By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Behind the Kyle-and-Kyle Show on the last lap at Chicagoland Speedway was one Clint Bowyer. He was well off the thrilling battle for the race win, however, he was capping off a battle of his own after a tough day in the Overton’s 400.
Starting fifth, Bowyer jumped to the race lead on lap 17 and held it for 21 laps. The No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford looked to be among the early contenders while teammates Aric Almirola and Kurt Busch joined him among the top five.
The top spot was short-lived for Bowyer, as the two-time 2018 winner sped on pit road on lap 46, dropping the No. 14 down the running order and off the lead lap.
The speeding issue repeated three times, as Bowyer suffered from dashboard issues through the running of the race.
“The guys do a really good job making sure those are right and obviously we were too aggressive,” Bowyer said. “I knew when I came down the second time [I said], ‘Boys, this wasn’t even on me.’ The ol’ calculator is a little fast today.”
Bowyer was disappointed to give up what could’ve been a third win in 2018.
“Damn, you hate to give up them points and track position,” he said. “To come in leading and make those mistakes is not very good.”
The No. 14 fell two laps down and was out of the conversation until a turn of strategy and adjustments put Bowyer back on the lead lap and running toward the front.
“We just over-adjusted on our car. We got behind,” he said. “Right there on the last run, we put the air pressure back and it took back off, passed six, seven cars.”
At the checkered flag, Bowyer was fifth. The run was his sixth top five of 2018, the same amount he scored in the last two seasons combined. And despite missing out on the win, Bowyer acknowledged the team’s ability to overcome problems.
“It was a good rebound,” he said. “A top five is a good day but we gave up a lot of stage points right there. Probably a couple wins.
“It was a fun race. Good, slick like that. Everything we battled through and prevailed through — it just wasn’t our day I guess.”