Bowyer, Childress get the Friday win
Friday, Jul. 03, 2009
Getty Images for NASCAR
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 03: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet, stands on the grid prior to the start of the NASCAR Nationwide Series Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway on July 3, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)
AP
Clint Bowyer crosses the finish line to win the Nationwide Series Subway Jalapeno 250 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2009.(AP Photo/John Raoux)
AP
Clint Bowyer celebrates in victory lane after winning the Nationwide Series Subway Jalapeno 250 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2009.(AP Photo/John Raoux)
MCT
Car owner Richard Childress watches the Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Friday, July 3, 2009. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)
Getty Images for NASCAR
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 03: Team owner Richard Childress (L), speaks with Clint Bowyer (R), driver of the #29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet, prior to the start of the NASCAR Nationwide Series Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway on July 3, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Clint Bowyer made a tough year for Richard Childress Racing a little bit easier Friday night.
With his competitors lining up to challenge for the win as he approached the white flag, a multicar wreck erupted behind them and brought out a caution and sealed Bowyer’s victory in Friday night’s Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway.
“The wolves were coming, but we were able to hold them off,” said Bowyer, the reigning Nationwide Series champion.
Bowyer’s win is his first in the series this year - matching his total for all of last season - and the first for RCR in either Sprint Cup or Nationwide this year.
“This car is the same car I should have won with in February but let the guys down,” Bowyer said. “I’m really proud of everybody at RCR. It’s been tough this year, you know. We’ve been behind.
“You always need that little bit of something. Hopefully, this is that little but of something.”
Series points leader Kyle Busch finished second and Carl Edwards was third.
“The car was really good on long runs. (Bowyer) had about the best car and had the most motor,” said Busch, who holds a 177-point lead over Edwards in the series standings. “We had to settle for second, but it was a hard-fought second so we’ll take it.”
Busch said he didn’t know if he’d have a chance to pass Bowyer for the win on the last lap.
“It all depended on what would happen between (Logano) and I going into (Turn) 1 and 2 and going down the backstretch, and if we could have gotten teamed up together,” he said.
“If he could have pushed me down the back maybe I could have got up underneath (Bowyer) and get some air under his spoiler, get him loose and move him up the track.”
Busch’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Joey Logano, finished fourth. Brian Vickers was fifth.
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