Clint Bowyer wins 2nd of year

BROOKLYN, Mich. — After 120 laps and two stages, the race could now be official. Any driver in the lead might conceivably win if rain intervened.

Clint Bowyer had finished second to teammate Kevin Harvick in the second stage, and both came to pit road. Bowyer took only two tires — and felt that decision by crew chief Mike Bugarewicz ultimately won him the race.

“It was a gamble on his part,” Bowyer said. “It was uncharacteristic for him. That’s part of growing and blossoming as a crew chief and being one of the elite.”

After that quick pit stop, Bowyer had outside position on Harvick on the ensuing restart and was able to take the lead. Rain halted the race not long after that, giving Bowyer his second NASCAR Cup Series win of the year.

Harvick finished second, and pole winner Kurt Busch finished third, completing a sweep of the top three for Stewart-Haas Racing. Kyle Busch was fourth, the lone Toyota near the top in a race dominated by Ford. Four more Fords — Paul Menard, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney — rounded out the top eight.

Blaney won the first stage and Harvick took the second. On the pit stop moments later, Bugarewicz made the decision to go with only two tires, figuring other leaders would do the same, since bad weather could arrive shortly and track position was important.

“When we were coming on pit road, I was 100 percent sure two tires was the right call. We got about three- quarters of the way down pit road, I was about 70 percent sure,” Bugarewicz said. “When he slid into the pit box, I was about 50 percent sure. By then, we were leaving. It was too late.

“Clint asked, ‘Are we the only one with two?’ ‘Yeah, we’re the only one with two.”’

Bowyer didn’t have to race much longer in his No. 14 car. He had the lead when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. went into the wall, bringing out a caution. The rain put a stop to the race after 133 of the planned 200 laps at Michigan International Speedway.