The Whole Story: Clint Bowyer vs Jeff Gordon 2012

An in-depth look at the best rivalry of the 2012 Sprint Cup Season
Credits:
NARLtv
Speed
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nascar.com
Greg Engle
teresa1lap
LP2008
MagnumJoe850
imjustTheGOAT

[@susiegaskins2330]

If that had been the all mighty Dale Earnhardt that did that to Bowyer, they would have just said "that's racing"

[@RustyisGreat5]

***** oh

[@itsflupingtrewaysportsfan2296]

Agreed

[@NickyD]

now a days dale wouldnt have gotten away with the suff he pulled off in the 90's he would have been parked a million times

[@solidsnake7167]

Stay jealous, your tears nourish me

[@Loaf_ve]

@@DumpedClutch ..... are you ok lmao?

[@zcams]

I gotta say its incredible how fast Bowyer ran over to Jeff I mean after being in a race car all day its insane

[@ariansmovies]

Clint Bowyer is an idiot and not a smart racecar Driver. He should've just punted Jeff in the wall again, get him out of the way instead of way below the apron and get loose and slide into and get collected with Jeff.

[@grizzlygaming8857]

Now you barely see ESPN talk about nascar

[@edwuncleriii1922]

They used to a lot but then they turned super liberal and liberals aren't into NASCAR as much

[@LplusRatioplusNobodyCares]

Because they don’t broadcast the races anymore

[@jamesfaulkner4022]

The fact Bowyer was told on the radio that Gordon was going to wreck him PROVES he and his team knew they screwed up.

[@ckcody19]

James Faulkner my thoughts exactly. The crew could tell that Gordon had a reason to be "looking for" Bowyer. Plus, them saying "I know he's a moron for it, but you need to be on your toes when get to him" reminds me of situations like when say your girlfriend is pissed at someone and you respond "I know! Can you believe the nerve they have? You should probably just not talk to them" because you know they have a right to be pissed too and it will just erupt. They knew he had a reason to be upset, yet they still jumped him in the pits. I'd call that "chickenshit." However, while I do respect Gordon and side with him on this situation, I don't ever approve of spinning someone into the wall. That's reckless and he let his temper get the best of him there. (I probably would have done something just as stupid in his situation.)

[@cocacola150dr]

No it doesn't, it just proves that they can put 2+2 together and get 4. It doesn't take an admittance of guilt to know that Gordon was mad and looking to wreck Bowyer.

[@tylerwilliams156]

No it proves gordon over reacts when he tries to throw blocks and gets wrecked in the process. Or the fact gordons spotter is shit. Aside from the first martinsvile wreck (which was bowyers fault), everything else was gordons because he tries to close the door when the car was already there. Look at Charlotte 2014, gets mad at brad because he tried to close the door and got wrecked. Gordon can't handle his emotions and that's all there is too it.

[@darrenayotte]

Tyler Williams Eddie D’Hondt is the best spotter in the business. You’re delusional.

[@WahooBrad24]

The way I see it, the Phoenix incident sparked the beginning of the end for MWR. They would only win one more race (Truex at Sonoma 2013) after that and certainly spingate at Richmond pushed them over the cliff. Spingate cost them sponsors and it also cost Truex his ride. They were never the same team after that.

[@TonyWud]

uhh. Remember the very first race for MWR? Daytona? Cheating? They were never a top team.

[@davidlawrence6119]

The way I feel about it is that Homestead determined who was truly right and wrong through karma. Some will say Jeff didn't deserve to be there but if you look at the evidence Clint was driving quite wrecklessly. Jeff Gordon winning at Homestead in my mind was justice served.

[@thekingmansplainer6813]

you should take that as proof that karma is horseshit.

[@NickyD]

look at matt kenisth he basically did the same thing gorden did at phx and was parked for two weeks gorden should have been done for the season for that

[@sporkspraytan5279]

Soyboy

[@RyanSheehan64]

Finally someone else besides me has realized it! That Martinsville crash was 85% Newman's fault!

[@colinparham8255]

It really was

[@alphama7072]

@@colinparham8255 go further back to when david Reutimann stopped before Newman pushed Bowyer Reutimann should have gotten off the track when he had the chance that one was Reutimann's fault for his car stopped on track leading to Newman pushing Bowyer into Gordon.

[@nascarfanatic2425]

Round 3 was a perfect example that even the best drivers can have the worst of meltdowns. People shouldn't diss on him like that after 20 years of respectable racing. And after 2013, I bet a lot of people felt like assholes who ripped on Jeff Gordon because of Clint Bowyer.

