Bowyer wins bet for the naming rights of No. 29

The Bet came to pass during a preseason photo shoot. A three-man wager among the Richard Childress Racing drivers of the No. 29 Chevrolet -- Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton and Stephen Leicht: Whichever driver had the most victories or the best average finish between Daytona on Feb. 14 and Daytona on July 3 would have his name above the driver's-side window for the remainder of the season, beginning this weekend at Chicago.

Seventeen races later, defending Nationwide Series champion Clint Bowyer blows into the Windy City as the winner, 1-0-0. Bowyer's victory last week at Daytona was the difference-maker.

"This bet was a ton of fun," Bowyer said. "I'm looking forward to seeing Jeff and Stephen driving with my name above the door. I have to thank Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express for agreeing to let us go through with it.

"I also think it's great that my name was the last one on the old car and now my signature will be on the new paint scheme all the time. Jeff and Stephen have to pay up the rest of the year and I will surely enjoy rubbing it in even more when I can."

The 'Three Wide for the Name on the Ride' wager was set up by Bowyer in January during the original Holiday Inn Racing photo shoot. Bowyer was upset that he and Stephen Leicht were taking photos with Burton's signature above the door. A few sly remarks later and the bet was on.

Bowyer's victory at Daytona sealed the deal; he has one win and four-top-fives in six starts with an average finish of 9.2.

In seven races this season Burton's best finish has been a sixth-place finish at Fontana; his average finish is 13.1 including five top-10s. Leicht has four starts, including a sixth-place run at Nashville among two top-10s with an average finish of 14.0.

"I'm not going to lie; I really wanted it to be my name on the door," said Burton, who will drive the car at Chicago. "Clint is going to get on me about driving 'his car' now, but he did his job and won the wager fair and square.

"Seeing the entire team celebrate in Victory Lane at Daytona was great. They've worked really hard this year and we're definitely coming on strong midway through the season. In the end, it doesn't matter which one of our names is above the door, as long as we keep running well and contending for wins."

Burton, who kick started the Holiday Inn Racing program with RCR's No. 29 in 2006, will help drive the hotel chain's rebranding efforts in NASCAR. In six Nationwide Series starts at Chicago, Burton has five top-five finishes and has never finished worse than eighth.

"I think it's great that Clint won it by taking the Holiday Inn team to Victory Lane at Daytona," Leicht said. "It's a unique deal to have a new paint scheme with only his name on it. And I'm excited that our team can help Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express with their efforts in recreating their already fantastic brand image.

"But, if I win one of these races, I'm signing over his name when we're celebrating in [Victory Lane]."

Also: No. 29 teammates' wager literally puts names on line