MARK MARTIN Joins Dale Jr, Jeff, And Jimmie At Hendrick | FerrariChat
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MARK MARTIN Joins Dale Jr, Jeff, And Jimmie At Hendrick

Discussion in 'Other Racing' started by RP, Jul 2, 2008.

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  1. RP

    RP F1 World Champ

    Feb 9, 2005
    17,667
    Bocahuahua, Florxico
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    Tone Def
    #1 RP, Jul 2, 2008
    Hendrick Motorsports is set to announce veteran Mark Martin's full-time return to the Sprint Cup as their fourth driver for 2009, replacing the out-going Casey Mears.

    Following the announcement of Martin's departure from Dale Earnhardt Inc at the end of the season to give way for Aric Almirola to take over the No. 8 car full-time for 2009, Hendrick Motorsports is expected to announce the hiring of Martin next Friday at Daytona.

    Despite only running a limited schedule since 2006 as a first step towards retirement, the 49-year-old is expected to return full-time to the series driving the No. 5 car and racing for the first time in the Sprint Cup Series for Rick Hendrick.

    Last year Martin drove for Hendrick Motorsports in three Nationwide Series events scoring two second places and this year he has driven twice for JR Motorsports - which is now Hendrick’' squad in the second level series - giving them their maiden victory in a controversial finish at Las Vegas.

    Martin has driven most of his career for Jack Roush but has not won a Sprint Cup Series title yet.

    Last year he led the championship but gave up on fighting for the title when he stepped out of Ginn Racing's No. 01 car at Bristol to hand driving duties to Regan Smith, as he had initially planned.
     
  2. Asian1118

    Asian1118 F1 Rookie

    Mar 23, 2005
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    James
    #2 Asian1118, Jul 2, 2008
    Wow he really need to retire.
     
  3. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
    Sponsor

    Sep 11, 2004
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    Robbie
    #3 285ferrari, Jul 2, 2008
    Mark has a few good years left!!
     
  4. gsjohnson

    gsjohnson Formula 3

    Feb 25, 2008
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    GS Johnson
    #4 gsjohnson, Jul 2, 2008
    +1
    I just hope that Mark gets the crew chief that he needs. That has been the problem with that team.
     
  5. cantsleepnk

    cantsleepnk Formula Junior

    Dec 29, 2005
    616
    Detroit, MI
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    Nick
    #5 cantsleepnk, Jul 2, 2008
    Mark Martin is a true gentleman and a great racer. I wish him best luck.
     
  6. HWJunkie

    HWJunkie Formula Junior

    Mar 30, 2007
    535
    Oak Park, CA
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    Marc Simon
    #6 HWJunkie, Jul 3, 2008
    Mark was and still is a great driver, and still capable of winning. And to be on Hendrick will be a great move and that team will be STRONG!
     
  7. robert_c

    robert_c F1 Rookie

    May 12, 2005
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    #7 robert_c, Jul 3, 2008
    Why are you going all SpeedTV on us? Leave the NASCAR to Nascarchat.com

    I guess it is considerd Racing & Tracking by some.
     
  8. Senna1994

    Senna1994 F1 World Champ

    Nov 11, 2003
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    Anthony T
    #8 Senna1994, Jul 3, 2008
    +1
     
  9. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

    Sep 19, 2006
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    Stuart K. Hicks
    #9 climb, Jul 3, 2008
    Not much of a Nascar fan but do like Mark Martin. Good for him for hangin' in there 'till fifty.
    Guy always gave it 110%. Problem with the sport is in an effort to not offend anyone the drivers are all becoming staid, boring little follow the rules types. Miss the day when it was proudly Redneck.

    I want my NASCAR drivers to pull in the pits hung over with a smoke in their mouth then get in a fight with another driver after the race.

    Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Richard Petty, Harry Gant etc..
     
  10. Godfather

    Godfather Formula Junior

    Nov 7, 2002
    487
    Fiorano
    #10 Godfather, Jul 3, 2008
    Does this mean that Kyle Busch won't be returning? :)
     
  11. gsjohnson

    gsjohnson Formula 3

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    #11 gsjohnson, Jul 3, 2008
    I sometimes wonder if Nascar has fogotten what put them on the map. And that was one of the first live televised Daytona 500s where the Allison Brothers and Cale got into fist-a-cuffs on the track apron after Donnie and Cale took each other out on the last lap for the win.
     
  12. Papa G

    Papa G Formula 3

    Dec 29, 2003
    1,406
    #12 Papa G, Jul 3, 2008
    Now that's how you make an entrance to prime time :)
     
  13. ADON

    ADON Formula 3

    Feb 8, 2007
    1,059
    #13 ADON, Jul 3, 2008
    I was never much of a Mark Martin fan till I saw how much training he does in the gym on a daily basis to keep in shape and stay competitive. Props to the old guy! He also seems like a true gentleman, as mentioned.
     
  14. ferraripete

    ferraripete F1 World Champ

    Nov 5, 2003
    11,560
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    #14 ferraripete, Jul 3, 2008
    +2
     
  15. ferraripete

    ferraripete F1 World Champ

    Nov 5, 2003
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    #15 ferraripete, Jul 3, 2008
    they have forgotten. the core fans must consider martin stayin in this thing as a real victory! one of the last good guys in the sport!!
     
  16. cantsleepnk

    cantsleepnk Formula Junior

    Dec 29, 2005
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    #16 cantsleepnk, Jul 3, 2008

    We're trying to have our bases covered just in case Ferrari decides to get into Nascar. :D
     
  17. RP

    RP F1 World Champ

    Feb 9, 2005
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    #17 RP, Jul 4, 2008
    Some of us like all forms of motorsports. NASCAR is how I get my need filled for real side by side competition, I don´t get that from F1. Even IRL is better for that. F1 fulfills my need for technical racing. I used to like them both equally, I must admit the COT despite its safety turned me off of NASCAR a bit, but its still fun to watch in person.

    Two totally different forms of motorsports, and I recommend going to a NASCAR superspeedway event before you criticize the sport.
     
  18. gsjohnson

    gsjohnson Formula 3

    Feb 25, 2008
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    #18 gsjohnson, Jul 4, 2008
    +1
     
  19. cantsleepnk

    cantsleepnk Formula Junior

    Dec 29, 2005
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    Detroit, MI
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    Nick
    #19 cantsleepnk, Jul 4, 2008
    It's official . Mark Martin to Rick Hendrick Motorsports in 2009.
     
  20. ferraripete

    ferraripete F1 World Champ

    Nov 5, 2003
    11,560
    san diego/charlotte
    #20 ferraripete, Jul 4, 2008
    +2 ron...well said.
     
  21. DAYTONASME

    DAYTONASME Formula Junior

    Jan 12, 2007
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    DAYTONASME
    #21 DAYTONASME, Jul 8, 2008
    +3

    - great news for Mark Martin

    - shame about Dario Franchitti

    - maybe Red Bull should let Brit Ben Collins behind the wheel?

    - Kyle Busch for '08 Champion

    E
     

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