AVONDALE, Ariz. (November 13, 2010) — Three years after his last start for Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI), Clint Bowyer took the No. 2 Kroger Chevrolet Silverado to victory lane in his first and only KHI Truck Series start of 2010. After starting the race in the third position, Bowyer quickly pulled ahead of the field and went on to lead the most laps before taking the checkered flag at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR). Bowyer earned the No. 2 truck’s fifth victory in 2010, and became the third different driver to visit victory lane in the No. 2 truck this season.
“From the first time I got into the No. 2 Kroger Chevrolet this weekend, it was very fast, and I knew that I had to do my job to get the truck into victory lane where it belonged,” said Bowyer in victory lane. “Kevin and DeLana [Harvick] have done a great job with KHI and getting the right people surrounding them to compete at the top level and win races in the Truck Series. It’s a lot of fun to be able to run in this series. This is my second-career truck win, and it means a lot to me to get to victory lane in this series.”
Taking the green flag from the third starting spot, Bowyer maintained his position until the first caution of the night waved on lap 18 when No. 89 truck hit the wall in turn four. Bowyer relayed to crew chief Ernie Cope that the truck was turning too loosely off the corners, but that it was “pretty decent.” Although the team remained on the track through the first caution, Cope ensured Bowyer that they would improve the truck when they made their first pit stop of the evening.
Going green on lap 24, Bowyer jumped into the lead and immediately pulled away from second place by five truck lengths. In only 10 laps, Bowyer had opened up more than a four-second lead over the field, and he continued to lead until the caution waved for the second time on lap 54. Although the truck still had a loose condition, Bowyer felt that the No. 2 Kroger machine needed only minor adjustments, and Cope called for four tires, fuel and a slight air-pressure adjustment. A fast stop by the No. 2 crew put Bowyer back in the lead when the field went green on lap 60.
Once again, Bowyer quickly shot out into the lead, but a quick caution two laps later tightened up the field. Not getting quite as dominating of a restart on lap 67, the No. 18 of Kyle Busch was able to pull ahead of the No. 2, but Bowyer was confident that he would be able to reel him back in. Maintaining the second position until the next caution of lap 90, Bowyer came back down pit road for four tires, fuel and another air-pressure adjustment to help the truck rotate better in the middle of the turns. The No. 2 crew performed another solid stop, and Bowyer took the green flag on lap 96 in the second position.
Bowyer battled with the No. 18 but was able to retake the lead when, the field was closed back up by a caution on lap 115 involving Bowyer’s KHI teammate Ron Hornaday and the No. 3 of Austin Dillon. Returning to green-flag racing on lap 118, Bowyer immediately drove off from his competitors, leading the remainder of the race before taking the checkered flag.
Bowyer’s win gave the No. 2 truck its fourth consecutive Truck Series win at Phoenix International Raceway. Busch, Johnny Sauter, Matt Crafton and Aric Almirola completed the top five.
The Truck Series hits the track for the final time in 2010 on Friday, November 19th for the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The race can be seen live on SPEED at 7:30 p.m. ET.
STATS RECAP
Race Info
November 12, 2010
Phoenix International Raceway
Race: 24 of 25
Driver: Clint Bowyer
Race Length: 150 Laps/150 Miles
Track Layout: 1.0-Mile Tri-Oval
First Practice: 5th (27.763 seconds, 129.669 m.p.h.)
Final Practice: 2nd (27.328 seconds, 131.733 m.p.h.)
Started: 3rd 27.078 seconds, 133.949 m.p.h.)
Finished: 1st
Laps Led: 97
Owner Point Standings: 5th (425 points behind first place)
Next on the Truck Series Schedule:
Date: November 19, 2010
Track: Homestead Miami Speedway
Event Name: Ford 200
Driver: Elliott Sadler
Broadcast Time: SPEED 7:30 p.m. ET