Clint Bowyer utilizes strategy to claim Michigan victory

BROOKLYN, Mich.— Clint Bowyer claimed victory in Sunday’s Firekeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway after the race was shortened due to rain. Stewart-Haas Racing finished 1-2-3 for the first time in company history.

When the caution flag waved for the end of Stage 2, Bowyer’s crew chief, Mike Bugarewicz, made a gutsy call to take two tires while the rest of the field took on four tires.

Bowyer held off teammate Kevin Harvick on the restart until the race was slowed once again due to an incident in Turn 2 involving Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kasey Kahne. Under the yellow flag, rain began to fall and ultimately ended the race, handing Bowyer career win No. 10.

“It took something crazy on a restart to be able to get Kevin,” Bowyer said. “That was a gutsy call. When we went out there on two tires I looked in the mirror and I was so far ahead of everybody else I was like, ‘Oh man, we are in trouble!’

“The rain came just in enough time. I was trying to hold him off. I was cutting him off and taking his line away pretty bad. If it wasn’t for a win you wouldn’t be doing that. He was so much faster than me in one and two. I got down in three and just had to take his line because that bear was coming.”

Kyle Larson’s bid for four straight Michigan victories was unsuccessful after the driver spun off Turn 4 on lap 87. He was unable to recover from the incident, unofficially finishing 28th.

This story will be updated

SOURCES

FOX Sports
NASCAR

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Jonny Olkowski / The Racing Experts