Matt Bowers finds a winner in Dave Pletcher

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Matt Bowers finds a winner in Dave Pletcher – June 27, 2008. One year ago, Matt Bowers was on top of the world. As a Ginn Development Driver in the Mark Martin stable, it had all the flavor of a winning lottery ticket. Working with Mike Fritts and team was as good as it gets. Although Matt had a great relationship with Bobby Ginn long before he appeared on the major NASCAR scene, Matt also became one of the first casualties of the Ginn departure from NASCAR. “Mark did everything he could to keep Matt in a competitive car, however, at the end of that day, Matt’s ride succumbed to the highest bidder. Without Bobby Ginn, our team was not in position to fund an operation on that level.”

Leaving an operation such as Mark Martin’s, saying goodbye to an incredible opportunity and great people, was a lifetime reality check for a 15-year-old.

One of the most important lessons learned through the opportunity with Ginn and Mark Martin was the quality of a professional operation. Just arriving at the racetrack ready to race, with good equipment spares, and a first class team, says it all. Mark employed the absolute best in quality people and the Matt Bowers team knew that this was going to be hard to replace.

Ned Bowers began the 2007 season by selling most of our equipment, including our hauler. We still had a 1^st class shop at Skybolt and a small tag trailer to haul one car and some equipment. The sudden change in the Ginn Racing organization sent our team scrambling for equipment, people, and a plan.

A quick glance at RacingJunk listed a Super Late Model for sale in Florida as a former Wayne Anderson car. The asking price was less than I had invested in an engine and transmission in one of Matt’s Limited Late Models. “How could I go wrong”? Within 5 minutes of being posted, I bought the car. I decided to call Dick Anderson and Wayne to find out the history on the car. When Wayne answered the phone, I introduced myself and explained that I just purchased a Howe Super Late Model that once belonged to him. Without going into a novel, Wayne’s response was “Oh, I wish you would have called me before you bought that car”. Adding, “I might have owned that car for less than a week and traded it…..you paid how much too much?”

Hey, the car was clean and everything was fresh. Time was not on my side. I never was the greatest bargainer, but this particular car could put us back on track the quickest. Wayne asked that I bring the car to his shop for a look see. Luckily, he acknowledged the car was in better shape than he recalled and we worked out an agreement to thoroughly go through the car before any racing began. We also discussed a possible future with Wayne. The first item on the long list of ideas was to not take the car to any track larger than 3/8 mile. That included New Smyrna where we were most anxious to get back to.

Wayne knew enough about the car and engine that, as far as a Super Late Model, that chassis would not have what it takes at New Smyrna. Thus, under his recommendation, he wanted Matt to gain some seat time on bullring tracks. So we did.

Wayne and I came to agreement that my ambitions were too much on his time. Wayne is a racer’s racer and is not a crew chief looking to travel. Thus Wayne introduced Matt and I to a fellow by the name of Dave Pletcher.

Little did we know, we were about to team up with the Charles Lindberg of short track racing. Dave, along with the Andersons, is a legend in Late Models; competed in Winston Cup events, ARCA, including events in Sprint cars. Pletcher gained one of the greatest win records in racing along with decades of friends and relations. He is semi-retired with wife, Carol, Dave enjoyed his tractor business and airboating. Dave Pletcher is a world champion gator wrestler, of all things. Carol is a seasoned veteran scorekeeper. With Carol, we know the progress on every car on the track and how we stand. I never knew how much good information can be gained from a good scorer. Dave and Carol are a race team’s dream card.

Matt’s relationship with Dave began at Citrus County Speedway, Orlando Speedworld, and Charlotte County Speedway. Matt brought a reputation of aggressiveness (Legends Cars) into the Late Model program and Dave’s mission was to blend the talent gained in the Legends series with the smoothness of ¼ Midgets to harness the incredible power in the Super Late Models. The Legends bump and run mentality was not going to work in these cars. Further, that was not the Dave Pletcher style.

After 3 races out of sight, out of mind, it was time to start the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series and Orlando would be the first track in the series. Matt drew the last qualifying position and watched veteran after veteran lay down some very impressive times. Rookie Matt Bowers took the track by storm and surprised everyone with fast time! Dave and Matt went to work with a very fast car (that same car Howe car) to run 125 laps in a field of very talented Late Model drivers. Dave kept Matt in the top 5 all the way to the finish!

In April, Matt got his return to New Smyrna in a completely new, built from the ground up, Wayne Anderson Port City car and crew chief, and now close friend, Dave Pletcher. The first 115 laps were picture perfect. Then, on a restart, like a shark on blood, Matt saw an opening to possibly win the race. Matt also found a hand full of Super Late Model. He gave up a 4^th place finish for a 9^th by pushing the envelope.

Then, a return to Orlando brought a surprising win for a rookie lucky to even be in the top 10 in the Sunbelt Series. However, the ¾ mile Lakeland USA speedway had us all spooked because Matt was truly the race rookie having never seen Lakeland. This was a big track where mistakes can be very costly.

Matt had one thing on his mind all week: Finish.

It was obvious from the very beginning, Lakeland was going to devour tires and 125 laps is a long race on a set of tires. Therefore, the theme before and during the race was patience to be there at the end. Call it luck, we got ours by missing the “big one” only two laps into the race that eliminated 5 very fast cars right in front of Matt. Our 10^th place car was now a 5^th place car if we could just finish. Dave Pletcher directed Matt just as if Dave were driving the car. Knowing , as the laps were winding down, some hungry veterans were working Matt’s rear bumper but just could not make it stick to pull off a clean pass , Dave kept Matt focused on the cars in front. Dave walked Matt right into the race leader with just 5 laps to go by calling his marks and assuring Matt, the aggressors could not complete a pass if Matt only stayed at the bottom and continued to hit his marks. But Dave was also aware that the #80 car was coming and with fresh tires gained 30 laps prior after a blown tire pit stop under another caution, Matt could block and risk being taken out or accept a strong second place. The call was to let the #80 car go and bring home the finish. That strategy not only brought home an incredible rookie finish, it also gained Matt Bowers the Sunbelt Series points leader! As a rookie!

How does a rookie accomplish this status this quick? By taking everything we learned working with Mark Martin, then putting those assets to work with a driver ready, willing, and able to listen and work with a legend, Dave Pletcher.

This is first of an 8 part series on being a racing Dad. We will revisit Matt’s first days in ¼ Midgets, Bandoleros, and Legends with emphasis on people, a plan, with occasional luck, that is building a career. Like racing, Matt’s career is patterned after: “You have to finish to win”. Money counts, but good people are everything. Key word: Networking.