Clint Bowyer and the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) team headed out west to Phoenix International Raceway for the second-to-last NASCAR Nationwide Series event of the season. Bowyer qualified the Rheem Chevrolet Impala in the fourth position for the 200-lap contest and drove to a seventh-place finish.
Bowyer powered the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet to the third position as the green flag waved, but before the field could complete a full circuit, several cars tangled in turn three to bring out the first caution flag of the day. The driver remained on track, restarting in the third position on lap 10.
Back under green, Bowyer advanced to second, but relayed to his team that the No. 33 was tight in the center and exit of the turns. On lap 36, a vehicle hit the wall in turn one to bring out the yellow flag for the second time, providing the KHI team an opportunity to make adjustments. The driver brought the Rheem Chevrolet down pit road for four tires, fuel, and air-pressure and chassis adjustments to help with the handling. Bowyer returned to the track in the third position as the two cars in front of him opted for two tires.
The race resumed full speed on lap 44, and Bowyer immediately moved into second. As he settled into the run, the driver relayed to his team that his car was too tight as he raced his way around the one-mile oval. By lap 62, the No. 33 slid to third. Bowyer fought to hold on to his position but fell to fourth just as a car hit the wall in turn one on lap 83. NASCAR issued a caution, and the KHI team brought the Rheem Chevrolet in for service. On the stop, the crew bolted on four tires, added fuel and made an air-pressure adjustment as well as added a rubber in the right-rear spring. Quick work on pit road sent Bowyer back on track in the second position for the race to return to green on lap 91.
On the restart, Bowyer drove the No. 33 hard into turn one but lost grip trying to hold position in the top groove, and was shuffled back to 17th. Despite the setback, the driver patiently worked his way forward, and by lap 120, raced his way into the ninth position.
The No. 33 Chevrolet’s momentum was slowed on lap 129 after a two-car accident spilled out of turn four and onto the frontstretch to bring out the fourth caution flag of the day. Bowyer maneuvered the Rheem machine to pit road for four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment, and he returned to track in the seventh position for the lap 139 restart.
Before the field could settle into a long run, an accident in turn four on lap 144 resulted in the day’s fifth caution. Bowyer remained on track and restarted in seventh on lap 150. The No. 33 climbed up to the sixth position, but all momentum to the front was halted when two cars made contact in turn four on lap 161 to bring out the yellow flag.
The race resumed green-flag conditions with 35 laps remaining to the end. Bowyer charged ahead, taking over the fifth spot just as a multi-car accident erupted in turn four with 25 laps to go. Clean up from the accident, which involved KHI teammate Elliott Sadler in the No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet, caused officials to bring out the red flag, stopping the field on the track. After the red-flag period, NASCAR returned the race to yellow and then back to green-flag conditions with 19 laps to the scheduled distance of the race and the No. 33 in the fifth position.
Bowyer worked to maintain fifth in the final laps of the race but fought a loose-handling Chevrolet and fell back to as far as the 10th position. The driver was able to regain some ground to cross the finish line seventh.
The No. 33 Rheem team will head to South Florida for the Nationwide Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Live broadcast will begin at 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and MRN at 4:00 p.m. ET.