NSCS: Clint Bowyer hopes to leave frustrating season in the rearview mirror

Following a season that left him finishing 19th in points, there’s one thing on Clint Bowyer’s mind – frustration.

“We worked really hard — there was a lot of dedication in the last year — and it was so frustrating, because we just couldn’t find the answer,” he commented. “It was literally to the point you’d go the race track and it was like, ‘Man, this is all we’ve got and it’s not for lack of effort. It is what it is and we’ve got to go out here and make the best of it.’ And you had to make that commitment and had to have that conversation with my road guys. We’re all in this boat together and it’s not the fastest boat in the river and we’ve got to make this baby ford the river.

“We got through it. It was definitely frustrating. It’s the worst year I’ve ever had, but sometimes you need that wakeup call in life and it makes you work hard.”

Bowyer is hoping to make this upcoming season much more memorable for good reasons, perhaps starting off the year with a win in the Daytona 500.

“That’s one that I haven’t always had that mindset going into Daytona,” he commented. “Obviously, you want to win that race more than anything, but it’s always such a disappointment if you go there and start the season off with a crash or something like that. With the new format where winning is a premium and everything that Brian has put into play, who cares? Just go out there and through it all out there and go for broke at the Daytona 500 because you only get one chance at that and then worry about the rest of the season when you get back.”

In trying to find that success, though, Bowyer will have to contend with the new rules package and figuring that out. So far in what he’s seen, he feels that it’s a step in the right direction of what the drivers and teams have wanted.

“I think it’s going to make a difference, but only time is going to tell where it’s going to make a difference and on what different track configuration and things like that,” he added. “I’m anxiously anticipating just like you are to see if it’s going to shake things up at least a little bit. I damn sure hope it helps us and hurts them.”