With Nextel becoming the sponsor of the Cup Series in 2004, NASCAR introduced a new points system as well.
The top-ten drivers in points after 26 races go on to battle it out for the championship over the last ten races of the season.
MB2 Motorsports drier Joe Nemechek missed the Chase field and was only racing for pride during the last ten races in 2004. The only bright spot in his season was grabbing the pole the week before at Talladega. Along with his own Busch Series team, Nemechek ran double-duty at Kansas. Continue reading →
Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz learned there’s no place like home and there’s reason to believe Clint Bowyer is thinking the same this weekend at Kansas Speedway. A native of Emporia, KS, there’s no better place to celebrate Bowyer’s 300th start than at his home track.
The Sprint Cup Series is back in action this weekend, and for the first time – and for Bowyer’s 300th start – they’re racing under the lights on Saturday night giving fans another reason to celebrate.
All this takes place on Saturday, May 10th at 7 pm ET on FOX, MRN and Sirius XM channel 90.
Take a look at some of the photos from Bowyer’s first 299 races of his Sprint Cup Series Career:
Clint Bowyer made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Phoenix International Raceway on April 23, 2005. He finished 22nd. Photo – Tony Johns/Racing Press
Dave Blaney, driver of the #22 Caterpillar Dodge, races with Jeff Burton in his #31 Cingular Chevrolet and Clint Bowyers in the #07 Jack Daniels Chevrolet during the NASCAR Nextel Cup Daytona 500 on February 19, 2006 Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
Clint Bowyer, driver of the #07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet, slides down the track upside down after crashing on the last lap of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2007 Photo – Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Clint Bowyer, driver of the #07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet, holds the Budweiser Pole Award after posting the fastest speed during qualifying for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Dodge Avenger 500 on May 11, 2007 at Darlington Raceway Photo – Jason Smith/Getty Images
(L-R back to front) Nextel Cup Series drivers Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, NASCAR President Mike Helton, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer pose for pictures after making the chase for the Nextel Cup following the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 8, 2007 Photo – Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images
Clint Bowyer, driver of the #07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet, poses for picture after winning the pole award following qualifying for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway on September 14, 2007 in Loudon Photo – Jason Smith/Getty Images
Clint Bowyer, driver of the #07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet, does a burnout after winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway on September 16, 2007 in Loudon Photo – Al Bello/Getty Images
Clint Bowyer, driver of the #07 BB&T Chevrolet, celebrates with his team in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 in victory lane at Richmond International Raceway on May 3, 2008 in Richmond Photo – Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images
Clint Bowyer, driver of the #33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 3, 2009 Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
Clint Bowyer, driver of the #33 Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevrolet, laughs while he sits on the wall during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 17, 2010 Photo – Jason Smith/Getty Images
Clint Bowyer, driver of the #33 Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevrolet, celebrates with his crew in victory lane after he won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 19, 2010 Photo Jerry Markland/Getty Images
Clint Bowyer, driver of the #33 BB&T Chevrolet, does a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AMP Energy Juice 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 31, 2010 Photo – Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
C(Back row from L-R) The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase contenders Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Office Toyota, Matt Kenseth, driver of the #17 Crown Royal Ford, Carl Edwards, driver of the #99 Kellogg’s/Cheez-It Ford, Greg Biffle, driver of the #16 3M Ford, Kurt Busch, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota, Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 DuPont/National Guard Chevrolet, (Front row L-R) Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet, Jeff Burton, driver of the #31 Caterpilliar Chevrolet, Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, Clint Bowyer, driver of the #33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet, pose following the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Air Guard 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 11, 2010 Photo – Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images
Clint Bowyer, driver of the #33 Chevy 100 Years Chevrolet, leads Jeff Burton, driver of the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, across the finish line to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 23, 2011 Photo – Jason Smith
Ryan Newman, driver of the #39 Outback Steak House Chevrolet, avoids the incident between Clint Bowyer, driver of the #15 5-hour Energy Toyota, Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Amp Energy/National Guard Chevrolet, Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet, and Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, in turn two during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 1, 2012 Photo – Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images
Clint Bowyer, driver of the #15 5-hour Energy Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma on June 24, 2012 in Sonoma Photo – Chris Graythen/Getty Images
(L-R) Mark Martin, driver of the #55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota, Michael Waltrip, owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota, and Clint Bowyer, driver of the #15 5-Hour Energy Toyota, pose for a photo during the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway on January 23, 2012 Photo – Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Clint Bowyer, driver of the #15 5-hour Energy Toyota, celebrates with a burn out after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 8, 2012 Photo – Todd Warshaw/Getty Images
(L-R) Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota, team owner Michael Waltrip and Clint Bowyer, driver of the #15 5-hour Energy Toyota, celebrate after qualfying for the Chase for the Sprint Cup during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 8, 2012 Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images
Clint Bowyer, driver of the #15 5-Hour Energy Benefiting Avon Foundation for Women Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Photo – Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Clint Bowyer, driver of the #15 5-hour Energy Toyota, poses with the Second Place Trophy for a portrait during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Awards at the Wynn Las Vegas on November 30, 2012 Photo – Chris Graythen/Getty Images
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Clint Bowyer performs a burnout during NASCAR Victory Lap on the Las Vegas Strip on December 5, 2013 Photo – Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Clint Bowyer and fiance Lorra Podsiadlo arrive on the red carpet for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Awards at Wynn Las Vegas on December 6, 2013 Photo – Chris Graythen/Getty Images
And of course, there’s more for Bowyer to celebrate at Kansas Speedway this weekend…. Continue reading →
Company’s Success in NASCAR Mirrors Its Own Growth;
Camping World’s Run as Series Entitlement Sponsor to Extend to 14-Consecutive Years
NASCAR announced today it has reached a seven-year agreement with Camping World to stay on as the entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series through 2022. The new deal ensures that Camping World will own exclusive rights as title sponsor for a total of 14-consecutive years, equaling the longest entitlement sponsorship in the history of the national series, which is celebrating its 20th season. Continue reading →
