Warning: Objects in this post may be the only way to successfully live through the NASCAR off-season. For best results, read rearview mirror early and often.
Driver: Clint Bowyer
Team: No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
'08 Final Standing: 5th (-303)
Best Race: Richmond (1st)
Worst Race:Pocono (39th-place)
Season in a box: Looking back through 2008, Clint Bowyer more than showed that he has quickly become one of the most consistent drivers in NASCAR and hopefully, unlike the trend we talked about in teammate Jeff Burton's season recap, Bowyer can gain on his young success.
The lone win of 2008 for Bowyer came thanks to Kyle Busch after his late-race contact with leader Dale Earnhardt Jr. with two laps to go during the Sprint Cup's May visit to Richmond International Raceway. Bowyer slipped under the spinning Earnhardt and a sliding Busch to grab the lead, and then held off Busch on a green-white-checkered sprint to the finsh.
Remarkably, Bowyer had just three finishes worse than 26th in 2008, and two of them came back to back at Dover and Pocono. In the final 21 races of the season, Bowyer's worst finish was a 23rd with 15 Top-15 finishes.
Through the crystal windshield: In one of the moves seemingly towards the more odd end of the NASCAR spectrum, RCR announced in August that Bowyer would be shifting his driving duties to a new car in 2009 at the team, leaving behind crew chief Gil Martin and the rest of the No. 07 crew.
Taking his spot there would be now ex-Hendrick Motorsports driver Casey Mears while Bowyer takes the reigns of the No. 33 General Mills Chevrolet.
With the success -- or at least, consistency -- that Bowyer has enjoyed at the No. 07, it seems interesting that RCR would be open to moving him away completely from that team. Starting with a new crew chief is never an easy propostion, and for Bowyer, it might lead to some uncharacteristic finishes during the first part of 2009.
Next up: Kevin Harvick
