Welcome to the fourth installment of The Top 20 Drivers of 2009. Today I will be focusing on drivers eleven through nine, which represents two of NASCAR’s future superstars and one former champion. Let’s get right to the good stuff, shall we?
#11 Clint Bowyer
Clint Bowyer was born May 30, 1979 in Emporia, Kansas. Bowyer began racing motocross at the age of five. He then moved to street stock in 1996. Bowyer went on to race in modifieds, late model stock cars, and then the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division Midwest Series. He eventually caught the eye of long-time Cup owner Richard Childress, and the rest is history.
In 2008, Bowyer had a much improved year over 2007. He had 36 starts, 0 poles, 1 win, 7 Top 5s, 17 Top 10s, an average start of 21.0, an average finish of 14.0, and ended up 5th in points with 6,381 for the 2008 tour.
I believe by Bowyer switching to a different team and crew chief in 2009, he will not have a good start to the season. It may not be until the middle of the season before the new team clicks, and begins getting solid finishes. This is the reason I have him in the eleventh finishing position.
Bowyer will still be with Richard Childress Racing, but will move to the #33 General Mills/BB&T Chevrolet Impala in 2009. Casey Mears will take over the #07 Jack Daniels machine during the upcoming season.
#10 Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin was born November 18, 1980 in Chesterfield, Virginia. Hamlin began racing go-karts at the age of seven. He sat on the pole and won his very first stock car race in a mini-stock at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va. I personally watched Hamlin race at Langley Speedway in the late 1990’s.
Hamlin went on to progress into the late model stock car division, where Curtis Markham, a Joe Gibbs Racing employee, noticed Hamlin and told Joe Gibbs about him. Joe Gibbs signed Hamlin to a developmental driver program. After running many races in the Truck and Nationwide Series, Gibbs moved Hamlin to the Sprint Cup Series full-time in 2006.
In the 2008 season, Hamlin had 36 starts, 1 pole, 1 win, 12 Top 5s, 18 Top 10s, an average start and finish of 15.0, and ended the season in 8th place with 6,214 points.
Expect Hamlin to get at least two to three wins in 2009. Hamlin will probably continue to struggle at the intermediate tracks which will hamper his championship hopes during the Chase. Hamlin tends to excel at Pocono, Richmond and the two road courses.
Hamlin will again be driving the #11 Fed Ex Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2009.
#9 Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth was born March 10, 1972 in Cambridge, Wisconsin. Kenseth began racing at several local short tracks, winning track championships at Madison International Speedway, Slinger Super Speedway and Wisconsin International Raceway. He moved up to the Hooters Late Model Division, then ASA, then driving in the Nationwide Series.
Kenseth joined Roush Fenway Racing in 2000, winning the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award. He went on to win the 2003 Sprint Cup Championship and the 2004 IROC Championship.
Kenseth struggled in 2008 after losing long-time crew chief and friend, Robbie Reiser. Reiser was promoted to General Manager at Roush Fenway Racing. Kenseth went on to go winless in 2008 for the first time since 2001.
Kenseth had 36 starts, 0 poles, 0 wins, 9 Top 5s, 20 Top 10s, an average start and finish of 16, and finished 11th in the final standings with 6,184 points during the 2008 circuit.
Look for him to again struggle in 2009, but he will get at least one win for the season.
Kenseth will be back at Roush Fenway Racing in 2009, driving the #17 Dewalt/USG Ford Fusion.
We are getting closer to that number one spot! Tomorrow will be positions eight, seven and six. See you then I hope!
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