This was not what Clint Bowyer needed to make the playoffs.
Bowyer entered Sunday's Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway as the first driver to miss the cut behind Jamie McMurray, and he failed to finish after heading to the garage early due to mechanical failure.
#NASCAR ... Clint Bowyer out of the race. Will have to win Richmond to make playoffs. He will finish 40th (last) tonight.@NASCARonNBC
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) September 3, 2017
Related: Denny Hamlin pulls off incredible cross over move to win at Darlington in overtime
Clint Bowyer's woes have given @JamieMcMurray a bigger cushion so far over the playoff cutoff. #NASCARonNBCSN #Southern500 pic.twitter.com/wYcCGTVIVM
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 3, 2017
Bowyer will likely have to win at Richmond next Sunday to qualify for the playoffs.
Well that certainly wasn't how I wanted to honor my hero @markmartin. ? happens i guess!
— Clint Bowyer (@ClintBowyer) September 3, 2017
He told NBC Sports after the race that he isn't giving up on the season despite being a long shot to make the postseason.
"To be out like this this early, pretty much sucks," Bowyer said.
"Were certainly not out of this deal," Bowyer said. "We have one more race to go. We'll go to Richmond and see if we can't win that thing."
(h/t NBC Sports)