BOWYER GOING FOR THREE AT DOVER: The NASCAR Nationwide Series heads to Dover (Del.) International Speedway this weekend where teams will look to conquer the one-mile track known as the Monster Mile. The driver of the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet Impala has done just that, twice. In nine Nationwide Series starts at the facility, Clint Bowyer has two wins (2009, 2006), five top-five and seven top-10 finishes. The driver has led 171 laps around the concrete oval.
BY THE NUMBERS: The No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) team has five top-five and eight top-10 finishes in the season’s first 10 races. With Bowyer behind the wheel of the No. 33 Chevrolet, the team has collected one top-five and two top-10 finishes in three races together. The driver-team combination started second at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, but finished 22nd after falling victim to a late-race multi-car accident.
KHI LOOKING TO BEAT THE MONSTER: KHI heads to Dover without any Nationwide Series poles or wins to their credit. The 1.0-mile facility is one of 11 tracks on the current series schedule at which KHI has yet to top qualifying or make the trip to victory lane.
In 16 Nationwide Series starts at Dover, the Kernersville, N.C. based team has a record of two top-five and six top-10 finishes. The organization’s best start is fifth (2009) and best finish is fifth, (2010, 2006) all with co-owner Kevin Harvick in the driver’s seat.
CHASSIS HISTORY: This weekend at Dover International Speedway, crew chief David Hyder and the No. 33 Rheem team will unload chassis No. 069. The KHI team utilized this particular chassis at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March with Kevin Harvick behind the wheel. After qualifying fourth, the team was relegated to a 28th-place finish due to damage sustained in a late-race incident. The No. 33 team also competed with chassis No. 069 at Nashville Superspeedway with driver Austin Dillon. The young driver made his KHI debut starting the event in the third position and brought home a seventh-place finish.
PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Clint Bowyer piloted the No. 33 Chevrolet Impala to a sixth-place finish last weekend at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. The top-10 finish keeps the No. 33 KHI team’s hold on the second position in the Nationwide Series Owner’s Points standings, 34 markers out of the lead.
BOWYER’S THOUGHTS ON DOVER:
What are your thoughts about this weekend’s race at Dover?
“I really like Dover. The banking is like Bristol but the straightaways are really fast. It has been one of my better tracks and I’m excited to be back in the No. 33 Rheem Chevy and with the KHI guys this weekend. I think if we can get the balance of the car just right and stay out of any accidents, we will be able to get this Rheem Chevy into victory lane.”