By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Clint Bowyer will not contend for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship.
After cutting a left-rear tire and pounding the Turn 3 wall during Sunday’s Can-Am 500 from ISM Raceway, Bowyer was eliminated from the Championship 4 for next weekend at Homestead.
With Joey Logano suffering a similar tire issue early in the race, Bowyer knew it was a risk at a slick track like Phoenix.
“I don’t know if it’s a product of being able to get down off the race track or not,” Bowyer said. “After I saw the [No.] 22 [Joey Logano] and then felt my left-rear go, maybe that was a product of that. We’ve run low air on these short tracks like this on our left sides and maybe that was it.”
In nearly a must-win situation entering the weekend, Bowyer was behind on speed, qualifying 16th. His No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing was running seventh at the time of the accident.
“We woke the car up and got up through there,” he said. “I was starting to get a grin on my face and be happy with the way my car was going. I could see the front and was starting to be able to make moves, but unfortunately, that’s kind of the way my luck has been in the playoffs.
“It’s frustrating. We’ve had a great year getting to where we were part of this playoff situation and being in contention to be able to run for a championship.”
Though Bowyer won’t end his second year with SHR in championship Victory Lane, Bowyer is proud of the 2018 season. Winning two races and qualifying for the playoffs, Bowyer is appreciative of his support despite the disappointing end.
“There’s a lot of pride with all the guys on the No. 14 car,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun to go to battle each and every week all across the country with these guys. Stewart-Haas, I can’t say enough about the job the men and women have done at Stewart-Haas getting all four cars in the playoffs.
“I’m proud of our season, bummed for our day. It’s always fun to come out here to Phoenix. It’s a hell of a crowd today, appreciate everybody coming out. Unfortunately, we were a caution. You never want to be a caution.”
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