ChiefsPlanet - Nascar News: Clint Bowyer to the #07 in 2006!

Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and the Jack Daniel Distillery announced today that Jack Daniel's has extended its primary sponsorship of RCR's #07 Chevy through 2009. At the same time, both organizations announced that Clint Bowyer, a native of Emporia, Kansas, will drive the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy for the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series campaign. Bowyer, currently second in the NASCAR Busch Series championship chase, will be accompanied by crew chief Gil Martin as the proven duo pursue the 2006 NEXTEL Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award. Bowyer will also race for the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series title returning to the seat of RCR's #2 ACDelco Chevy.
"RCR is very pleased to take our partnership with Jack Daniel's to the next level," commented Richard Childress, President and CEO of RCR. "Clint Bowyer has done an exceptional job driving the #2 ACDelco Chevy in the Busch Series and has certainly proven himself worthy of this opportunity. I have no doubt he's ready to take the next step and move to the NEXTEL Cup Series. Clint and Gil (Martin) have great chemistry and have demonstrated they are a winning combination. We have very high expectations for this program and are confident that both Clint and Gil will be excellent representatives for Jack Daniel's both on and off the track."

"I would also like to thank Dave Blaney for everything he's done, not only for RCR but for all he's done for Jack Daniel's as well," added Childress. "Dave is a first class driver and I'm proud to say he drove for RCR. We were lucky to have him and wish him nothing but the best."
Bowyer, 26, made his NEXTEL Cup Series debut earlier this season at Phoenix International Raceway, posting a 22nd-place finish driving the #33 Sylvania Chevy. A veteran of 48 NASCAR Busch Series starts, Bowyer scored his first career Busch Series win earlier this season at Nashville Superspeedway. The Emporia, Kan., driver also owns 14 top-five and 25 top-10 finishes in a scorecard that reads like that of a NASCAR journeyman.

"It's a dream come true for me," explained Bowyer. "This is exactly what I've worked my whole life for - trying to get a shot. Fortunately, I'm getting a shot with one of the best car owners in the business and one of the newest and coolest sponsors in the series. I'm really excited to be a part of it. At the same time I'm excited about what Gil and I have built on the Busch side with the ACDelco team. Hopefully we can continue that success and take it to the next level in the NEXTEL Cup Series."

"We can't thank Richard Childress and his team enough for everything they've done to make our entry into NASCAR racing so special," said John Hayes, Vice President Americas Brand Director for Jack Daniel's. "We couldn't have chosen a better partner than RCR, and we are excited to extend this relationship and continue to build excitement around the Jack Daniel's racing team, the 07 Chevy and our 'Pace Yourself. Drink Responsibly.' message. Richard Childress is a winner. Clint Bowyer is a winner. And we're confident it won't be long until the Jack Daniel's Chevy pulls into Victory Lane." Bowyer will make his debut in the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy at the Daytona 500 Sunday, February 19, 2006 at Daytona International Speedway.(RCR PR)(10-15-2005)