Defending champ Bowyer enjoys his stealth status

Clint Bowyer likes RIR because a driver has "to keep fighting and digging" throughout the race. It might come as a surprise that the defending champion of the Crown Royal race at Richmond International Racewayis not Dale Earnhardt Jr.

It might be news to others that neither Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards nor Tony Stewart won at RIR a year ago.

The winner was Clint Bowyer.

Sometimes it seems as if the only person who remembers that is Bowyer.

And not many recall that in the Chase, where 12 teams spend the final 10 races driving for the Sprint Cup points title, only two drivers have finished among the top five the past two years.

One is Jimmie Johnson. The other is neither Earnhardt nor Edwards nor Stewart.

It is Bowyer.

Few drivers spend as much time under the radar as Bowyer.

Bowyer is so far under the radar that he doesn't even like to talk about being under the radar.

"I don't know," he said. "I like it. I'm gone from home enough. I guess if I were too famous, if I was like Dale Jr., I would have to make too many appearances everywhere.

"I kind of like making appearances at the home front."

Where Bowyer really likes to appear is at the front of the race, especially when the cars cross the start/finish line for the last time.

It is no accident that he has run so well in the Chase races.

"It's something I'm proud of," he said. "There are so many things that can happen.

"There are a lot of teams that had an unbelievable season and then didn't end up very good in the Chase. I would like to have a little bit better season than we had last year and, just like always, go for the championship."

Tonight, Bowyer will be out to defend the title he won at RIR last year. He has an affection for racing here for reasons other than his victory. The configuration of the ¾-quarter mile track and the intimacy of the setting appeal to him as well.

"I like this little place," he said. "This is one of those tracks where the corner is different. The entry is so much different with the dog-leg on the front straightaway. There's compensation that has to be made. There is no perfect setup. You've got to keep fighting and digging and stay up on the wheel the whole race. That's what makes this place neat.

"I would like to see more Richmonds throughout the country. I think it's the perfect size racetrack. As a fan in the stands, you get that sensation of speed. I think we still race tight, race close. It races really, really well."

Bowyer races really, really well. And he races often.

He also drives in the Nationwide Series. Last year, he won the points championship at that level. He was the model of consistency. In 35 Nationwide starts, he had 29 top-10 finishes. Included in that was one victory and 14 top-five endings.

Tonight, he hopes for another happy ending in the Russ Friedman 400.