Why NASCAR needs Clint Bowyer to be successful

Clint Bowyer took home the checkered flag at Sunday’s rain-shortened race at Michigan. Here is why his success is crucial for NASCAR.

One area in which the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series has been lacking as of late is in personality. When one thinks of the image a NASCAR driver should have, descriptions should include sayings like “good old boy” and “not afraid to speak his or her mind.” Clint Bowyer is one of the few drivers currently battling in NASCAR’s top series who fits this mold.

When you watch highlights of races from the 1970s and the 1980s, you’ll see drivers drinking beer and smoking cigarettes following the race. Sometimes you may even see a scuffle or two. The current desired image of a driver has seemed to fall more in the direction of wealth and power.

Instead of chugging beer after a race, you’ll see a driver with his or her sponsor’s drink in hand. The Coca-Cola drivers all have the can turned just right, and they know that when the red light comes on the camera signaling that they are live, their hands need to go up for a sip.

In my opinion, Bowyer doesn’t quite fit that type of personality. He seems like more of a driver to tell you how it is as opposed to sugar-coating a response to a tough question. If you ask him a question, be prepared for an honest answer. I feel that this is becoming less and less common in NASCAR, as drivers seem to do everything to remain polished.

Why Clint Bowyer needs to be successful

The true fans of NASCAR need to have drivers who they can relate to. They need more down-to-earth drivers like Clint Bowyer. Too many drivers today just don’t have the personality that fans can get behind.

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NASCAR needs more drivers like Bowyer, especially considering Dale Earnhardt Jr. is no longer racing in the Cup Series. I do want to clarify that I’m not saying that I want to see every driver chugging beer or smoking. I just want them to act a little bit less rich and famous and more relatable to us normal folk.

I would like to do a test to see if any drivers could look under the hoods of their cars and know what every part is. The great Dale Earnhardt Sr. was constantly shown looking under the hood of his car, and he seemed as though he knew everything he needed to know about the car. At local dirt tracks, most drivers are their own pit crew.

I don’t know about Bowyer’s car knowledge. However, I do know that he likes to celebrate hard after wins. which is good enough for me.

From his chasing toward the garage to get a piece of Jeff Gordon to being extremely grateful for having a week off after snapping his long winless streak at Martinsville earlier this season because the party was going to last a while, Bowyer has time and time again proven he is someone who NASCAR needs to keep the bloodline of the sport intact.

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For the second time in 2018, Clint Bowyer is the winner heading into the off week. Do you think he should be the new face of NASCAR now that Dale Earnhardt Jr. has retired? Are there any other drivers in NASCAR you feel best resemble what the sport is all about?