FUEL MILEAGE KEY TO RUNNER-UP FINISH FOR DIRECTV CHEVY IN PHOENIX

Race/Date: Subway Fresh Fit 500 – April 12, 2008 - Location: Phoenix International Raceway – Avondale, Ariz. - Start Position: 24th - Finish Position: Second - Points Position: Eighth – Moved Up Three Spots

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Save fuel. Save fuel. Save fuel. That’s what Clint Bowyer’s crew chief Gil Martin constantly reminded his driver throughout the closing 79 laps in the Subway Fresh Fit 500.

Bowyer wisely heeded his crew chief’s advice and turned what looked to be a top-10 effort into a runner-up finish for the DIRECTV Chevrolet Impala SS Saturday night at Phoenix International Raceway.

The second-place showing was Bowyer’s fifth consecutive top-10 finish and second top five in as many races. The strong result advanced the Emporia, Kan., driver from 11th to eighth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship point standings.

Jimmie Johnson notched his first win of the season, while Bowyer’s finish was also his best of 2008. Denny Hamlin finished third, followed by Carl Edwards and Mark Martin. Bowyer’s RCR teammate Jeff Burton was sixth. Fellow teammate Kevin Harvick, fell victim to the fuel mileage dilemma and was credited with 19th.

After starting 24th, Bowyer steadily gained ground and moved up to 13th by lap 100. Good fortune found the DIRECTV racing team early when several frontrunners began pitting under green-flag conditions just past the 100-lap mark. When the evening’s third caution flag waved on lap 113, Bowyer had yet to make his second trip to pit lane. The timely yellow flag handed the DIRECTV Chevy several positions as a result of those who pitted under green leaving them either trapped on the tail end of the lead lap or one lap down.

Following the stroke of good luck, Bowyer raced in and around the top 10 for the remainder of the event until most of the frontrunners headed for pit road inside the closing 15 laps for a quick splash of fuel. The team’s conservative approach as the race wound down paid off in spades and when the checkered flag flew, the DIRECTV Chevy rolled across the finish line second.

While the majority of his Cup Series competitors will have the weekend off, Bowyer will sharpen his road racing skills as the NASCAR Nationwide Series visits Mexico City for the Corona Mexico 200 presented by Banamex at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Following a rare weekend off for the Sprint Cup Series, restrictor-plate racing kicks into high gear in two weeks when NASCAR’s senior circuit drafts into Talladega, Ala.

Live coverage of the Aaron’s 499 from Talladega Superspeedway will be televised live on FOX Sunday, April 27 beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The second restrictor-plate race of 2008 will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for round nine of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship will be televised live on ESPN2 Saturday, April 26 at 11 a.m. EDT. MRN and Sirius Satellite Radio will air qualifying updates live.

CLINT BOWYER QUOTES

“We were probably about a seventh or 10th-place car all night. I never really got any higher than that but, you know, things worked out. We were kind of conserving brakes there in that last run, backing the corners up, which in turn saved fuel. Gil (crew chief Gil Martin) kept preaching to save fuel and that’s what I did. He told me we were three laps shy of making it before that run started. I don't think I was as worried about it as he was. I knew how much I was saving out there. I was pretty sure I saved enough. It was a good call by Gil to stay out. It just worked out for the DIRECTV Chevrolet this weekend.”