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closeWhy did ESPN air 'the worst' characterization? Waltrip wonders
JIM UTTER
The Charlotte Observer
Friday, Aug. 29, 2008
Michael Waltrip climbs out of his No. 55 Toyota during practice for the Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway. Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE
FONTANA, Calif. - Michael Waltrip was not so worried by Clint Bowyer's disparaging remarks about him during the Bristol race last weekend, but didn't understand why ESPN elected to air them.
Bowyer, who thought Waltrip had caused the multicar accident during the Sharpie 500, called the driver of the No. 55 Toyotas "the worst driver in NASCAR."
"I do have a little bit of concern about why they would have replayed a comment that he made like that. That's hurtful to me. It's hurtful to my family," Waltrip said on his XM Satellite Radio show this week.
"You know, my mom doesn't need to hear that. My daughter doesn't need to hear that.
"So I think it's pretty obvious that I'm not the worst driver in NASCAR. But I will say there's a chance I could be the worst driver in NASCAR to win two Daytona 500s and the all-star race. I'd take the record."
Casey Mears later took responsibility for the accident in an interview with ESPN, but blamed his spotter for mistakenly clearing him on a pass.