Clint Bowyer 2020 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
2019 Stats: Points Finish 9th, 0 Wins, 7 Top Fives, 18 Top Tens, 15.2 Average Finish, 13.2 Average Running Position, 138 Laps Led, 86.65 Driver Rating
Strengths:
Clint Bowyer is a well rounded driver who’s capable of finishing well on any track type. In 2020, I would look for Bowyer to be at his best at short tracks, road courses and flat tracks.
Weaknesses:
I like Clint Bowyer at superspeedways, but you can’t deny he’s lacked success on that track type for an extended period of time and has become a risky prospect.
Intermediate Track Fantasy Value – B+
Clint Bowyer is a solid performer at intermediate tracks, but among drivers who you would consider to be “Playoff contenders”, he ranks near the bottom of the pack.
In 2019 at intermediate tracks, Bowyer scored the 17th most points, had a 16.4 average finish and a 14.5 average running position. For the season minus the races he had trouble (Michigan #1, Michigan #2, Auto Club and Chicagoland) he had a 10.1 average finish and an 11.8 average running position.
On most weekends at intermediate tracks, I would view Bowyer as a solid top ten contender. The intermediate tracks where I would feel the most comfortable picking Bowyer are high-tire wear intermediates (Atlanta, Auto Club, Chicagoland, Homestead and Darlington). At those venues last season over his combined incident free races he finished in the top 6 every race and had a 5.6 average finish.
Flat Track Fantasy Value – B+
Clint Bowyer is a strong performer at flat tracks who should prominently be on your fantasy NASCAR radar. He’s capable of performing at a high-level at both the bigger and the shorter-flat tracks. In 2019 on this track type, Bowyer scored the 6th most points, had an 8.9 average finish and a 9.5 average running position.
On this track type, I really like Clint Bowyer at the shorter-flat tracks. Last year at those venues minus New Hampshire he finished in the top 11 every race, had a 7.5 average finish and an 8.3 average running position. In 2020 at those venues, I would view him as a solid top ten contender who’s capable of finishing marginally better.
Last year at the big flat tracks, Clint Bowyer was no slouch. Over the combined events he had a 7.0 average finish, a 9.3 average running position and had a result in the top 11 every race. Indy has been a solid venue for him and he currently has back to back 5th place finishes. At Pocono, he’s consistently run well and in 4 of the last 5 races he’s finished in the top 11. Last year he had results of 5th and 11th.
Short Track Fantasy Value – A-
Clint Bowyer is a strong short track racer, and I view this as his best track type. In 2019 at short tracks minus Martinsville #2 where he was strong but had a track bar failure, he finished in the top ten every race, had a 6.4 average finish and a 7.8 average running position.
At all three short tracks, Bowyer can be viewed as a top ten performer who’ll compete for a top five.
At Richmond, Bowyer swept the top ten last year and had results of 3rd and 8th. Currently, Bowyer has four straight top tens there.
At Bristol, Bowyer also currently has four straight top tens. Last year his results were 7th and 7th. In 7 of the last 9 Bristol races he’s finished in the top ten.
At Martinsville, Bowyer is an extremely strong performer. He won there in spring 2018 and in 4 of the last 6 races he’s finished in the top ten. Last year he was a top ten contender in the fall until he had problems, and in the spring he finished 7th.
Superspeedway Fantasy Value – B
There no such thing as a certain thing at superspeedways, but I view Clint Bowyer as one of the better drivers in the series at this discipline of racing. He’s had a lot of tough luck recently on this track type, but I view him as a very capable performer. If it wasn’t for an extended period of bad results I would have him graded higher.
At Daytona, Bowyer has crashed the last three races and since 2017 he only has one result better than 15th. Last year he finished 34th in the summer and 20th in the Daytona 500.
At Talladega, Bowyer has finished 23rd or worse in 4 of the last 5 races. In only one race over the last seven has he finished in the top ten. In 2019 he had results of 23rd and 29th.
In 2020 at superspeedways, I would view Bowyer as a risky (but worth a shot) top ten contender.
Road Course Fantasy Value – A-
I really like Clint Bowyer at road courses and I view him as a very capable performer at all three venues.
His best road course right now is the Charlotte Roval and he’s two for two in terms of finishing in the top 4. Last year he finished 4th, and in 2018 he finished 3rd.
At Sonoma, Bowyer is one of the best in the business. He’s a former winner and since 2011 minus 2016 where he had an early electrical fire he has a 4.8 average finish. Last year he finished 11th, in the two prior races he had results of 2nd and 3rd.
At Watkins Glen he’s been solid, but its been his least successful road course. In 3 of the last 5 races there he’s finished in the top 11. Last year he finished 20th, in the two races prior to that he had results of 11th and 5th.