[@thekingmansplainer6813]

yeah both this guys are usually pretty chill but damn sometimes shit escalates and the worst of you gets brought out. That's racing.

[@chuckfinley612]

I remember that season. Yes these are both examples of the feud. But at Dover and Kansas, Clint was leaning on him and was moving Gordon out of the way prior to Martinsville. All year long they couldn’t get out of each others way. Gordon had enough.

[@ferrari884]

Shows how long it's been since I've watched NASCAR. I thought I remembered everyone hating Gordon, but it seems that everyone hates this other guy now

[@deanbrone1398]

RockyTopTN11 this was a great video. I will see this through my Jeff Gordon fan glasses. Jeff Gordon admits he was wrong. Yes there were extenuating circumstances, but he admits he was wrong, and he should not have wrecked Bowyer no matter how many times he thinks Bowyer wrecked him during the season. Bowyer got him back this year though, Gordon was cruising to an easy victory at Fontana when Bowyer spun himself out. All the other drivers with blown tires near the end were able to drive to the apron and keep the field under the green flag, but not Bowyer. Gordon finished 13th. Mission accomplished Clint.

[@ItalkBoutStuff]

"Everybody thinks i just intentionally went down there and wrecked him." "Where is he? I'm getting his ass!"

[@akshooter762]

+Jeff Boyardee LOL

[@nathanfaith8973]

I didn't mind Jeff doing it, but at least own up to it after the fact. If you're sorry that's okay, but don't act like you didn't mean to hook him. I don't know how many times Stewart said something along the lines of "yep I wrecked him". I may not have always agreed why Tony did it, I may have even thought it was hypocritical of him but at least he would admit he did it. I lost more respect for Jeff handling the aftermath like he did then the actual incident.

[@LoadPast]

@@nathanfaith8973 he was probably trying to avoid a potential lawsuit

[@rayzie8599]

@@nathanfaith8973 the interview immediately after he says "I was fed up so.. I got him back". He did own up to it.

[@BeachBumZero]

@@nathanfaith8973 Gordon was talking about Martinsville when he said he didn't mean to wreck him.

[@182011nascar]

0:25 I think that's Newman's fault

[@Kevin-uq4ik]

"He's stoppin now he's stoppin". " He's...... TURNING CLINT BOWER INTO THE WALL." I lost it there for some reason,it was just so perfectly timed it was funny.

[@chriswilgus165]

Now, their working together in the booth!

[@ethanhamm428]

2012 was a hell of a season

[@projectjt3149]

+Ethan Hamm Yeah, anytime you have Brad Keselowski winning the Sprint Cup, you know it's a crap year.

[@ethanhamm428]

I like Brad but I don't like Joey Logano

[@projectjt3149]

Ethan Hamm Ok, then you also have a really jacked up Daytona 500 to talk about for 2012

[@ethanhamm428]

Lol. I think Logano is a good racer but I don't like the way he races people. The 2012 Daytona 500 winner took his ass out

[@arthurcorassini]

I like that Gordon and Clint have now let all of this behind them, it seems like they are good friends now, this happens, is Nascar, alot of pressure and a little bit of hate and BOOM

[@ChevyChevelle48]

Bowyer will never be half the driver that Gordon is.

[@sporkspraytan5279]

Wrong

[@erikscherer22]

To this day that slap on the hand for Gordon is one of the worst inconsistencies in Nascar history. Matt Kenseth literally did the same thing in 2015 and got suspended 2 races while all Jeff got here was fined...

[@jduke93]

And now they will be in the booth together

[@ericgambrel4743]

Rick Hendrick's speech explained the whole thing beautifully!!!

[@CBright7831]

Did they ever ask Joey Logano's opinion on the entire thing? He was sort of an innocent bystander who got caught up in the drama.

[@thekingmansplainer6813]

exactly the reason they didn't.

[@alphama7072]

@@thekingmansplainer6813 Logano's tweet was when his respect for Gordon was lost after the payback

[@thekingmansplainer6813]

@@alphama7072 fucking hell

[@michaeldyson2791]

At least Gordon has 87 wins. He races anybody with respect untill somebody wrecks him enough! Bowyer did deserve it!

[@retromario96]

Reason being like you said, Kyle was a repeat offender. Jeff typically doesn't blow his head off like that. Whether or not a driver is punished is typically decided by the severity of the incident while the punishment itself is usually decided based on history and in this case the emotion.

