Bowyer, Truex are new guys to ‘Chase’

Neither is listed among the favorites in the 12-man,
10-race competition.

LOUDON, N.H. (AP) — Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr. have been under the radar all season, never mistaken for one of NASCAR’s superstars.

But as first-time participants in the Chase for the Nextel Cup championship, both have an opportunity to improve their status.

Bowyer won the pole for Sunday’s Chase-opening race at New Hampshire International Speedway, while Truex qualified second.

“It’s my time to show what we’ve got,” Bowyer said Friday. “If I can step up my game and run for a championship, I think it moves you into the spotlight, into that elite group of drivers.”

Their odds

Bowyer and Truex are the new guys in the 12-man Chase field, and neither is listed among the favorites. They are hardly mentioned as long shots, and Las Vegas oddsmakers put Truex’s title chances at 25-to-1, while Bowyer goes off at 30-to-1.

With just one win between them, the two are largely unknown and often overshadowed by their successful teammates.

Despite two Busch Series titles, Truex is the quiet companion to Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s most popular driver. He was better on the track this season, and his first career victory — at Dover in June — pushed him into Chase contention.

He never faltered, but got little attention for racking up 10 top-10 finishes. Instead, the focus was on Earnhardt’s impending departure from DEI, his rash of broken motors and his unsuccessful bid to make the Chase.

Earnhardt said his buddy has emerged as the future of DEI, but his accomplishment has been unfairly overlooked.

Truex history

Truex is the son of a racer, and had two choices growing up in New Jersey. He could join the family seafood company business or pursue a career in racing.

After trying both, he knew exactly which way he wanted to go.

“He found out racing was a lot more fun,” Martin Truex Sr. said.

So Truex started in modifieds on the short tracks near his home, moved into the Busch East Series and won five races from 2000 to 2003 to earn a ride with DEI.

His father said he knew what he was getting into when he signed up to be teammates with Earnhardt, but is capable of replacing him when Junior leaves for Hendrick Motorsports at the end of the season.

Where he fits in

Bowyer is still finding his spot at Richard Childress Racing, where he’s surrounded by popular veteran Jeff Burton and cantankerous Kevin Harvick.

His teammates have such strong personalities, Bowyer can often hide between them.

“I am probably the ground wire that keeps them two together,” Bowyer said. “You’ve got the politician, the senator, and then you’ve got the wild one that you never know what’s going to happen. I think I am kind of the middle man.”

He’s been a perfect fit at RCR, where he graduated to after dominating regional series.