Mark Martin Returns to Full Time Racing For Hendrick Motorsports
After two years of semi-retirement. Today Mark Martin has announced his plans to return to full time racing for Hendrick Motorsports. He will be running for a chance to win the championship next year.
Martins signed a two year deal with Hendrick. This will keep him in the 5 car until 2011. 2009 will be a full year of driving. While 2010 will be a shared ride year with a new driver to be named later.
Martin will be teaming up with four time champion Jeff Gordon, two time champion Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Martin will be taking over the number 5 car from Casey Mears.
I wish Mark the best of luck in his efforts to win a championship.
I just hope HMS gives him a car that will perform if this is in fact he will be full time again. So far the #5 car has not been a real contender in races.
I was listening to part of the news conference when it was announced. Mark confirmed that he was coming out of retirement for next year.
I agree if Hendrick gives him the type of cars that can win races, he should do well. But the 5 (formerly 25) team has not performed very well in its entire history.
volfan Mark seemed to be very happy about the prospect of trying to win a championship one more time.
I just hope that this time he gets what he wants this tims. But I am not holding my breathe that he will do any better at his quest than he has in the past.
I kinda like Forensic's take on this... It's like a contrived way between Junior and Hendrick to bring down DEI brick by brick until they can waltz in and make an offer and buy it out. Then Junior, with Hendrick's help, will return to what should have been his all along...
Hey, guys. Mark Martin can absolutely run with the very best of the Cup drivers. He is competitive and is very well respected by the drivers and owners. Also a proven driver with sponsors, so Rick Hendrick made him a great offer to join the premier Cup team. Even though this year has not been a stellar year for them, Mark will be a great asset to their teams. I hope he will concentrate on having 'fun' as Rick encourages him to do so.
Go, Mark!!!
As for Tony Stewart, I like Tony just fine. JJ is my driver, but I am becoming more and more of a JR fan, as well. Would love to see Tony have his own team, and make it a huge success.
Well if Mark is going to race full time again...he certainly has the team to get the job done. I could see in his face that he still has the drive and determination to succeed and win races. Let's hope that the #5 team will be a good combination for all the next 2 years.
bytemoi I never understood why Mears was kept on at Hendrick instead of K. Busch to start with. Kyle's performance was much better than Mears. But I am glad that Hendrick did let Kyle go. He has certainly helped to bring the 18 team at JGR back to life.
Not sure why Mark decided to go with Hendrick. But if he thinks this is going to make him a contender for a championship, I am afraid that he is going to be letdown.
And if Hendrick thinks this will help the 5 (formerly 25) team, he might be fight. Mark has enough experience that he can help them out. But it will be no miracle cure for this team.
Dwindy I had actually thought about Jr. and Hendrick buying out DEI.
The way that DEI is losing sponsors and drivers, kind of reminds me of the times that Yates Racing currently finds itself in.
Once a dominate force in racing. They are now barely a shell of their formerselves. Granted they have had a few good runs. But nothing like the days of when Davey Allison, Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett and even Ricky Rudd were winning races and contending for championships for Yates.
NapaGirl, I hope that Mark has fun with this new ride also.
But as far as Tony owning his own team. If he does go that way I hope that he is successful at it too. Because, being a mid pack driver is not what will keep Tony Stewart in NASCAR.
But if he will put the right people around him, and allow them to run the day to day business side of the racing.
And he has the money backers to help fund the race teams like they need. He will be very successful.
But looking at how other driver/owners have faired in NASCAR the last few years. It does not bode well for him to succeed. The last successful owner/driver was Alan Kulwicki in 1992.
Mark, by the sound of it, is following his heart. He knows he can run in the front. He still has the passion. I dont think he wants to miss one last chance with a top team for the one more try for the cup. I wish him the best. He is a good driver and a great person.
noahspop Mark is a great driver and a great person. He is the best driver out there that has not won a championship. I hope that he can win a championship. But time is not on his side. It will take more than two years to get the 5 team to the place it will be championship worthy.
I just don't think that Mark will be winning any championships for himself or the 5 team.
I am a southern female who grew up on NASCAR. After all growing up in the backyard of many of the old tracks run here in North Carolina it is was hard not to follow NASCAR.
My Drivers: Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, J.J. Yeley, Kevin Harvick (in that order). I will not pull for a Roush or Hendrick driver. Just because they are the competition to a 3rd championship for Smoke.
