Katie's been pouring through the nation's newspapers again. She found this late breaking story a few hours ago.
FOX ANNOUNCERS HEAD TO COURT
BROADCAST TEAM SEEKS IMMEDIATE INJUNCTION AGAINST DRIVER
Daytona- In an emergency hearing today in Federal Court, NASCAR on FOX announcers Chris Myers, Jeff Hammond, and Darrell Waltrip asked a magistrate to order the immediate return of a rocking chair presented to NASCAR driver Mark Martin as a retirement gift in 2005.
Speaking to reporters at Daytona International Speedway, the FOX trio said that it was time for Martin to return the chair since it is clear that he has no intention of using it. Earlier in the day, Martin announced that he had signed a two year contract to drive full time for Hendrick Motorsports beginning in 2009. Martin will take over the #5 ride being vacated by Casey Mears.
"I can understand putting off his retirement for one year as a favor to Jack Roush," Hammond told reporters, "but this is getting a bit ridiculous."
Former Cup champion and current FOX anaylist Darrell Waltrip was a little less diplomatic in his comments: "I think we should just super glue his rear end to the danged thing. Let's see him drive a race car while he's stuck to a rocking chair."
In other news, Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.
george jones said it best"i don't need you'r rocking chair,geritol or medicare.mark has been my driver for 25 years and if he races 20 more i will still be pulling for him.go mark and God bless you.
photo & 4evermartin- I don't think he ever really wanted to retire in the first place and that he didn't realize just how much he'd miss running full time. If the Hendrick ride had come open in 2005, I think he would have taken it then in a heartbeat. And for the record, I hope he does win a championship. He truly, truly deserves one.
Dwindy- Mark's dog is a bagle(half basset, half beagle),so I don't think it would be much of a fight.
It's funny you mentioned the rocker story here, because I had heard the Fox crew mention it before in passing during previous boradcasts the past couple of years. Kinda like...Why did we give Mark that rocker, when he's not really ready to retire.
Well if Mark is ready to go for the full season again, I wish him the best with his new team next season. He will certainly have the equipment to get the job done.
Gerrel- yep, last year and this year both during a pre-race interview, DW asked Mark if he was going to give that rocking chair back. I'll bet dollars to donuts that the first driver interview at the Daytona 500 2009 will be Mark Martin and once again, they'll ask for the chair back.
3fan- Mark did a pre-race interview with the FOX crew this season, and when DW asked about the chair, Mark said he wasn't exactly sure where the chair was. He thought it might be in his museum in Arkansas.
gonger- I understand why he came back in 2006. David Ragan just wasn't ready to move up (then again, Jack knew then he was going to have to cut a team, so why not just do it then). I can also understand the part time gig in 2007. I think it was then that he realized he was still competitive and capable of winning a championship if he could get with the right team. Ultimately, I think he really, really wants a championship, and now he has the team and the equipment to get one.
Mark Martin is still competitive. He realized he still has that fire in the belly to win a title. Now that he's with Hendrick, he'll finally have the equipment to compete for the title.
SB20--I dont know about Mark making a comeback but I give him better odds than Kyle Petty as far as winning a race I guess it will all come down to equipment.
SpeedBeagle20 is the online persona of Katie Scarlett O'Beagle. Katie lives in Texas with her sister Allie McBeagle and their humans. As evidenced by her screen name, Katie eats, sleeps, and breathes anything having to do with Tony Stewart. Her ultimate desire is to one day meet her beloved Tony in person.
