richmond races prior to his itchy arm episode he had results of 1st and 2nd.
Last year Bowyer had a down year at Bristol and finished in the teens twice with results of 15th and 17th. In August 2013 he led 50 laps and had top six potential but ran out of gas on the final lap. In the three Bristol races prior to that event he finished between 4th and 7th every race.
In 2013 at short tracks he scored the most points in the series.
Check out our Clint Bowyer Fantasy NASCAR Portal page
Restrictor Plate Track Fantasy Value – Elite
At restrictor plate tracks Clint Bowyer is a driver who likes to ride near the back until the checkered flag is in sight. Between the two plate tracks I like him more at Talladega. At that venue he’s a two-time champion and has finished in the top ten in 8 of the last 10 races. In 2014 he finished 3rd twice. His two finishes not in the top ten over that stretch deserve an asterisk mark.
Daytona hasn’t been quite as friendly to him but by no means has he been a slouch. In 3 of the last four races there he’s finished in the top 11. Last summer at Daytona he survived the carnage and finished 9th. In the Great American Race last February he likely had a good car but engine problems cut short his race. In 2013 at Daytona he finished 4th and 11th.
In 2013 on plate tracks he scored the 4th most points in the series.
Road Course Track Fantasy Value – Elite
Clint Bowyer is a very good road course racer. Between the two serpentine tracks I like him more at Sonoma. At that venue he raced his way to victory lane in 2012. Last year he led 5 laps and finished 10th. In 7 of the last 8 Sonoma races he’s finished in the top ten.
Last year at Watkins Glen Bowyer likely had a low teen’s car but had a problem late and finished 27th. In the four of the five Watkins Glen races prior to 2014 he finished in the top 11.
In 2013 on this track type he scored the 3rd most points in the series. In 2012 on this track type he scored the most points.
