At 2012 NASCAR Daytona Test, Clint Bowyer Says Excuses Are For Losers

When it comes to NASCAR, everything is new for Clint Bowyer in 2012.

Bowyer has a new team (Michael Waltrip Racing), a new manufacturer (Toyota), a new car number (15) and a new crew chief (Brian Pattie) – among other changes.

So the former Richard Childress Racing driver knows it's possible there could be an adjustment period at the start of the Sprint Cup Series season while he gets up to speed with MWR.

But while he's prepared for the chance a slow start could happen, he refuses to believe it's a given.

"I think you account for (a transition period), but you never expect it," Bowyer said Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway. "The minute you expect it, you've let your guard down and you've built in an excuse. I hate excuses. If you have excuses, you're just weak."

To hear Bowyer tell it, the 32-year-old wants to skip the driver/crew chief pleasantries that come with a new relationship and move straight into the honest communication.

"The romance has got to be over," he said. "It's gotta be into the marriage. The first date has got to get behind you pretty quick and you've got to get down to (figuring out) if you can live with each other or not."

Bowyer is optimistic on the other side of the honeymoon phase is a relationship that will be both healthy and long-term.

"I love Pattie, he's so much fun," Bowyer said. "He's just like me – very outgoing, very outspoken. So far, so good. If we can get the performance side of it down, I'm telling you, we're going to have a lot of fun with this team."

Bowyer said much of his new pit crew was hired from Red Bull Racing after that organization folded – the Red Bull guys just won the Phoenix race in November – and said MWR was able to cherry-pick the best available talent from race teams that didn't survive the winter.

He's also heartened by a reunion with former RCR competition director Scott Miller ("He's my common ground," Bowyer said) and MWR's hiring of Mark Martin to driver for the team part-time.

Bowyer laughed when he recalled the night MWR co-owner Rob Kauffman called him with a question.

"Rob asked me, 'What do you think about adding Mark Martin to the team?'" Bowyer said, chuckling. "I'm like, 'Are you kidding me? That'd be awesome!'"