Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 27 March 2018
Bowyer snaps 190-race losing streak with Martinsville win

By JENNA FRYER
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) —
When snow at Martinsville
Speedway gave NASCAR
a rare day off, Clint Bow-
yer loaded his car with kids
and drove them to North
Carolina for a day at the
Hall of Fame.
As Bowyer returned to
the track for Monday's re-
scheduled race, he told his
3-year-old son he wanted
to take a picture with him
in victory lane.
Cash Bowyer told his father
he wanted a checkered
flag.
Both father and son got
their wish.
Bowyer snapped a 190-
race losing streak dating to
2012 with a dominating vic-
tory at Martinsville Speed-
way. Monday's win contin-
ued the strong start to the
NASCAR season for Stew-
art-Haas Racing, which has Clint Bowyer, center, celebrates with his crew after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville,
won four of the first six races Va., Monday, March 26, 2018.
to start the year. Associated Press
"For whatever reason, it felt
right driving up here. It's and his first career Martins- the Martinsville signature Kyle Busch finished sec- nose of his car when he ran
such a cool place to be ville victory. trophy grandfather clock, ond in a Toyota, and Ryan into the back of Harvick.
able to drive up through It was the ninth career vic- chugged several beers, Blaney, who led 145 laps "He just got to me and, I
the countryside on a two- tory for Bowyer, but first and let his son soak in his and won the second stage, think, bumped me three
lane road and think about since he was a legitimate first post-race celebration. was third in a Ford. or four times," Hamlin said.
the race," Bowyer said. "I title contender in 2012 be- "I wanted that damn clock," Martin Truex Jr., the de- "And then I was just bump-
told (Cash) this morning, I fore the bottom fell out. He Bowyer said. "How are fending series champion ing him back and he
was like, 'Dammit, we've was snared in a cheating we going to get it home? and winner last week in brake-checked me. I prob-
got to get our picture in vic- scandal with Michael Wal- What do you do? I'm go- California, was fourth in a ably should have brake-
tory lane.' He told me he trip Racing, that team nev- ing to ratchet strap it to my Toyota. Bowyer teammate checked him in the first
wanted a checkered flag. er recovered and folded, wife's SUV. We're going to Kevin Harvick, winner of place. "They were just some
"He's really proud of that and Bowyer has been try- be the Clampetts with our three races this season, was light bumps here, and then
checkered flag!" Clint ing to find his footing since. trophy ratchet strapped to fifth and followed by Joey slammed on the brakes. So
Bowyer said as the toddler He thanked Gene Haas the roof of the SUV, but it's Logano in another Ford. classy."
waived the flag, and then and Stewart for bringing coming home." Alex Bowman was sev- Hamlin, who won the first
leaned his head on his fa- him to SHR. Bowyer is the first driver enth and AJ Allmendinger stage, finished 12th.
ther's shoulder. "To give this old dog a fresh to notch victories driving eighth in the highest finishes ALLMENDINGER SHINES:
Bowyer then went into the chance and fresh blood a Chevrolet, Toyota and for Chevrolet drivers. AJ Allmendinger is a two-
stands to greet the fans with a new opportunity — Ford. Busch was frustrated after time runner-up at Martins-
who returned to Martinsville finally to get the 14 in vic- Now the Kansas native, his third runner-up finish of ville who expects to do well
two days after a snowstorm tory lane is just a weight off a die-hard Jayhawks fan, the season. on the paperclip.
pushed all track activity to the shoulders," Bowyer said. goes into NASCAR's off "I mean, we take solace, With his eighth-place finish,
Monday. "It's been a long time. You weekend ready to cel- sure, but you know, ulti- he felt fairly satisfied.
Bowyer's victory was his first start to question if you can ebrate his victory and KU's mately we're here to win "These are the places we
driving for SHR, the team get it done or not." spot in the Final Four. As each and every week," he know that we have a better
he joined as Tony Stewart's Bowyer began his celebra- much as he pleaded with said. chance at, and we have to
replacement last year. The tory burnout before he wife, Lorra, the victory par- BRAKE CHECK take advantage of it," All-
move to SHR was supposed completed a cool-down ty won't be traveling to San The closing laps were mendinger said. "So I would
to turn Bowyer's fortunes lap, and then climbed on Antonio to watch Kansas eventful for Denny Ham- say I'm OK with eighth."
around, but his struggles the hood of his cars with play. lin and Kevin Harvick, who UP NEXT
continued through his first his arms raised in victory. "It was a good week to be made contact late in the NASCAR is off for Easter
year in the No. 14 Ford. He jumped into the arms a Kansan," he said. "Hey, race. But Harvick insisted he and the Cup Series returns
He finally figured it out on of his SHR crew, and then babe: I mean, this is a posi- didn't intentionally brake- to action April 8 at Texas
the short track in Virginia was met by his son, who tive thing — can I ride this check Hamlin at the end. Motor Speedway. Jimmie
and won for the first time had never before seen his wave of momentum and "He hit me a couple times Johnson won last year at
since his victory at Char- father win a Cup race. make it? It's KU." and I was just trying to Texas and then made it two
lotte in October 2012. Cash Bowyer exchanged Lorra Bowyer shook her make sure I had my car un- straight the next week with
Bowyer had led just 145 high-fives with the SHR crew head no. der control," Harvick said. a victory at Bristol. Johnson
combined laps the last four then sat on top of the win- "Yeah, I'm going to be Doing so meant Harvick goes into the break stuck in
years and bettered that ning car. Later, in victory watching in my basement," slowed in front of Hamlin, a career-worst 29-race los-
Monday with 215 laps led lane, Clint Bowyer hugged he smiled. and Hamlin crumpled the ing streak.q