{"id":19256,"date":"2018-06-10T21:30:19","date_gmt":"2018-06-11T02:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=19256"},"modified":"2018-06-10T21:42:50","modified_gmt":"2018-06-11T02:42:50","slug":"gamble-pays-off-in-clint-bowyers-victory-at-michigan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2018\/06\/10\/gamble-pays-off-in-clint-bowyers-victory-at-michigan\/","title":{"rendered":"Gamble pays off in Clint Bowyer\u2019s victory at Michigan"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Haas 30 Years of the VF1 Ford, celebrates with the trophy after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 10, 2018 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

BROOKLYN, Mich. \u2013 Clint Bowyer<\/strong> gambled.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Haas 30 Years of the VF1 Ford, celebrates after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 10, 2018 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Matt Sullivan\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Then he made sure he cashed the winning ticket with a determined charge on two new tires as rain threatened Michigan International Speedway<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Bowyer got the lead under caution at the end of Stage 2 of Sunday\u2019s Firekeepers Casino 400<\/strong> when crew chief Mike Bugarewicz opted for two tires on the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.<\/p>\n

Bowyer had to do the rest, holding off teammate Kevin Harvick after a restart on Lap 126, barely preventing Harvick, who had fresh rubber on all four corners of the car, from clearing him off Turn 2. Bowyer got the good fortune he needed when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. spun in Turn 2 on Lap 129, causing the eighth caution of the afternoon.<\/p>\n

Rain started almost immediately and soaked the track, forcing NASCAR<\/a> to call the race after 133 of a scheduled 200 laps at the 2-mile track.<\/p>\n

That made Bowyer the winner of a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race for the first time at Michigan and the second time this year.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Haas 30 Years of the VF1 Ford, poses with the winner’s sticker after the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 10, 2018 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

With pole winner Kurt Busch finishing third behind Bowyer and Harvick, Stewart-Haas pulled off its first 1-2-3 sweep in the organization\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt took something crazy on a restart to be able to get Kevin,\u201d a jubilant Bowyer said in a raucous Victory Lane celebration. \u201cThat 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 (coming off pit road), I was like, \u2018Oh man, we are in trouble!\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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\u2019t for a win, you wouldn\u2019t be doing that. He was so much faster than me in (Turns) 1 and 2. I got down in (Turn) 3 and just had to take his line because that bear was coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harvick was close indeed. He was roughly one foot away from clearing Bowyer off Turn 2 on the restart and picking up his sixth victory of the season.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Haas 30 Years of the VF1 Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 10, 2018 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Matt Sullivan\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThe 14 just gambled, rolled the dice that the rain must have been going to come, and he was able to keep me on the bottom there just by a little bit on the restart,\u201d Harvick said. \u201cThen it was just going to take me a few laps to work back by.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he did a good job hanging onto his car, and the gamble paid off for him. Look, I’ve been on both sides of this. If you’re going to have racing luck work against you, you want to at least stay on your own team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kyle Busch ran fourth in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs racing Toyota, the only non-Ford driver in the top eight. Paul Menard came home fifth, his best finish of the season in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford.<\/p>\n

Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott and Jamie McMurray completed the top 10.<\/p>\n

Kyle Busch retained the series lead by 75 points over Harvick in second and 98 over Logano in third.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Haas 30 Years of the VF1 Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 10, 2018 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Daniel Shirey\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

The start of the race was delayed two-and-a-half hours by rain, and it ended when the rain returned, but the afternoon belonged to Bowyer, who was well aware of just how close his teammate came to depriving him of his 10th career victory.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe almost cleared me off of (Turn) 2, and he would have rode off into the sunset again for the 4 car,\u201d Bowyer said of Harvick. \u201cI was able to just get by him, because he left me room and was courteous and a good teammate.<\/p>\n

\u201cI tried to give him enough room in 3 and 4 but just enough that I was going to try to stay in front of him and take the air off him. That is the only thing you can really do in that situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/h3>\n

 <\/h3>\n

Media Center Interviews:<\/h3>\n

Clint Bowyer <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/MENCS_ClintBowyer_061018.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Winning crew chief Mark Bugarewicz and Stewart Haas Vice President of Competition Greg Zipadelli – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/MENCS_Michigan1_ZipadelliBuagarewicz_061018.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ford Performance Global Motorsports Director Mark Rushbrook – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/MENCS_FordPerformance_MarkRushbrook_061018.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/MENCS_Michigan1_HarvickKuBusch_061018.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race – FireKeepers Casino 400<\/b><\/p>\n

