NASCAR veteran Mark Martin joining Michael Waltrip Racing in 2012

Mark Martin will drive a limited schedule for Michael Waltrip Racing starting in 2012 under a two-year deal announced by the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team Friday.

Martin, 52, will replace David Reutimann, who is being released from MWR after he drives in the final three races of this season, including Sunday's contest at Texas Motor Speedway.

Martin is in his last season with Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick previously announced that Kasey Kahne, currently driving for the Red Bull team, will take over Martin's No. 5 Chevrolet next season.

"It is very rare that a young organization gets an opportunity to hire a driver with Mark's incredible talent, experience and insight into what it takes to be a winner," team co-owner Michael Waltrip said in a statement.

The team said Martin would drive MWR's No. 00 Toyota in 25 of the Cup series' 36 races in each of the next two years, while Waltrip would drive in five races and "a combination of drivers" would drive in the remaining events.

MWR previously announced that Clint Bowyer, currently driving for Richard Childress Racing, would also join its team next year.

Martin has won 40 Cup races in 827 starts over nearly three decades in stock-car racing's premier division, and his career race winnings total nearly $85 million. Reutimann has won two races in 168 Cup starts for MWR.

-- Jim Peltz

Photo: Mark Martin talks with a crew member Oct. 22 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Credit: Terry Renna / Associated Press

Clint Bowyer moving to NASCAR's Michael Waltrip Racing team

Michael Waltrip Racing confirmed widespread speculation Friday and announced it had signed NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Clint Bowyer to a three-year contract starting in 2012. Terms were not disclosed.

Bowyer, 32, will be leaving the team of Richard Childress Racing, for which he has driven since his first full season in the Cup series in 2006.

“I’ve been with one organization for my entire Sprint Cup career, and leaving there was the hardest part of the decision," Bowyer, who will drive the No. 15 Toyota, said in a statement. "But now I’m ready to start the next chapter in my racing career."

Bowyer has four career Cup wins but none this season, and he missed qualifying for the 12-driver Chase for the Cup championship playoff now underway. Bowyer is 13th in points with 11 top-10 finishes in 29 races so far this season.

He did qualify for the Chase in 2007, 2008 and 2010.

Bowyer is a native of Emporia, Kan., and the announcement came ahead of Sunday's Cup race at his home track, Kansas Speedway.