Bowyer not backing down from the Chase challenge

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Denny Hamlin and Tony Raines might have had the fastest cars in Saturday's two Nextel Cup practice sessions at Martinsville Speedway, but Clint Bowyer, who has continued to be the revelation of the Chase for the Nextel Cup, made his latest statement.

So did Martinsville's archetypal "tough man" Ricky Rudd, who practiced 108 laps -- more than one-fifth of the race distance -- before declaring himself physically fit for Sunday's Subway 500 as he continues to recover from a separated left shoulder.

Hamlin led the first practice ahead of Jamie McMurray and championship leader and pole sitter Jeff Gordon. Raines, who was eighth in the first practice, led McMurray and Gordon in the second while Hamlin slipped to 10th.

McMurray and Raines were among the most consistent of the non-Chasers in practice, while Gordon, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson (fifth and seventh in the two sessions) and Bowyer proved why they're leading this title race.

Bowyer, whom Gordon cited as the dark horse pick for the championship before its 12-man field of contenders was even established six weeks ago, was praying for rain Friday at Martinsville, and not just to relieve the Southeast's arid conditions.

Bowyer, who sits third in NASCAR's playoff Chase on the eve of the sixth of 10 races, figured his chances of qualifying well on the brutal, flat half-mile oval were minute, which would impair his chances of gaining points on Gordon, whom he trails by 78 points or second place Johnson, who's 10 points ahead of Bowyer.

At this track in the spring, Johnson won and Gordon was second, while Bowyer finished 11th.

It rained for half of Friday, but not enough to wipe out Bud Pole Qualifying; and in the end Bowyer's worst nightmare was realized via a 21st-place qualifying effort, which was also where he started in the spring.

But Saturday just how good his No. 07 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet could be in race trim came home, as Bowyer was sixth in the morning practice and fifth in the one-hour afternoon session.

"I darn sure expected to have a better race car than a qualifying car, but I just didn't hit my lap [in qualifying]," Bowyer said. "I think we've gained a lot and I'm real happy with the car. It turned under people and I was able to pass some cars, and that's what you want; so, so far, so good."

From the start of the Richmond Chase cutoff weekend, Gordon loudly sang Bowyer's praises, and six races later he hadn't abated much.

"He's definitely a legitimate contender -- he's proven that," Gordon said of Bowyer. "If you look at his background, it's no surprise. The guy is a true racer, a great driver in all aspects.

"For whatever reason, we just haven't seen that side of him up to the Chase. We've seen consistency but we haven't seen him really take it to the next level until the Chase started. But once that Chase started and he did then you've got to make him a legitimate contender [because] certainly since the Chase started he's been as strong as anybody." (Continued)