Sprint Cup driver Clint Bowyer answered questions in a live chat on dallasnews.com on Thursday, April 3.

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Clint Bowyer: Hello everyone. Just got done with Nationwide Series practice and I'm ready to go. Should be a fun week in Texas. Let's get to your questions. By the way, I saw the trophy page today in the DMN and think the bear is the biggest and when I saw it I really wanted to win it. That's the one they used to give out at Atlanta. Anyway, now to your questions.

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BigTex: What are your thoughts on Texas Motor Speedway? Is this a popular stop on the Sprint Cup circuit?

Clint Bowyer

Clint Bowyer: Absolutely. Texas is such a fun state to visit on its own. Everything is bigger and better in Texas. The track is state of the art. The trophies are very neat and it pays good. That's everything you could ask for as a racecar driver. We went down to the Stockyards last night and did some shopping and stopped at a few bars. It's a neat place. I bought a pair of boots. They are custom boots. I'm from Kansas, I wear boots. We ate at Cattleman's and it was great. It's fun to go to old areas like that with rich tradition and learn about it. It's a neat area.

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Caution Flag: How much confidence did you gain with your third-place finish in the Chase last season? Do you feel like you're ready to win it this year?

Clint Bowyer: It went a long ways to solidifying me as a part of the Cup series. I think it was a huge confidence and momentum booster for us in the No. 07 Chevrolet and something we can build for the future.

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From e-mail: Is Texas Motor Speedway the type of track where you let it all hang out and just go as fast as you can, or is it the kind of place where you stick to your position, wait for your chance and protect your equipment?

Scott

Clint Bowyer: Patience goes a long way on the big racetracks like Texas. You still have to free your car up, keep it underneath you and drive your tail off to get up front. It's very fast and it's tough to get up there, but that's what you have to do. You want your car to do well on long runs. That's no different than any other big track. What does the car do after 10 or 15 laps compared to the competition?

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RCR Rules: Do your competitive juices flow against teammates Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick as much as they do against a non-RCR driver?

Clint Bowyer: You want to beat your teammates. They are the ones in the same equipment you are. You can't help not to have that feeling. As long as it's healthy, pushing each other to be better, that's good. There are 40 other drivers you have to beat out there. You have to work together to be better as a organization as well. It's fun to race against them. You know when you're racing your teammate what you can expect. With someone who isn't your teammate, you don't know quite what to expect. I've learned a bunch from my teammates. I've been fortunate as a new driver to have two veteran drivers to lean on when I have questions.

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From e-mail: Hey Clint, how hard was it to switch from motocross to racing cars?

Ryan

Clint Bowyer: It was really hard. It took a long time and a lot of laps. Adding a rollcage and two extra tires was a big difference. I still follow it. Saturday, the Supercross is in town and there are a lot of guys that used to race that will be over there watching. I'm going over there. I have a lot of old friends in the industry. I think Supercross is a very underrated sport. It's very, very competitive and unbelievable what those guys can do with their motorcycles. They put on a good show. It's awesome.

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From e-mail: How much will testing at TMS for Goodyear in January help you this weekend?

Bart

Clint Bowyer: I think they brought a different tire on us than we tested on, that's what I understand anyway. Not much, sounds like. With the new car, travels and shocks and springs and stuff, it helps, but that's all stuff within 30 minutes of practice we should have a handle on anyway. You want a safe tire. Goodyear is under the gun on that deal. When they do good, they don't get any recognition. But they hear about it when they make a mistake, but that's not very often.

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racin_babe07: All of us in Kansas want to know ... when can we see Clint Bowyer at a local dirt track?

Clint Bowyer: I think in August, we're on a Kansas swing. We'll be in Humbolt and Wichita and Topeka. I think all three in a row on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday in early August. I love the dirt tracks. I'd go back more if I could, but I can't get back there because of time. It's what I cut my teeth on, so obviously it's fun to go back to my home state of Kansas. Last year, I ran a few of them in Iowa and I told them I wanted to run a few more of them in Kansas.

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Blint Cowyer: C-Bow, which teammate do you like more, Jeff Burton or Kevin Harvick?

