KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The first thing Ned Yost asked Clint Bowyer when the Royals manager called the NASCAR driver into his office Wednesday night was for some much-needed help with his lineup.
His fantasy racing lineup.
Bowyer pointed out that Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick have been dominating on the 1 1/2-mile tracks lately, and Jeff Gordon always runs well at Kansas Speedway. But Bowyer must not have made a case for himself for Saturday night’s Sprint Cup race just across the state line.
“He’s on my bench,” Yost said with a grin.
Bowyer, who grew up in nearby Emporia, Kansas, made his way to Kauffman Stadium as a guest of the Royals for their game against the Cleveland Indians. Along with pulling on a complete uniform — No. 15, of course — he took batting practice and shagged fly balls before the game.
With an inside-out swing that looked like someone chopping wood, Bowyer managed a couple of lazy pop-ups toward first base during his turns in the batting cage.
Bowyer is an ardent fan of all things Kansas City, but especially of the Royals.