The Backstretch Blog: Bowyer on the Backstretch

Clint Bowyer had one of those runs on which championship teams and seasons are built this past weekend in Indianapolis. After an early spin, he and his #15 team rallied to a 15th place finish. Even though Bowyer dropped one place in the points standings to 10th, he has a comfortable grip on his spot in the chase with six races until the chase starts.

No rest for the weary, bright and early Monday morning Bowyer was in Michigan for a tire test on the repaved track.

"The test was good, said Bowyer. "We were able to go through some of our things that we've been wanting to try which is a good thing."

And testing is so important for the #15. You don't get many chances to do that these days because of the regulations on testing by NASCAR. And as well as the team is running we sometimes forget, this is a team in its first year of existence.

"It's been really beneficial to be as young of a team as we are - or as new as we are at working together to have tested as much as we have this year," said Bowyer. "We've tested more this year than we have in quite some time because the tracks are repaving. Tracks like Michigan, Pocono, Bristol - even Kansas coming up is going to have a new surface. And for a group of guys that are all working together for the first time, it has been an advantage. We've learned a lot about each other, the setups and what we like. It's been a huge help and I think we've been fortunate to test as much as we have."

Now it's off to Pocono again. When NASCAR was there just about a month and a half ago, Bowyer finished 6th. He will bring the same car back to the track this week, looking to improve his finish at a track where he has just ine top five and six top tens.

And a note to remember if you live in Kansas,  Bowyer will head to the RPM Speedway in Hays Tuesday (August 7th) to race in a modified race along with fellow NASCAR driver Kenny Schrader.