Bowyer Looks To Hold On To Final Spot For The Chase At Atlanta On Sunday
September 4, 2010 – By Scott
As Sunday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway draws closer, Clint Bowyer currently holds the 12th and final spot in the points standings. Entering Sunday’s Emory Healthcare 500, Bowyer is looking to not only keep his lead over the drivers chasing him for the final spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, but increase his lead as well.
“I’m pretty confident we can go to Atlanta and have us a good run and then on to my favorite track in Richmond and be able to back that up,” Bowyer said. “I want to be able to put a little bit more pad in it in Atlanta and go into Richmond and not have to worry about it and go after a win.
“That [the regular-season finale at Richmond] is one of my best opportunities to win a race. I’d like to be in a situation where I don’t have to look over my shoulder and be conservative when it comes down to time to gamble.”
Bowyer, who has not won a race this season, currently holds a 100-point lead over 13th place Jamie McMurray and a 101-point lead over Mark Martin who is in 14th. As it stands right now, he would be tied for last when the 10-race playoff starts on September 19 at New Hampshire. It’s not the best situation, but it’s not one that is pressing according to Bowyer.
“Here recently, we’ve had to look over our shoulder, and played a little bit [of a cautious] approach to everything,” Bowyer said. “But I’m fairly confident that when we get in this Chase, and we’re the 12th seed, you don’t have anywhere to go but up.”
As for Jeff Gordon, Atlanta has been a track that has brought him success. He has four wins at Atlanta with the last coming in 2003. He currently is second in the points standings and is 279 points behind leader Kevin Harvick. He currently has his odds set at 11/1 to win the Emory Healthcare 500 by NASCAR sportsbooks.
Jimmie Johnson, who is 9th in the points standings, will enter the race as the favorite with his odds set at 11/2. Bowyer finds himself in the upper third of the field to win with his odds set at 25/1. If he can finish sixth or better on Sunday, Bowyer can pretty much lock up a spot in the Chase.
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