Clint Bowyer's once-charmed life has gotten a reality check.
At 32, the Emporia, Kan., native was in his sixth full season in the Sprint Cup Series with Richard Childress Racing — one of NASCAR’s elite organizations.
Selected from the dirt-track lottery of drivers working blue-collar jobs during the day to feed their racing jones at night and on the weekends, Bowyer entered the sport as Childress’ protégé.
R.C.’s bet on Bowyer paid off with three Chase for the Sprint Cup appearances and five wins in six years. Bowyer also won the NASCAR Nationwide Series title for RCR in 2008.
But the economic climate of the sport changed. And, almost overnight, Bowyer’s career path was wrought with roadblocks.
Despite Bowyer’s homespun charm and guy-next-door appeal, RCR could not find a sponsor for the driver last year as General Mills’ tenure was ending. And with Childress’ grandsons Austin and Ty Dillon waiting in the wings, it became clear Boywer would be the odd man out at RCR.
Unfortunately for Bowyer — and all the other free agents after the 2011 season — superstar Carl Edwards controlled the market. While Bowyer’s representative put out feelers, until "The Carl" domino fell, all he could do was wait. Would there be a seat open at Roush Fenway Racing? What about Joe Gibbs Racing? Edwards factored into both equations well into August and that stalled the process for the other drivers seeking 2012 rides, including Bowyer.
A front-runner in the Bowyer sweepstakes was Red Bull Racing. Certainly, the money was in the ballpark and Kasey Kahne — on loan from Hendrick Motorsports for one season — finally shed light on RBR’s potential. But the powers in Austria had other ideas. By late summer it was clear Red Bull was dumping its stock car operation, and Bowyer was scrambling again.
Ford Racing boss Jamie Allison was high on Bowyer and Richard Petty Motorsports showed interest after Edwards’ decision to stay at Roush, but the numbers didn’t compute.
The stress took its toll on the No. 33 RCR team. A wreck at Atlanta Motor Speedway relegated Bowyer to 14th in the points standings. Two additional accidents and a 22nd-place finish at Richmond International Raceway sealed Boywer’s Chase fate. He missed the postseason by just 25 points.
“From the outside looking in, it’s miserable,” Bowyer said. “Especially when you’ve been on the inside looking out. When you’re in that elite group, you grow accustomed to it especially when you’ve done it a few times. That’s what you expect of you — and your team.”
Reports of Bowyer touring Michael Waltrip Racing’s Cornelius, NC, facility in early September foretold of his eventual signing. Reflecting on his decision, Bowyer acknowledges that fate carried him to MWR.
“Throughout everything that’s happened, for whatever reason, all doors led to this,” Bowyer said. “It’s the craziest thing in the world. If I would have ended up somewhere else I would have fought things that were almost a given and put in place.
“Sometimes I believe in karma — or what have you want to call it — but there’s a reason things happen. From the time that I realized that things were in trouble at RCR, for whatever reason, no matter how hard or whenever you try to do something different every door led to here. It was just meant to be.”
When the season ended, Bowyer “was just ready to get away.” He allowed himself time at home in Kansas to reflect on his mediocre season. He worked with his dirt cars and used the Cup banquet as a catalyst to motivate him for 2012.
“That’s fuel for the fire,” Bowyer said. “When you don’t meet your expectations as an individual or a person, you have to relight the candles in a big way. Watching the banquet, watching other people enjoying what you should be enjoying is certainly fuel for the fire.”
Bowyer’s had concerns about “fitting in.” He cites the success of the No. 48 team and the “fit factor” between five-time champion Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus as setting the standard in the industry for teamwork and communication. The affable Bowyer desired a similar chemistry at the foundation of his team.
The assurance of knowing that former RCR competition director Scott Miller had defected to MWR offered Bowyer instant confidence. He was used to Miller’s systems and admired “his mentality, his work ethic and what he expects out of others.”
“The comforting factor of coming to some place new and not really knowing much about anybody there was kind of put to bed because I know the captain of the ship is somebody that I got confidence in and have a relationship with,” Bowyer said.
Ditto new crew chief Brian Pattie. Although Bowyer had a solid bond with his RCR pitboss Shane Wilson, he was more of an asphalt racer where the driver hailed from dirt tracks. A light went on for Bowyer when he ran into Pattie at Eldora Speedway in June — well before any decision had been made. The two didn't speak, but Bowyer was instrumental in his hiring.
“He’s young and aggressive,” Bowyer said. “He reminds me a lot of me. I think we’ll get along well together and it’ll be a great partnership.
“He’s assembling a heck of a team around me, and that’s what it takes. It takes a good team. These cars that we are working with today are so even that it’s the people and the decisions that those people make that make up the difference.”
Pattie, 36, who took a sabbatical from Earnhardt Ganassi Racing last summer before the Brickyard 400 and opted not to return, describes himself as “recharged and hungry.” He’s pleased with the communication between himself and Bowyer and the passion they share for racing.
“Clint’s always cutting up and having a good time with me, and for all this to happen is quite humorous actually,” Pattie said. “But we have similar backgrounds in that we both grew up dirt racing and have a lot in common. I’m going to go up and take a look at Clint’s dirt shop here soon just because that’s what I do — I build dirt cars. He has a dirt team.
“The similarities are endless. That’s why I’m so excited to get somewhere and get going. I want to prove my worth, build a team and make the Chase with Clint driving — it’s going to be so much fun.”
The team began testing together in December. Trips to DisneyWorld and New Smyrna were followed by the full series test at Daytona last month. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the No. 15 crew will participate in a Goodyear tire test at Texas Motor Speedway.
Team owner Michael Waltrip instantly noticed Bowyer’s enthusiasm and a lack of entitlement. It’s those qualities that made Bowyer perfect for blending in with existing teammate Martin Truex Jr. and newcomer Mark Martin, who splits driving duties with Waltrip.
“He really appreciates the opportunity to drive a car and he’s really passionate about the sport,” Waltrip said. “I think he’s appreciative about the opportunity and a little surprised at times that he gets the opportunity to do this. That’s refreshing to me because that’s always been my attitude. I never took the opportunity to drive a car for granted.
“I think that describes him, which is a great way to be. If you are thankful and grateful, people appreciate that, your team will work harder for you and the fans will like that. As I’ve gotten to known him over the last few months, that’s just him. He’s just happy to be able to race a car.”
