| Who can forget the gallant effort to win his first | | | | Paul Menard gets the boot, there are no seats |
| Daytona 500 in 2007, leading a last lap charge only to | | | | available for Martin to practice his well-honed craft in |
| be nudged by a nose by Kevin Harvick? His latest | | | | the amount of time he prefers. |
| missed opportunity made him more popular and | | | | In an interesting twist, ESPN reports that Martin is, in |
| appreciated than ever, and he has yet to ride off | | | | fact, interested in returning to full-time status with |
| into the sunset. | | | | Hendrick Motorsports, at age 50, to make one final |
| Grizzled veteran Mark Martin has 35 Cup series wins | | | | run at an elusive championship. Story contradicts |
| over a career that spans 25 years. Never a | | | | ESPN, insisting that Martin wants another part-time |
| champion, on four occasions he has finished second in | | | | gig and has ruled out a full-ride opportunity. The only |
| the final point standings, the last time in '02. He | | | | reason for the uncertainty, he says, is DEI's desire |
| finished third four times and has thrice come in | | | | for Almirola to get more seat time. Martin "retired" |
| fourth-as recently as '04 and '05. His last points | | | | from Roush Racing after the '06 season because he |
| victory at NASCAR's highest level came in '05. He has | | | | wanted a shorter schedule through his middle years. |
| retired and un-retired twice before. In or out, limited | | | | Spending more time with his large family has been his |
| or full-time, he remains one of the more coveted | | | | primary motivation over the past two seasons. |
| drivers in the sport. | | | | Another scenario has Martin in a similar slate next |
| Martin, 49, currently shares a seat with rookie Aric | | | | year at HMS-in the No. 5 car soon vacated by Casey |
| Almirola in the No. 8 Chevrolet at Dale Earnhardt Inc. | | | | Mears-with promising Nationwide driver Brad |
| He drives in 24 races of his choice and Almirola takes | | | | Keselowski taking the rest of the schedule. That way |
| the wheel for the remaining 12. Martin also mentors | | | | Hendrick could find out if it's the car or driver, as |
| Almirola and rookie Regan Smith, and is credited by | | | | Mears has had too many bad finishes, and Martin's |
| DEI officials with keeping the organization moving | | | | reputation is established. |
| forward after a predicted collapse from skeptics, | | | | Martin already has ties to the Hendrick team. He ran |
| who said the team would never survive without the | | | | three Busch Series races a year ago for HMS, and |
| company namesake. | | | | has raced in two Nationwide events this season for |
| Driving when he wants to and on tracks he prefers is | | | | JR Motorsports, which is supported by the Hendrick |
| a nice arrangement for an aging racer, but DEI wants | | | | machine as part of an '07 operations merger with |
| Almirola to go full time in '09. And Martin, according to | | | | Dale Earnhardt Jr., whose former No. 8 ride is now |
| John Story, the team's vice president of | | | | being shared by Martin and Almirola. |
| motorsports, does not want a return to full-time | | | | The U.S. Army is apparently on the way out as |
| duty. | | | | sponsor of the 8 car, with nothing definite at this |
| Almirola will drive the 8 car in every race next year, | | | | stage. Martin's next employer could be wherever the |
| Story says. Smith is having trouble luring sponsors, | | | | Army decal winds up in '09. |
| which could make DEI a three-car operation next | | | | Word from Martin on this development is slow |
| season. Unless Martin Truex Jr. leaves a year early, or | | | | coming. |