Clint Bowyer seething after Texas qualifying controversy

Clint Bowyer was not a happy camper after qualifying 25th for Sunday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway.

The driver of the No. 14 Rush Travel Centers Ford Mustang was attempting to make his second run of the 10-minute first qualifying session but had his progress impaired by Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Newman.

Newman was not penalized despite protests to NASCAR officials by Bowyer and crew chief Mike Bugarewicz.

NASCAR made changes to their qualifying procedure on Tuesday in the wake of a contentious qualifying session at Auto Club Speedway two weeks ago where no driver recorded a time. The alterations indicate that drivers can be penalized if drivers block the middle lane or do not make a qualifying lap.

This was put in place to deter games as drivers try to avoid being the first car in a group.

The Stewart Haas Racing driver was furious with the no penalty call by NASCAR.

"Who the hell knows," he grumbled. "They say whatever they want to say. I mean the lesson was supposed to be learned at California when we made ourselves look like idiots out there. Unfortunately, we're standing here again in the same situation.

“I damn-near had to back up to go. That's not clogging the middle, apparently. We talked about clogging, (it was) our conversation before qualifying. It says really clearly in lawyers terms how you can't clog the middle and I be damned, the first time it clogs the middle they don't call it.”

Bowyer will start 25th in Sunday’s 334-lap event which is only his second start outside of the top ten in six races this year.