DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – As Clint Bowyer bounded out of an SUV at Daytona International Speedway to greet a large, waiting media contingent Tuesday, the morning's rain shower seemed to give way to the Stewart-Haas Racing driver's perpetually sunny disposition.
Standing alongside Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile, Bowyer talked about the upcoming July 1 Coke Zero 400 (7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at the track – an always competitive and exciting night race that will celebrate the nation’s holiday – and Richard Petty’s 80th birthday -- with Medal of Honor recipients and the Southeast’s biggest fireworks show.
Next, the outdoorsman Bowyer, 38, invited the media to join him for some archery in an adjoining garage. And he was definitely on target – with a bow and behind the microphone.
"There's just something about this place, you feel like you've made it," a smiling Bowyer said of Daytona. "And this race is so easy to sell because it's so much fun to compete in and to hang out. I'm from Kansas so being here at the beach is special. I've always had a ton of fun here."
And while he's still working on that first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup win on the Daytona high banks, he did win the 2009 XFINITY Series event from the pole position here. He has 11 top-10s in 23 Daytona Cup races including a streak of four consecutive top-10s in the summer races. His fourth place finish in the 2014 Coke Zero 400 tied a high mark for Bowyer at Daytona.
"I've always run good here," Bowyer allowed. "Some people don't actually like this racing, but I really do. I have fun out there and I enjoy learning and figuring it out, manipulating things and getting in the right situation."
He's certainly found himself in the right situation professionally, being tabbed to take over the No. 14 Ford for the recently retired three-time premier series champion Tony Stewart.
This season, Bowyer's had only two finishes worse than 15th place – one of those came after being caught up in an accident in the season-opening Daytona 500.
RELATED: See Bowyer's results for the 2017 seasonHe finished third at Auto Club Speedway and was in position to win the race and was runner-up at Bristol Motor Speedway in April.
And looking at his career victories, Bowyer seems to heat up as the temperatures rise. Seven of his eight Monster Energy Series wins have come in the summer portion of the schedule or beyond.
"We've qualified well, made the third round almost every single time this year," Bowyer said. "After Charlotte (a 14th-place finish), I was really nervous. After Dover (a 31st-place finish), now we need to dissect some things. Was there something that stood out that we changed while chasing a certain situation? It was a month of barely holding on to the back half of the top 10s not really being a part of the show. I’ve spent a lot of time with (crew chief) Mike (Bugarewicz) dissecting last month of racing.
"I look for Pocono for some of that to turn around. I like the summer months. They've always kind of stacked up good for me in the past. It's kind of that stretch that separates the men from the boys and gives you a good sense of what you're going to have in the playoffs."
After answering questions from all the assembled media – and good-naturedly suggesting he'd love to lead Dale Earnhardt Jr. across the Daytona finish line next month – Bowyer surprised a Daytona International Speedway visitor tour in Victory Lane.
The unsuspecting crowd was thrilled. Their dropped jaws quickly replaced with wide grins, even applause as Bowyer posed for photos with all 50 people.
It was 10-year old Carson Pitmon's first ever visit to NASCAR’s most iconic race track and the Tennessee resident had only response to getting his photo with Bowyer in Victory Lane.
"Whoa.’"
His father Billy Pitmon, 44, was equally as impressed with their good timing.
"It's just pretty cool and such a random day for this to happen."
After the photos, the group – most still smiling and snapping cell phone photos -- jumped onto the tram and Bowyer took the microphone to give an impromptu tour of the facility.
"This is just awesome," said 56-year old Jim Sherwood, visiting from Ohio. "And now with Clint, maybe we get to go faster."