[@nascarfanatic2425]

Just for fun, you should do a Tony Stewart vs. Goodyear Tires video. lol

[@NASCARFAN93100]

This needs a Part 2 BIG TIME

[@Redslayer86]

It was about time Jeff stood up for himself. Guy has 10000000x more patience than I do, that's for sure.

[@retroguy1976]

nascar went total wwf with this lol

[@Leandros912]

That's the best comment I've ever seen about this rivalry.

[@kornnut43]

Not denying that either, for sure... but the Carl vs. Brad incident came right after "Boys Have At It" became a thing, so their hands were tied. It's still a mindset that the drivers have, so when it all boils down to it, it's NASCAR's call. They started with encouraging drivers to let it all hang out, and this is what we get; guys wrecking cars, entire crews fighting one guy in the garage area. It's also entertaining as all hell. :)

[@mrmiltongaming3751]

I like Gordon . But that was really stupid what he did at PIR 2012

[@DillonMurway]

Texas 2014 was worse

[@mamenesini]

+Dillon Murway Nah.. He got wrecked and had the best car. Brad races like it's bumper cars. "Sorry you were in my way, I had a run!" If you watch JJ and Gordon on-board cams, they check up all the time to avoid collisions or idiotic 3 wide attempts. I've also noticed that Brad makes other guys nervous, when they try to pass him they often have to check up, cuz he is all over the fucking place in the corners.

[@swagmasteryo9726]

+Dillon Murway wtf? Gordon got his tire cut down and didnt even retaliate on the track...

[@DillonMurway]

Swagmasteryo But how pissed he was is what I was getting at. Could you blame him?

[@kornnut43]

NASCAR was being consistent for the first time in a while in not suspending Gordon. If they don't suspend Carl in 2010 for putting Kez on his lid, then a driver "having at it" once again shouldn't warrant a suspension (again). What I did find hilarious about Phoenix was how MWR's entire team pulled a Michael Waltrip, circa Michigan in '95. "Our fearless leader did this once, so let's all get together and go punch a driver."

[@retromario96]

He's tried to patch things up but Bowyer can't seem to let it go. Jeff apologized to Clint during Champion's Week but Bowyer still wouldn't talk to him.

[@reidforspeed]

I think it's stupid how Bowyer can take Gordon out or do something dumb to cost him spots, but if Gordon does something to him, it's a huge deal. Bowyer has gotten away with things like this many times. I'm glad Jeff did what he did.

[@calebandrews8592]

That was really good.

[@arlanreber6717]

I like the nascar on fox The real story of Jeff Gordon and Clint Boyer. Lots of whiskey and fuzzy recalections on how all that came about. Its great must see

[@mrbigw100]

7:02 michael waltrip just strolling over just hoping Clint will get to hit Jeff before he has to step in 😂

[@Ultimate23Dragon]

I hope Ryan Newman & David Reutimann are happy. They made the Bowyer/Gordon rivalry happen.

[@willamobrien6292]

i hate clint because of this and 2013 richmond

[@hunterbunn2745]

Me too! He was a ok driver before that but after Richmond he's one of the worst

[@lazerluke321]

You hate Clint because Jeff wrecked him?

[@parentsbasement7734]

Hate? damn

[@chrisiglehart]

Jeff lost his edge and now he's bitter about it.

[@sledgehammerk35]

There's a difference between rubbing and running over someone. The other two were just racing incidents, but that move at Martinsville was the most bone-headed I've ever seen. I'd be pissed to if someone did that, then kept racing me rough the rest of the year.

[@josephg9245]

i was at phoenix on the turn 4 exit, i lost my mind dude as a jeff gordon fan.

[@NASCARFAN93100]

If you take everything into consideration, The Jeff Gordon Vs Clint Bowyer Saga happened because of Danica Patrick

[@NASCARFAN93100]

The Jeff Gordon/Clint Bowyer Saga Foreshadowed The Matt Kenseth/Joey Logano Saga

[@MichaelDanger19]

Also, if Bowyer had a top 5 this race ahead of BK, and his 2nd at Homestead, he would've been really close to Keselowski. I think a few points shy, but within 10.

