Clint Bowyer

 Bowyer began racing in motocross when he was just five years old. Over the next eight years, he racked up over 200 victories and many championships. In the year 1996, he began racing street stocks at Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kansas and was the winner of the Modified championship there in 2000. Bowyer had 18 wins and finished 32th in the Modified race at Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kansas. He also took home the 2001 Modified championships at Lakeside Speedway (Kansas City) and Heartland Park Topeka. He began racing in 2002 with the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series. Bowyer scored 9 poles, 12 wins, as well as 32 top-five finishes, which earned him a second-place finish in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series National Point Standings. After another Modified championship at Lakeside Speedway, and a Late Model championship in Odessa at I-70 Speedway, Bowyer was named the 2002 NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Midwest Champion. He also racked up one top ten result in eleven races. Bowyer also made his first ARCA races in 2003 and was noticed by famous car owner Richard Childress after leading 47 laps and finishing second in his first race at Nashville Superspeedway driving for Scott Traylor out of Kansas City.After finishing second, Childress called Bowyer by phone and offered him a position. Bowyer believed that Childress was making fun of the guy and decided to give up. Childress called back within a short time, and, in a cheerful tone, he offered to do the job.