Clint Bowyer 2018 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
Strengths – Clint Bowyer is a well rounded driver who’s strong on many different track types. In 2018 I would look for him to be at his best at short tracks, shorter flat tracks, road courses and restrictor plate tracks.
This upcoming season I think Bowyer should generally be better across the board now that he has a year under his belt at Stewart-Haas Racing.
Weaknesses – I wouldn’t call it a real weakness, but I sure wish Clint Bowyer was a little better at intermediate tracks. At those tracks on a weekly basis he’s about an 8th to 14th place driver. I would like to see him perform slightly better and compete for some top fives.
Track Type Fantasy Value Key = Elite > High > Medium-High > Medium > Low
Intermediate Track Fantasy Value – High
Clint Bowyer is a very solid performer at intermediate tracks. Performance wise in 2018 on a weekly basis you should look for him to typically be a low double digits driver who has a good chance to finish in the top ten. Last year on this track type in incident free races he almost always finished within the range just mentioned.
Flat Track Fantasy Value – High
Clint Bowyer is a strong driver at flat tracks who you should count on to come home with a good finish. At both the shorter flat tracks, and the bigger flat tracks he’s a capable performer who’ll compete for a top ten.
Personally I like Bowyer more at the shorter flat tracks. At all three of the shorter flat tracks he’s capable of running extremely well and finishing in the top ten. Last year at these tracks minus the fall Richmond race where he was involved in an accident coming to pit road he had an 11th place average finish.
At the bigger flat tracks he’s also a strong performer who’ll likely compete for a top ten.
Short Track Fantasy Value – High
Clint Bowyer is a very capable short track driver. At all three tracks he has a great chance to finish in the top ten. I would describe his talent level on this track type as being borderline elite.
Martinsville is perhaps his best short track. He swept the top ten last year (3rd and 7th) and talent wise I would call him the best driver who’s never won.
At Richmond which double-dips with shorter flat tracks he’s had a tough time in recent races, but make no mistake it’s a great track for him. In 2018 I think he should have a strong season and be a top ten contender both races. Last year he was good but neither race was incident free (wrecked in the fall and pit penalty in the spring).
At Bristol Bowyer finished runner-up last spring, and in 3 of the last 5 races there he’s finished in the top 8.
Restrictor Plate Track Fantasy Value – Elite
Clint Bowyer is one of the premiere plate racers in NASCAR. He drives around the back until the end and then charges his way to the front as good as anybody. Last year on this track type he didn’t have a great season, but he did finish 2nd at Daytona in July.
In 2018 at both plate tracks you should look for Clint Bowyer to run extremely well and potentially compete for top fives. I will note between the two plate tracks I like him more at Talladega.
Road Course Track Fantasy Value – Elite
I really like Clint Bowyer at road courses and I view him as an Elite Talent. Last year on this track type he scored the 6th most points, swept the top five and had a series best 3.5 average finish. In 4 of the 6 season’s prior to 2017 he ranked in the top 6 in terms of points accumulated on this track type.
At Sonoma, Bowyer is one of the best default picks you can make. In 2016 he had electrical problems as soon as the green flag waved, since 2011 minus that race he’s finished in the top ten every race and has a 4.2 average finish. Last year Bowyer finished runner-up.
At Watkins Glen he should also be on your short list of favorites. Last year he finished 5th. In 4 of the last 6 races at that serpentine track he’s finished in the top 6.
I view the new Charlotte road course as a mixture between Sonoma and Watkins Glen and next year I think he should run well there and likely finish in the top ten.