[@arthurcorassini]

As much as Gordon was for me the greatest (at least for my generation) and i will be forever a fan of the 24 Chevy, today, if Bowyer has a good chance of winning, i dont care i'm rooting for him, just a driver that can take not the best equipament and put it on the 1st place

[@guyrk1]

exactly what i was thinking...especally cause i had Clint in my Yahoo fantasy pool that race :P

[@jaymz]

who saw clint turn right when jeff spun him

[@kalimedina8930]

i saw

[@mamenesini]

+Infinity Nice! Didn't notice that.

[@itsflupingtrewaysportsfan2296]

Me

[@bman940213]

Yeah and if he went to the outside Jeff probably would have just put him in the wall lol. The only good thing that could have come from that would have been Joey and Aric might have missed the wreck

[@jesuschristislord6790]

bowyer got loose when he was on the inside of gordon. gordon wasnt trying to send him head first into the wall

[@nealm6764]

I am still amazed every time i see old Ricky. How he was on his deathbed and couldn't go to prison for even a day, but has been fine ever since for the last 25 years.

[@thomascrossing8893]

Brad went off about this incident on his post race interview

[@hunterbunn2745]

I never have liked Clint bowyer. I lost respect for him when he spun out on purpose

[@gordonfan200]

Does anyone remember the Richmond race in the spring of 2011? I know it was a racing accident, but that same guy was involved.

[@parkerbeard6170]

I remember watching the Race live and was disappointed to see Gordon wrecked. Then was shocked that he waited for Clint to get his Revenge. Once I saw the history, Boyer had it coming. Didn't think the Pit Crew would take it personally, but once I saw Boyer's hopes to win the Championship were ruined. I knew Jeff Gordon did the right thing of costing him a Championship

[@CamaroThings]

If Gordon says he likes you a lot more than twice in a season... you getting wrecked.

[@NoldEdits]

1:42 "friends"

[@jdbrisentine2615]

I lost a lot of respect for Jeff at Phoenix

[@davidbaker234]

I always hated Jeff Gordon and I hated him even more after 2012

[@tylerr7807]

Jeff Gordon began his racing career when everybody watched NASCAR, you didn't see people making a big deal of retaliation then, so why do it now. These guys race their hearts out and their emotions get to them. It used to be drivers shake hands and become friends again but the media plays with everyone's heads.

[@Gforcebond]

Rick Hendrick trying to justify Gordon's reaction bc they were going for Hendricks 200th win at Martinsville. I was like ate u serious dude they didn't get the teams 200th win so let's spin the guy out and wreck his championship hopes

[@bman940213]

Just saying a lot of people think NASCAR screwed up by not suspending Carl for the wreck at Atlanta in 2010.

[@Lovebryanr1]

yeah buddy!!

[@MattFritzy]

Martinsville: Not Bowyer's fault once you see that Newman gave him a push into the corner. Fall Martinsville: Gordon trying to block him, get hits by Bowyer then try's to intentionally wreck Bowyer. Phoenix: Bowyer completely wrecked his race, tried to say it was accidental then what Gordon did was completly stupid. But Gordon is a better race car driver as proven at Homestead. But Bowyer keeps his temper under cool better then Gordon.

[@ericgambrel8627]

Regarding the first martinsville incident Bowyer was gonna go down the and that without the assist of Newman because he was under Jeff before he got bumped. The next martinsville issue was Jeff turning down to get back in line which he did until Clint turned down further and ran back under him. At Phoenix did people really not expect Jeff to react to that. Clint drove off the turn and tried to punt Gordon off the track (probably to get a caution to try to gain more position on the restart for championship picture) and Gordon would have turned Clint into three the first time but he probably had the left rear going down from Bowyer's splitter hitting his tire..

[@pcpopscergi1238]

Gordon decided to like Bowyer until the very last moment of the Chase lol

[@connordriscoll5647]

The one comment somebody said that really made a difference in deciding who is at fault was somebody said if you racing for a championship you still have to treat others fairly. Racing for a championship does not make it right to be able to race people too hard.

[@Roushfan5]

5 times? I count three the first time the 39 drove into the back of the 15, the 2nd time Jeff came down on Clint, and the 3rd time Jeff did more damage to himself trying to retailate. Besides taking out the 20 and 43 as well as losing the race for the 18 with that late race caution was bullshit.

[@kingjules8744]

I'm just glad they managed to smite Joey Lagano against the wall by accident when Gordon finally got his revenge.

[@clintonhockey30]

I was sitting in turn 1 at Martinsville the first clip happened... unfortunately Gordon is my favorite driver.

