Is it frustration, or simply good-natured trash talking among competitors?
Turns out he was only joking.
Clint Bowyer is usually known as a relatively quiet non-controversial driver. He’s the defending NASCAR Nationwide Series champion in his fourth full Sprint Cup Series season driving for Richard Childress Racing. 
Mark Martin has competed full time in the Sprint Cup Series for over 20 years. He’s one of the most respected drivers in the sport and is currently in position to contend for the series championship driving for Hendrick Motorsports. Martin has three wins so far this season, making it his best season since 1998 when he won a career best seven races.
Part of the respect that Martin has earned from fans and the competition has to do with the fact that he turned 50 this year and is still very competitive.
But according to Bowyer who was speaking on a NASCAR teleconference Wednesday, maybe its time for Martin to retire, again. Martin did try to retire several years ago only to return to help out his former team at Roush Racing, and he returned to full time racing this season with Hendrick.
On Wednesday’s teleconference, it was pointed out to Bowyer that Martin made a comment recently that the trophies he’s won through the years have become invisible to him. The context was that the wins themselves are more important then the physical trophy. Bowyer was asked if his trophies become invisible to him.
‘That's because he's old and he can't see anymore,” Bowyer said. “But no, the trophy never gets invisible. If Mark Martin says his trophies are invisible to him, he needs to retire; he doesn't enjoy them anymore. Doesn't appreciate them.”
Martin has 38 Sprint Cup Series wins to his credit, while Bowyer has two, his first one coming in 2007 at New Hampshire the site of this weekends event.
“They are hard to come by and I'm very proud of the very few that I have,” Bowyer said Wednesday. “He's got a lot more than I do.”
Bowyer is currently 16th in the Championship point standings, while Martin is 11th. Martin has three wins to his credit so far this season, Bowyer’s best finish of the year was a second place at Las Vegas in early March, and he has finished outside the top 10 in seven of the last ten races.
Nearly a week after the teleconference, NASCAR amended the transcript to show that Bowyer was laughing when he made the quote about Martin. When in taken in that context the quote is more in line with the good-natured Bowyer known by most people.
Comments
BOYER IS JUST A PUNK KID HE IS AFRAID THAT MARK WILL KICK HIS BUTT MARK HAS 3 WINS 0 FOR BOYER SO WHO IS BETTER?
Bowyer doesn't want the competition. He would probably like everyone to retire, so he can win a race.
I want to add in here that after talking to Clint's people there is debate as to whether he was simply joking or not. Bowyer's PR is getting me a clip of the quote and when they do I'll post more about this later...
Bowyer's win at New Hampshire was in 1997? I think you need to check your facts Greg. I don't think he's in his 13th season of Cup racing.
Back in the late seventies I raced against Mark on the dirt tracks of Arkansas and I don't remember alot of those races. Mark and I are the same age and seeing how he is still racing and I am not, I think says alot about him and his drive to win. I guess when you have won as much as he has and have done it over as many years as he has, it is hard to remember every detail. Maybe when Clint has won as much as Mark ask him does he remember all of the races and everyting about them. I guess some drivers are just jealous that Mark has still got it at his age while other drivers have retired in thier 30's. You go Mark and show them that old guys can still whoop some butt.
Mark Martin Sucks,he drives dirty and people don't notice it because hes old.He wines that he has not won a championship because someone was better than him and then because he can't catch them he accuses them of cheating.Hes a miserable old hypocrite because he lied many times and said he was going to retire.Also the chase is unfair because hes 11th in points more than 500 points out of 1st but yet if he makes the stupid thing he will be first.This dirty racer needs to retire already and give someone else a chance.Mark Martin Sucks
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