news-record.com

LOUDON, N.H. — Clint Bowyer ran away from the field and then walked to victory lane.

His first career NASCAR Nextel Cup victory had none of the drama -- or laughs -- that his first street stock win did years ago, but Sunday's race will be just as memorable.

Bowyer celebrated with a smoky burnout along the frontstretch, climbed partially out of his car to salute the fans, pounded his roof in excitement, climbed back in the car and then ... nothing. His car, which led 222 of the 300 laps, wouldn't restart.

"I think I blew it up," he said.

It was the only time Bowyer could be caught at New Hampshire International Speedway, and it was too late.

Bowyer's victory rocketed him eight spots to fourth in the points standings one race into the Chase for the Nextel Cup. Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon are tied for the points lead heading to Dover after Johnson finished sixth and Gordon second. Kyle Busch finished fourth, Martin Truex Jr. fifth. The top seven finishers were all title contenders.

Bowyer, though, was the least likely among the group.

The soft-spoken Kansas native was the only driver among the 12 Chase drivers without a Cup victory this year or ever. To some, Bowyer was best known for sliding upside down on his roof across the finish line in this year's Daytona 500.

That was missing his ability, teammate Jeff Burton said Friday.

"Clint Bowyer is the future of our sport," Burton said, noting Bowyer's talent even though Bowyer competed mainly on dirt tracks until 2003.

His dirt track background hasn't slowed him. Bowyer finished runner-up for the 2005 Busch title and was sixth in his Daytona 500 debut last year. Tony Stewart, who finished third Sunday, said he has noticed Bowyer's improvement from last season.

Yet, while Casey Mears, Martin Truex Jr., and Juan Pablo Montoya each collected their first career Cup victories this season, Bowyer struggled to match them.

He started on the pole Sunday, but his dominance didn't soothe him. Bowyer's voice and anxiety rose in the final 35 laps.

"I'm way too tight!" Bowyer yelled on his radio despite a healthy lead. "If the caution comes out, we're (in trouble.)"

A few laps later, Bowyer said in an angst-ridden voice: "I'm really, really tight."

His lead didn't shrink.

With 11 laps left, Bowyer radioed his crew: "How many more laps? I'm getting some sort of vibration up off the corner."

There would be no problems.

Gordon and Stewart were surprised to learn afterward that Bowyer, who led more laps Sunday than he had in his 63 previous Cup races combined, complained about his car.

"I guarantee you that had we run 7,000 laps, unless he had blown up, we still weren't going to beat him," Gordon said. "I'm happy with second."

Bowyer, 28, was giddy with first. This ranked among his best victories, including that street stock win 12 years ago, which he called "awesome."

Bowyer raced a 1978 Camaro at Junction City, Kans., that day. A competitor caused Bowyer to crash while leading. Track officials allowed Bowyer to return to that spot after making repairs, and Bowyer held on to win.

The driver who crashed Bowyer was upset with the ruling and went after the flagman, who hid in a concession stand, after the race.

"I'll never forget pulling up on to the scales (that weighed cars)," Bowyer said, and seeing the competitor, "a big old burly guy, and here I was looking for a place to hide.

"I didn't take my helmet off."

Bowyer laughed as he told the story.

While he tried to hide that night, it will be hard for Bowyer to hide after Sunday's race. He's 15 points from the series lead. Although nine races remain, Bowyer, at least for now, will be looked upon as a serious challenger for the season title.

"We've got a legitimate shot at this," he said. "Not saying that we didn't, but it just really opens your eyes, it opened a lot of people's eyes."

Yes, when was the last time a driver walked to victory lane?

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dlong@news-record.com