Clint Bowyer would like nothing more than to celebrate his Stewart-Haas Racing contract extension with a win in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.
Bowyer inked a new deal with SHR to remain behind the wheel of the No. 14 Ford for the 2020 season and is pleased things finally came together to stay in the fold.
“It is always a good thing,” Bowyer said of extending his deal that expired at the end of this season. “I don’t feel like I was racing for my career anyway. I race because I love to do it and I love to come back here and everything else. There is a lot of pride to be a part of a sport like this, something you grew up doing since you were a little boy. A great deal of pride that goes into being a part of this.”
Now that the business of the sport is behind him for now, Bowyer can focus on trying to score a win at his home track on Sunday. The Kansas native has not yet won at the 1.5-mile speedway and breaking into the win column would also keep his playoff hopes alive. Bowyer enters the final race of the Round of 12 below the cutline and needs to find a way out of the bottom four in the standings.
“Coming back home is always meaningful and a lot of fun,” Bowyer said.
“I have been home in Kansas all week long and I have seen nothing but corn and bean fields being harvested all week long,” Bowyer said. “I was around it. I roll in and get in the Dekalb (sponsored) car this weekend and it is pretty meaningful. I just feel at home.”
Practice Speeds: First | Final
But Bowyer can’t afford to simply enjoy some home cooking this weekend. There’s work to be done for him to advance to the Round of 8. He is ready for the challenge.
“At the end of the day, this is our turn and opportunity to try to stay alive and it is right here at home, so of course we will do everything we can do to get every stage point and every position,” Bowyer explained. “Look how many wild things happened in the spring race. As a cookie cutter track, this has always been a track that some crazy things happen. Always. Always a points shakeup or a finish different that you didn’t expect all weekend long from practice.
“Fundamentally the norm race track as you go through practice sessions and qualifying, you kind of see the same things but there are always some things that trip you up in the race and change things in a big way.”