[@michaelangelo4857]

I didn't know Brad got fined after that Phoenix race. Not shocked, but I didn't know

[@Probowler37]

I understand that they're mad at each other and of course understand why Gordon is furious but for his sake, he better patch things up cuz this whole deal could really come back to haunt him in the future, especially if he has a chance to win the title.

[@HyperInflation2020]

People jumping in trying to break up a fight. LET THEM HANDLE IT THEMSELVES!

[@BackRowRacing98]

Yeah, I don't think that's the case anymore. Kind of sucks because I'm a fan of Gordon and I have respect for Bowyer, so I really would like them to shake hands and move on, but that's not happening anytime soon.

[@DieKolkrabe]

Hendrick too, see 1995 Winston and THAT car

[@OddDude21]

What the heck was Keslowski fined for?

[@BackflipMotorSports]

He had his cell phone in the car during race 😆😆

[@trailerparkprdgy8536]

OddDude21 he went into his post-race press conference and started cussing like a sailor when they asked him about the incident with Gordon and bowyer...

[@TMoney521900]

All I can say is that Clint is a careless driver.

[@BLUFOX56]

Kyle was in trouble with NASCAR the whole year for numerous incidents, that's why they parked him. BUT I won't lie, I am kind of surprised they didn't park Gordon for a race.

[@psychomaggot105]

Funny how many of the same drivers were involved. Joey , Newman, Jeff, and Clint

[@MonsterJamFilms]

im not sure it all over

[@ballsthatclank]

Nothing is ever Bowyer's fault

[@tylerp4130]

Bowyer is an excuse maker, Newman backed off, Bowyer didn't try to slow down he just drove down in there and tried to make it work. He got what he deserved at Phoenix.

[@YoungReactsChannel005]

Clint has it coming! It’s one thing to make fun another person but if you’re keep poking and poking the snake, it will bite you back! That’s Clint Boyer’s problem! I knew Jeff was mad and disappointed especially Martinville racing crash! But you know when to stopped poking someone!!

[@Leandros912]

I agree, there's a little more than a double standard that has been going on between these two.

[@carriewhitmore]

A lot of drivers weren't afraid to stand up to Dale Sr. back then. I don't think many other drivers today would have. Gordon raced with Dale for a while. Probably more than any other known driver out there. Stewart raced back then, but he was still kind of a newbie. I don't think guys like Stewart, Hamlin, Harvick, Keselowski, Bowyer, Busch brothers, etc would have taken shit from Sr. either. Unfortunately we will never know. R.I.P. Sr.

[@e93sports80]

It's a shame we never got a Jeff Gordon-Kyle Busch feud.

[@robertemerson2777]

Bowyer should have known to not bully someone who didn't take any shit from The Intimidator

[@amarch8]

If you don't think Bowyer is going to get wrecked in the next couple of weeks then you don't know how this sport works.

[@ShinySideUp18]

There's almost enough material for Ron Hornaday vs. KBM.

[@cuuulz2947]

6:21 Clint Charging FOR HIS ASS (GORDON)😂😂😂😂😂💯

[@TheHobbitfreak]

come again?

[@nascarfanatic2425]

Kyle had issues with the whole RCR camp, though. Jeff only had issues with 2- Bowyer and Dale Jr.

[@ChristopherWHerbert]

He was fined for having his mobile phone in his car during the race

[@joycebrowning7686]

way to go gordon yeaaaaaaah

[@tannermccage554]

How did Jeff finish 14th at Martinsville? He was like 5th when the caution came out.

[@soylentgreen7074]

T-Mac 41603 contact with Clint cut tire cut his tire had to pit and came from 20 something all the way through the field.

[@Redslayer86]

Vid would be like 5 hours long :p

[@snowman374th]

Jeff was mad because Clint outraced his ass. lol

[@HiAnthonyA]

Pause at 3:52 & listen to what Clint said. No you were not there at all. He thought Jeff would just give him the spot?

[@connordriscoll5647]

this needs to be his motto "don't fuck with 4 time" lol

[@psychomaggot105]

Add last nights race this video!

[@rdwrevitup]

Jeff Gordon is a good driver, and aggressive on the track, but when push comes to shove and SHTF, you can't beat him to his hauler and the protection of his crew. He's the king of hit and whine.

[@signoresantinoburnett1169]

40+ year old Jeff took on all of Keslowski's team. Not to mention he got clobbered from behind by bowyers crew. Which was why he was in his trailer. So STFU.

[@TOPGUN1418]

I like how bowyer talks about kickin gordon's ass when gordon is a martial arts master. He might be small, but he can fight.