Bowyer Scores First Daytona Win

July 3, 2009 10:54 p.m. EST

Daytona Beach, FL (AHN) - Clint Bowyer had made the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase the last two years and is the defending NASCAR Nationwide Series champion.

What he hadn't done until Friday night was win at Daytona.

It took his 24th Daytona start and some fancy driving in a final one-lap sprint, but the 30-year old won the Subway Jalapeno 250 powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway.

"Finally. I can't begin tell you what this place means to me,'' said Bowyer. "I just want to thank everybody. What an incredible race. People got their money's worth tonight. The wolves were coming.''

Bowyer stayed out front during a green-white-checker finish and was leading when a final caution flew with one lap to go to score the win.

As drivers worked for position entering the tri-oval, a multi-car accident erupted behind the leaders, giving Bowyer his seventh career Nationwide win.

Kyle Busch settled for second here for the third consecutive Nationwide race in a row.

"It was all going to depend on what happened with the 29 going down the backstretch,'' said Busch. "Whatever lane got the best push was going to be the lane to overcome.''

Joey Logano finished third and was followed by Carl Edwards and Brad Keselwoski.