INTERVIEW
P76
2013 ARENACROSS CHAMPION TYLER BOWERS
The 2013 title is Bowers'
third in a row. He wants five.
Cup Playoffs," NHRA Drag Racing Series does with its "Countdown to the Championship," and
NASCAR does with its "Chase
for the Sprint Cup." The top rider
(in this case Bowers) after round
six is awarded six points, second place five points, third place
four points and so on down the
line. All the qualified riders from
fifth place on back are given one
point each.
It's not a bad system for many.
After all, it keeps things interesting for the fans and gives all
the qualified riders from second
place on back a second chance
to win the title. However, it kind
of, well, sucks if you're the points
leader, especially if you have a
big points lead like Bowers had.
But having to pretty much start
all over again more than halfway through the season wasn't
the only obstacle Bowers had
to overcome over the course of
the 10-round series, he also had
to deal with a broken collarbone.
Before round six (the round before the start of the Race to
the Championship), Bowers
snapped his clavicle while prac-
ticing in California while training
with teammate Zach Ames. For
most, that would have been a
season ender, but not for Bowers. Instead, he immediately had
surgery, had the busted bone
plated and went racing again,
without missing a beat and without telling anyone. Had any of his
competitors known of his injury,
they might have attacked a little
bit harder, which would possibly
make the difference between
winning and losing the title.
The first five rounds might have
gone silky smooth for the Mon-
