Clint Bowyer is looking for another rally heading to Martinsville

MARTINSVILLE, VA - MARCH 26: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Haas Automation Demo Day Ford, celebrates winning the weather delayed Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 26, 2018 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
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When Clint Bowyer won last year’s spring race at Martinsville Speedway, it was the perfect antidote to a disappointing debut season at Stewart-Haas Racing.

Five races into the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, Bowyer is looking for another rally, after an overheating issue at Auto Club Speedway (Fontana, Calif.) left him 38th in the Auto Club 400 and 15th in the series standings.

NASCAR’s shortest track may be the ideal venue for Bowyer, whose win last year followed several impressive at the .526-mile speedway.

“I’ve felt like I’m someone that’s capable of winning at Martinsville for several years,” Bowyer said. “It felt good to finally check that box. When I look at race tracks, that was always one that I said, ‘Damn it. I can win at that place.’ And we finally did.”

With another victory at Martinsville, Bowyer would earn another grandfather clock trophy to go with the last year’s prize, but the way the driver of the No. 14 Ford sees it, that might be a mixed blessing.

“It’s super cool,” Bowyer added. “But it’s a pain in the ass. I’m not lying. It dings and chimes and stuff, but it’s a good reminder of that day and what we accomplished that day.”

Greg Engle