Clint Bowyer outraced Kasey Kahne and the rain Saturday to win the Nationwide Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee when it was stopped just past halfway.
Rain delayed the start of the race by two hours, and when the field finally went green, all the drivers knew they were running against the weather. With dark clouds rolling in, the goal was simply to make it to the halfway point — when NASCAR considers a race official — and be out front whenever the rain resumed.
So Bowyer was one of a handful of cars not to pit when Mike Bliss spun to bring out the caution 100 laps into the event. Knowing the race needed to go only another 51 laps to be considered official, Bowyer gambled that the cars that did pit wouldn’t be able to catch him before the rain came.
Kahne came close, weaving his way through traffic and moving right behind Bowyer as the skies darkened. He looked briefly inside for a pass for the lead, but didn’t force the issue and was stuck in second when the race was stopped on Lap 171 of 300.
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Edited by Wally Tokarz from Tribune news services.