Clint Bowyer: I'm fortunate to have two different teammates. They are a lot different people. You go to Jeff Burton for different things than you go to Kevin Harvick for. It's helpful to have two teammates that are that different. Jeff Burton is a little older, he's polished on and off the racetrack and you can go to him for different things. Kevin Harvick is younger and speaks my language and you can learn what to do and what not to do from him. I think last year was the first year that I wasn't just the third wheel anymore, I was a contributing factor to what we have going on. They didn't make me feel that way. That's me catching up on experience. I was behind.

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Junior88: Unlike the NBA or NHL, where a team faces its rival six to eight times during the season, you guys go at it every week. Does this create goodwill or more animosity?

Clint Bowyer: Depends. Both. It depends on the situation or what happened the week before. I get along with most of these guys. When you're racing every week, you're bound to get into some altercation on the racetrack. You can't drive these cars at the limit of wrecking and not slip up or do something and that raises tempers. I've been fortunate enough to get it behind me for the next few races. The maddest I've ever been was when Tony Stewart wrecked me at Pocono two years ago. It took a few weeks to get over that one.

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From e-mail: I am from Emporia, Kan., also. I was wondering if you had any plans to give back to the Emporia community like so many other NASCAR drivers have done for their hometowns?

Michelle

Clint Bowyer: We have a charity golf tournament coming up May 6 in Emporia to support the community. I'm a terrible golfer. It's not all about winning this, it's about raising money for a good cause. I've only played about four times. We have fun. I'm safe in a golf cart. But I usually drive.

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qh1002: How has it been adjusting to the Car of Tomorrow?

Clint Bowyer: It's been a learning curve for everybody, not just the drivers. The crew chiefs, people in the pits, the characterics are different and it's forcing everyone to think outside the box. There a lot different with the travels and it's a different animal. We really struggled in California and Vegas, and Atlanta we hit on something there and hopefully we got it ironed out for here.

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Billy Smoot: What are your thoughts on RCR adding a fourth driver?

Clint Bowyer: I'm excited. Obviously, it's more resources, more testing to be able to pull off of. It helps everybody. We're not just starting another team for nothing. Everything it brings in will help the organization. I think it has to be the right driver. Somebody that fits in well with our program. Driver and crew chief chemistry is important. Richard's no dummy. He'll put the right person in the car.

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From e-mail: Take us through what a pit stop is like for you as you enter pit road. What are you looking for?

Eric

Clint Bowyer: First things first is being slowed down and the right RPMs when you get to the speed line. Where is the speed line at and am I on the right RPMs? You have one eye to make sure you're not speeding and the other is where your pit box is and where the guys are in front or behind you. It's very congested and it's very important. It can make or break your day. Exiting is the same exact way. As soon as you see them start to come down off the jack on the left side, you look in your rearview mirror to make sure you're not hitting anyone and then getting out and making sure you aren't speeding. Speeding is the biggest mistake. It's important to go as fast as you possibly can, but if you have to come back in, you're really in trouble. You'll go a lap down and sometimes two laps down. Last week at Martinsville it's tight and the 6 car pulled out and hit me. Things happen. The toughest one to get in and out of is Dover. It's very, very narrow.

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Blint Cowyer: Who is a darkhorse driver without much fanfare right now (aside from you) who could be a factor in the Chase?

Clint Bowyer: I think the cream rises to the top. We've seen the same group of guys that have been in the Chase from the get-go and the same group of guys that were in it last year. Hopefully.

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brady: Is your family going to be here this weekend?

Clint Bowyer: Yes. My brothers will be here and mom and dad. My whole family will be here. Texas is always one that is fairly close, so I have a lot of family and friends that come down here.

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From e-mail: Desides the Daytona 500 and maybe the Sprint Cup championship, what other race on the circuit would you like to win the most?

Daniel

Clint Bowyer: I think it goes Daytona 500, Indy, and Kansas Speedway for me. Daytona 500 is the biggest race of the year. Obviously, the Brickyard being so rich with heritage and Kansas because it's my home track.

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Clint Bowyer: I'm sorry, but I've got to run off to an appearance before qualifying tonight. Thanks for talking with me today. I'm excited about the race this weekend. Thanks.