Michigan International Speedway<\/b><\/p>\n

Brooklyn, Michigan<\/b><\/p>\n

Sunday, June 10, 2018<\/b><\/p>\n

               1. (12) Clint Bowyer, Ford, 133.<\/p>\n

               2. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 133.<\/p>\n

               3. (1) Kurt Busch, Ford, 133.<\/p>\n

               4. (3) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 133.<\/p>\n

               5. (15) Paul Menard, Ford, 133.<\/p>\n

               6. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 133.<\/p>\n

               7. (5) Joey Logano, Ford, 133.<\/p>\n

               8. (9) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 133.<\/p>\n

               9. (13) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 133.<\/p>\n

               10. (24) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 133.<\/p>\n

               11. (6) Aric Almirola, Ford, 133.<\/p>\n

               12. (10) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 133.<\/p>\n

               13. (14) William Byron #, Chevrolet, 133.<\/p>\n

               14. (16) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 133.<\/p>\n

               15. (8) Erik Jones, Toyota, 133.<\/p>\n

               16. (21) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 133.<\/p>\n

               17. (25) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 133.<\/p>\n

               18. (17) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 133.<\/p>\n

               19. (28) Bubba Wallace #, Chevrolet, 133.<\/p>\n

               20. (20) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 133.<\/p>\n

               21. (31) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 133.<\/p>\n

               22. (11) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 133.<\/p>\n

               23. (29) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 133.<\/p>\n

               24. (18) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, 133.<\/p>\n

               25. (23) Michael McDowell, Ford, 133.<\/p>\n

               26. (33) Ross Chastain(i), Chevrolet, 133.<\/p>\n

               27. (32) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 133.<\/p>\n

               28. (26) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 133.<\/p>\n

               29. (7) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 133.<\/p>\n

               30. (22) Daniel Suarez, Toyota, 132.<\/p>\n

               31. (34) Gray Gaulding, Toyota, 132.<\/p>\n

               32. (36) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, 132.<\/p>\n

               33. (19) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 132.<\/p>\n

               34. (37) * DJ Kennington, Chevrolet, 132.<\/p>\n

               35. (38) * Timmy Hill(i), Toyota, 132.<\/p>\n

               36. (30) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 131.<\/p>\n

               37. (35) BJ McLeod(i), Chevrolet, 131.<\/p>\n

               38. (27) David Ragan, Ford, Accident, 35.<\/p>\n

               39. (39) * Garrett Smithley(i), Chevrolet, Transmission, 1.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  132.723 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 00 Mins, 15 Secs. Margin of Victory:  Caution.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  8 for 30 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  9 among 7 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   Kurt Busch 1-46; R. Blaney 47-61; K. Larson 62; K. Kahne 63-71; K. Harvick 72-87; P. Menard 88-90; K. Harvick 91-122; K. Kahne 123-124; K. Harvick 125; C. Bowyer 126-133.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  K. Harvick 3 times for 49 laps; Kurt Busch 1 time for 46 laps; R. Blaney 1 time for 15 laps; K. Kahne 2 times for 11 laps; C. Bowyer 1 time for 8 laps; P. Menard 1 time for 3 laps; K. Larson 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 12,42,14,4,11,2,41,24,22,10<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 4,14,41,18,21,12,2,1,20,24<\/p>\n

\"\"

Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy\/Haas Automation Ford, takes the green flag to start the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 10, 2018 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Daniel Shirey\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"

Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Haas 30 Years of the VF1 Ford, races Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Ford, for the lead during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 10, 2018 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Daniel Shirey\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"

Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Haas 30 Years of the VF1 Ford, races during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 10, 2018 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Jerry Markland\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"

Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Haas 30 Years of the VF1 Ford, leads Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Ford, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 10, 2018 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Jerry Markland\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"

Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Haas 30 Years of the VF1 Ford, celebrates after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 10, 2018 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"

Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Haas 30 Years of the VF1 Ford, shakes hands with NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 10, 2018 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service BROOKLYN, Mich. \u2013 Clint Bowyer gambled. Then he made sure he cashed the winning ticket with a determined charge on two new tires as rain threatened Michigan International Speedway. Bowyer got the lead under caution at the end of Stage 2 of Sunday\u2019s Firekeepers Casino 400 when crew chief […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19266,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[557,613,219,16],"class_list":["post-19256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-clint-bowyer","tag-firekeepers-casino-400","tag-michigan-international-speedway","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/MENCS_Trophy_061018-e1528682814202.jpg?fit=640%2C448&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-50A","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19256"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19256\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19276,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19256\/revisions\/19276"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}