Clint Bowyer is making his move on the Busch circuit. Credit: Autostock

Bowyer hoping to reward Childress for call to No. 2

SHAWNEE, Kan. -- Clint Bowyer remembers the day that he got the call at the body shop of the Ford dealership in Emporia, Kan., where he took estimates to repair damaged fenders and bumpers.

The call was from legendary NASCAR team owner Richard Childress.

"I 'bout hung up on him. I just thought it was somebody messing with me,'' Bowyer said. "It's a dream come true. Something I'll never forget.''

	Clint Bowyer may have even more to smile about. Credit: Autostock
	Official Results Dover 200 Pos. Driver Make 1. R. Newman Dodge 2. C. Bowyer Chevrolet 3. J. Leffler Chevrolet 4. R. Sorenson Dodge 5. G. Biffle Ford Complete results, click here Official standings, click here

Now, two years later, he's avoiding denting the fenders of his AC Delco Monte Carlo as he chases the NASCAR Busch title. After Saturday's race at Dover, Del., Bowyer had closed to within 26 points of behind defending series champion Martin Truex Jr.

Bower finished second behind Ryan Newman on Saturday. Truex, the winner of the last two Dover races, was 12th after cutting a tire.

Bowyer likes his chances during the stretch run, including Kansas Speedway in October.

"I'm excited because I think we've got a real shot at winning the race,'' he said.

Larry Wilburn, body shop manager, said he suspected Bowyer would land a NASCAR ride, but he hoped he would have waited a bit longer. Bowyer used to do estimates and minor dent repair at the shop.

"I told him he should have waited for an opportunity to drive Ford,'' Wilburn said. "We're all pretty excited for him. A lot of computers have Clint Bowyer screen savers and we're collecting the die cast cars.''

After a successful audition in late 2003, Bowyer drove part-time for Childress in the No. 21 car, sharing duties with Kevin Harvick. He finished the 2004 season with four top-five finishes, seven top-10s and earning nearly $400,000.

Bowyer has been in the hunt for the Busch title all season, aided by nine top-fives and 17 top-10s, including his first career victory in June at Nashville. During the next seven races, he knows he is free to take more chances that Truex can't afford.

"It's crunch time. I have to stay focused,'' he said.

Bowyer sensed 2005 would be a special year as Childress was forming the team. As the season has unfolded, Bowyer has been consistently in the top five in points.

Inside the Numbers Clint Bowyer in the Busch Series Category No. Years 2 Starts 46 Wins 1 Top-5 14 Top-10 25

"I think we've caught a lot of people off guard. There's been a lot of guys who said, 'Where the hell did this guy come from?''' Bowyer said.

He came from a background in racing that began when he was a child, racing motorcycles, then stock cars at regional dirt tracks.

He won the 2002 NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Midwest Region title with 10 wins and 18 top-five finishes in 19 starts at Lakeside Speedway, a few miles north of Kansas Speedway where competition and fan support is unlike any other short track in the region.

"Who would ever thought dragging a '78 Camaro out of the weeds would lead to this?'' said Bowyer, recalling a recent conversation with his parents, who travel to each race. "I'm proud to say I'm from the Midwest.''

Bowyer knows there's already talk about moving up to the Nextel Cup. Truex will move his DEI team to the next level in 2006 after two successful Busch seasons, following the model by Dale Earnhardt Jr., who won Busch titles in 1998 and 1999 before jumping to the Cup series full time in 2000.

Childress knows something about making the most of brash young drivers. He retired as a driver in 1981 and picked Dale Earnhardt to finish the season in his car. Earnhardt won seven Cup titles. Harvick won the Busch title in 2001 and was Cup rookie of the year, running the remainder of the season in the GM Goodwrench Chevrolet following Earnhardt's death at Daytona.

Bowyer knows that if he doesn't make the most of the opportunities, he could end up back racing at Lakeside and taking estimates in Emporia.

"We've just got to keep doing what we're doing and hopefully someday soon we'll be able to move up,'' Bowyer said.