Clint Bowyer’s future has been up in the air lately due to his contract ending at the conclusion of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. After commentating many NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season, plus an occasional iRacing event during the 2020 NASCAR hiatus, Bowyer will be making the full-time jump next season.
Clint Bowyer announced Thursday night that he will be joining the FOX booth starting in 2021.
Bowyer has ten wins through 16 years of being a NASCAR Cup Series driver. He has spent the last four seasons with Stewart-Haas Racing.
What this move means for Clint Bowyer
Bowyer is one of the best personalities in NASCAR. His driving style might ruffle other driver’s feathers, but Bowyer is well-liked by not only his peers but to many fans who tune in on Sunday’s.
He has shown an extreme handling of commentating races and analysis for many of the NASCAR Xfinity Series races he has done in 2020. This year, he made the playoffs and is currently sitting below the cutline going into the final race of the Round of 12.
It’s not a shock to see Bowyer make this transition, however, is one that many fans love to see. He is undoubtedly a quality driver, but this move is the start of what might be a long-term pairing with FOX.
What does this mean for Chase Briscoe?
Before the 2020 season started, Briscoe made it known that he needed eight wins this year to feel like he is Cup ready. Briscoe reached that goal and is currently sitting at eight race wins this season.
There have been many different rumors considering silly season, many of which are explained in this article. No other driver has been publicly linked to Stewart-Haas Racing outside of Briscoe. Other teams are starting to announce their 2021 plans as the field of free-agents drivers start to narrow.
Many reporters have said this move paves the way for Briscoe to take over the No. 14 car for Stewart-Haas Racing in 2021. While there are other options such as Erik Jones, the 25-year old Indiana native looks to be the favorite.
The bottom line
Clint Bowyer has been a decent driver throughout his NASCAR career. He won the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship and has been a reliable driver.
Any driver that can run 16 seasons in any sport is impressive. Bowyer had a rough stretch this season but pulled enough together to make the playoffs. None of this takes away from the rest of his career.
It would be a very unexpected move to see anyone but Chase Briscoe take over the now vacant No. 14 car. However, the focus should be on Bowyer and celebrating what looks to be his final full-time NASCAR Cup Series season.