The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series travels to Michigan International Speedway this weekend where speeds routinely top 200 miles per hour at the 2-mile, D-shaped track.
It’s a place where Clint Bowyer has run well lately, finishing in the top 10 in the last eight races. He will look to extend that streak in his No. 15 Cherry 5-hour ENERGY Toyota to benefit Special Operations Warrior Foundation. The organization helps support the military’s special operations forces and their families through college scholarships, family services and financial stipends. Now through July 31, 5-hour ENERGY is donating five cents from every specially marked red, white and blue bottle of cherry flavored 5-hour ENERGY to the organization.
With his recent string of good runs Bowyer’s mission is fairly clear this weekend, win the race and cement his place in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
What is the key to Michigan?
“Fast hot rod – a lot of steam under the hood. It’s a big, big race track and fun race track. One of the most fun infield and rowdy crowds that we go to. Over the years, I’ve been in this sport for 10 years or more in the Cup Series, everyone always asks, ‘What is the wildest and most fun infield?’ I tell you what, Michigan can give them all a run for their money. Love going up there, love the enthusiasm and the fans. It should be that way. On restarts, you’re panning out four, five, six wide – who knows how wide there that it can get. Just a neat weekend and we all look forward to going there.”
What is the hardest thing to figure out about Michigan?
“It’s a repave and all of these repaved tracks, it seems like with the package that we have, if your car is fast then you’re going to be fast and you’re going to have fun and you’re probably going to be up front. If you’ve been struggling with grip issues and handling and things like that, you’re going to struggle even more there because it seems like she’s either stuck to the track like glue and easy to drive or it’s up on top of the track and slipping and sliding around and really can’t pinpoint one thing or the other. It seems like you get into a situation where when you’re down on grip like that, the front end takes off and about the time it lands the rearend is out from underneath you and sliding around. It’s kind of both and unfortunately if you unload off the truck that way then you’re in for a long weekend.”
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