NASCAR: Clint Bowyer opens up on difficult decision

Clint Bowyer is set to step away from a NASCAR Cup Series car and join the Fox broadcast booth beginning in the 2021 season.

Back in early October, it was announced that Clint Bowyer will not be back for what would have been a fifth year behind the wheel of the #14 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, and it was later confirmed that Stewart-Haas Racing Xfinity Series driver Chase Briscoe would be his replacement.

Bowyer is set to retire from Cup Series competition following this Sunday’s season finale at Phoenix Raceway, and beginning next year, he is set to be in the Fox broadcast booth on Sundays for Cup Series races.

We recently had the opportunity to speak with the 41-year-old Emporia, Kansas native about all of that and more.

We spoke with Bowyer about his partnership with longtime sponsor Mobil 1, the sweepstakes that they are running at the end of the 2020 season, and about various aspects of him stepping away from the car for next year.

Here is what he had to say.

Asher Fair, Beyond the Flag (BTF): Tell me about your partnership with Mobil 1.

Clint Bowyer: Mobil 1 is a great partner we’ve worked with for a long time, on the track but also off it with those great commercials people always bring up. I’ve worked with a lot of partners and can safely say the performance advantage, and technology Mobil 1 provides to the Stewart-Haas Racing team is second to none. Stewart-Haas is all about performance, so there’s a reason that they partner with Mobil 1.

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BTF: I spoke to Kevin Harvick last week, who mentioned some cool sweepstakes they have going on.

Bowyer: That’s right, Mobil 1 is giving fans the chance to win exclusive prizes they won’t be able to get anywhere else, during the Playoffs. Folks can win different prizes like signed exclusive Stewart-Haas Racing gear, one-of-a-kind stickers and a once in a lifetime opportunity to receive a video call from Tony Stewart or Cole Custer. If you want to talk it up with Smoke and Cole, head to http://officialmotoroilofnascar.com/ to enter and find out more details.

BTF: Aside from joining the Fox booth, what are you most looking forward to next year about no longer being in the car?

Bowyer: Making the shift from the car to the booth means more time with my family than when I was on the road. It’s been lonely doing this on my own this season, racing without Lorra, the kids, and all our friends and family coming to races. It’s not fun to do all this without people who make your life what it is. I’ve been doing this for 16 years in the Cup Series and you start to wonder, ‘What am I going to do after this?’ I’m lucky to have this opportunity with Jeff Gordon, Mike Joy and everyone at FOX, it means more time with family while still getting to be a big part of this sport that I love.

BTF: You mentioned in June that moving to the booth was something you were considering. How long before you announced it in October had you known that you wouldn’t be back in the #14 car next year?

Bowyer: When this pandemic started, NASCAR went on hiatus and iRacing came along. Fox asked me to help the broadcast and it went really well. Never in a million years would joining the booth had been on my radar, but after that experience this year and with FOX offering me the opportunity, I knew this was the best move long term. I have had a hell of a ride and this was a good time to do it.

BTF: What was the most difficult aspect of this decision?

Bowyer: For me, the fans and the event of a race weekend is something that you just can’t do without. I didn’t want to just retire to retire. It was difficult to hit send on the announcement, but once I hit send, I instantly felt a huge relief. This FOX spot was the opportunity of a lifetime, an opportunity to stay with this sport for many years to come.

BTF: With so many schedule changes for next year, which races are you most looking forward to calling in 2021?

Bowyer: Nothing in particular but it is going to be great to go the new tracks. That’s going to excite the drivers, crews and the fans.

BTF: Any chance you’ll compete in more races outside of NASCAR?

Bowyer: I’m committed to my new role with FOX, but I’ll say that if this opportunity didn’t come to the table, then I was going to be in a car somewhere somehow. I wasn’t just going to quit racing and ride off into the sunset.

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Bowyer is set to make his 541st and final Cup Series start at Phoenix Raceway this Sunday, November 8. This race is set to be broadcast live on NBC beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET.

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