Despite Early Incident, Bowyer, Camping World Chevy Maintain Points Lead

Race/Date: Aaron’s 312 – April 26, 2008 - Location: Talladega Superspeedway – Talladega, Ala. - Start Position: Sixth - Finish Position: 25th - Points Position: First (Maintained Position)

TALLADEGA, Ala. – Clint Bowyer was sidelined early in Saturday’s Aaron’s 312 at Talladega Superspeedway after being in the wrong place at the wrong time but despite a 25th-place finish, the 28-year-old driver maintained the NASCAR Nationwide Series points lead.

Bowyer paces his closest competitor, Carl Edwards, by a 27-point margin. Kyle Busch is third, 39 markers in arrears, nine races in to the 2008 season.

As the field was barreling through turn three just 11 laps in to the 117-lap event, Bowyer was collected in an incident after 2007 Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti cut a right-rear tire.

Heavy damage to the right-front of Bowyer’s No. 2 Camping World Chevy Monte Carlo SS sent the six-time Nationwide Series winner to the garage area for extensive repairs. After spending 22 laps on jack stands, Bowyer returned to the track to finish out the race and earn as many points as the day would allow.

Fortunately, as a result of attrition and a never quit work ethic, Bowyer and his Dan Deeringhoff-led crew soldiered to a top-25 effort.

Tony Stewart won the race followed by David Stremme, Bobby Hamilton Jr. and Jason Leffler. Mark Green rounded out the top-five finishers.

It was an expensive day for team owner Richard Childress with Bowyer’s teammates Scott Wimmer and Stephen Leicht being collected in separate on-track incidents. However, Wimmer hung tough, raced his way back on to the lead lap to finish ninth. Leicht was 34th in the final rundown.

Next weekend, the NASCAR Nationwide Series visits the former capitol of the Confederacy for the Lipton Tea 250 at Richmond International Raceway.

Live television coverage will take the green flag Friday, May 2. The race will be televised on ESPN2 and broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 10th round of the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship will be televised live on SPEED the same day at 4 p.m. EDT. MRN and Sirius Satellite Radio will air qualifying updates live.

• CLINT BOWYER QUOTES

“The 40 car (Dario Franchitti) blew a right-rear tire and I had nowhere to go but that’s about how my luck has been at Talladega. I’m really proud of Dan (crew chief Dan Deeringhoff) and all the guys on this Camping World Chevrolet for keeping their heads in the game and getting our car back out there. We hung in there and finished the race and that’s what it takes to win a championship.”