NASCAR West series champion Jason Bowles to compete in Nationwide race at Phoenix
By Lee Montgomery - Associate Editor
Thursday, November 12, 2009
NASCAR Camping World West Series champion Jason Bowles is scheduled to be honored at the Night of Champions Touring Awards Gala in Concord, N.C., this Saturday, but he won’t be there.
Instead, Bowles will be in Avondale, Ariz., driving Specialty Racing’s NASCAR Nationwide Series No. 61 Ford in Saturday’s Able Body Labor 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.
“That’s a bit of a disappointment,” Bowles said of missing the banquet, but adding, “I’d much rather go racing than go to the banquet. NASCAR, luckily, and all the guys from the West Series are behind me with my decision. That made it a little bit easier.”
Bowles has been participating in the activities leading up to Saturday’s banquet, but he’ll head to Phoenix for Friday’s practice. Bowles is from Ontario, Calif., but he recently moved to North Carolina to be closer to the hub of NASCAR.
Bowles landed the ride with Specialty after an introduction to team co-owner Doug Taylor from Robbie Benton, the owner of RAB Racing. Bowles works for the sunglasses company Oakley, and he knew Benton through his work.
When first talking with Taylor, Saturday’s banquet came up in the conversation. But not for long.
“I told them I had a banquet to go to,” Bowles said, “but I knew what my decision was going to be already.
Bowles won three races en route to the West Series championship this year, driving for Southern California Ford dealer Bob Bruncati. One of those wins came at the 1-mile Phoenix track in April.
Bowles isn’t approved to drive at the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway next weekend, so the ride with Specialty is for Phoenix only – for now.
“We’ll evaluate Jason on the mile, as will NASCAR, I’m sure, and then if he can go on, we’ll certainly talk about Homestead,” Taylor said. “But we’ve got to get through Phoenix.”
Specialty intends to race full time in 2010, and Bowles could be part of those plans.
“We’re certainly looking for the right combination of driver and sponsor,” Taylor said. “So far, Jason seems like a great kid for our team.”
Even if he can’t keep his awards ceremony obligations.
Popular News
-
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS: Which Sprint Cup star will snap his long winless streak first?
Comments (186) -
For Dale Earnhardt Jr., life as an Earnhardt is not easy, especially when you're not winning
Comments (139) -
Jeff Owens: Should RCR’s black No. 3 return to NASCAR’s Cup series?
Comments (119) -
Hendrick Motorsports’ Mark Martin more prepared mentally and physically for 2010
Comments (105) -
Dale Earnhardt Inc. plans for Jeffrey Earnhardt still in flux
Comments (96)
Recent Headlines
-
SEASON PREVIEW: Mike Skinner optimistic about 2010 prospects
Post Comment -
SEASON PREVIEW: Camping World Truck Series Top-20 Rankings
Post Comment -
Josh Wise to drive in Nationwide Series for Specialty Racing
Post Comment -
HBO’s ‘24/7 Jimmie Johnson’ documentary series expected to shift into high gear tonight
Comments (1) -
SEASON PREVIEW: Roush Fenway Racing’s Carl Edwards hungry to regain place among Sprint Cup’s elite
Comments (1)
Poll PositionView All
After qualifying and the Budweiser Shootout, who is the favorite to win the Daytona 500?
Promotions
-
Tweet your thoughts about each race and join the conversation with other fans.
-
Drive an authentic NASCAR Sprint Cup car at the NASCAR Racing Experience.
Comments
6 responses to "NASCAR West series champion Jason Bowles to compete in Nationwide race at Phoenix ". Post a Comment.
Phoenix987 said:
Nov 12, 2009 at 4:20 PMThere's a difference in competing and starting and parking....
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Reportalisoeddie said:
Nov 12, 2009 at 6:56 PMPost#1,this team runs full races and doesn't start and park.Matt Carter and Brandon Whitt have split time in the #61 and there isn't a start and park between them.
Report as AbuseYou might want to check your facts before you post things that make you sound ignorant.
Report Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportNickDizzle7 said:
Nov 12, 2009 at 7:07 PMActually #2, you might need to check your facts. Matt Carter left the team a few weeks ago and the team said that in order to save some money for 2010, they were going to start and park for the remainder of the season, they've been starting and parking with Kenny Hendrick recently. And now Bowles will start and park a junk car in Arizona rather than accept his hard earned championship. Bad move in my opinion.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Reportalisoeddie said:
Nov 12, 2009 at 7:40 PMCarter and Whitt each had 15 starts in the #61 and never parked once.Bowles is not blowing off the awards ceremony to s&p,he's either bring a sponsor or money and will be going into the race with the intention of running the entire race.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Reportlugnuts1988-1999 said:
Nov 12, 2009 at 7:56 PMhe will race with support from RAB Racing.The car was setup in there race shop.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Report88_20_42_Fan said:
Nov 13, 2009 at 11:49 AMFunny how a champion like him can't get in top in equiptment, but idiots like John Wes Townley get good rides because of daddy's checkbook.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Report