Clint Bowyer with the No. 07 Chevrolet. Credit: Autostock

No. 07: Bowyer in, Blaney out for 2006

CONCORD, N.C. -- Clint Bowyer will replace Dave Blaney in the No. 07 Chevrolet for the 2006 Nextel Cup season, Richard Childress Racing announced Saturday.

In addition, Jack Daniel's has extended its primary sponsorship of RCR's No. 07 Chevrolet through 2009.

Bowyer, currently second in the Busch Series championship chase, will be accompanied by crew chief Gil Martin. Bowyer will also race for the 2006 Busch Series title returning to the seat of RCR's No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet.

"RCR is very pleased to take our partnership with Jack Daniel's to the next level," said Richard Childress, President and CEO of RCR. "Clint Bowyer has done an exceptional job driving the No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet in the Busch Series and has certainly proven himself worthy of this opportunity. I have no doubt he's ready to take the next step and move to the Nextel Cup Series.

"Clint and Gil (Martin) have great chemistry and have demonstrated they are a winning combination. We have very high expectations for this program and are confident that both Clint and Gil will be excellent representatives for Jack Daniel's both on and off the track."

Blaney will finish out the season.

"I would also like to thank Dave Blaney for everything he's done, not only for RCR but for all he's done for Jack Daniel's as well," Childress said. "Dave is a first-class driver and I'm proud to say he drove for RCR. We were lucky to have him and wish him nothing but the best."

Bowyer, 26, made his Nextel Cup debut earlier this season at Phoenix International Raceway, posting a 22nd-place finish.

A veteran of 48 NASCAR Busch Series starts, Bowyer scored his first career Busch Series win earlier this season at Nashville Superspeedway. The Emporia, Kan., driver also owns 14 top-five and 25 top-10 finishes in a scorecard that reads like that of a NASCAR journeyman.

"It's a dream come true for me," Bowyer said. "This is exactly what I've worked my whole life for -- trying to get a shot. Fortunately, I'm getting a shot with one of the best car owners in the business and one of the newest and coolest sponsors in the series. I'm really excited to be a part of it.

"At the same time I'm excited about what Gil and I have built on the Busch side with the ACDelco team. Hopefully we can continue that success and take it to the next level in the Nextel Cup Series."