Now that Clint Bowyer has been announced as the driver of the third Michael Waltrip Racing team in 2012 everyone seems to think that this is the move that will make them a power.
Here is what I do know. If Bowyer was that good then there is no way he would have been allowed to leave Richard Childress Racing. At RCR, Bowyer won four races, yet missed the Chase in two of the last three seasons and aided by a penalty wasn’t a factor in 2010 either.
“Kansas Clint” once called Michael Waltrip the “worst driver in NASCAR, period.” Now he’s driving for the man. Maybe the two made up or maybe Bowyer saw his options for 2012 greatly diminished after the head of RCR, Richard Childress himself, said that the door for his return was just about closed.
Clint Bowyer didn’t have any other options and what he brings to MWR is not what you expect. No other team had serious contract talks with Bowyer and only MWR could have given Bowyer what he wanted anyway. The status of ‘top dog’ was never going to be attached to Clint at RCR but at MWR he has more wins then their other two drivers (David Reutimann and Martin Truex) combined.
Thumbs up to MWR for trying to bring a better driver to their core but there is a reason why they were never mentioned in talks with Carl Edwards this year. There is a reason why they weren’t mentioned in recent years to Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle or even Kasey Kahne.
Most see Bowyer as a guy who can make the Chase consistently, but winning races not so much. Winning a championship… now you are in dreamland.
