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Jeff Owens: Don't fault Martin if he returns to Cup full time in No. 5 car

By Jeff Owens - Executive Editor

Monday, June 30, 2008

Article Rating: 3.1
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COMMENTARY

As Mark Martin ponders what appears to be a move from Dale Earnhardt Inc. to Hendrick Motorsports, perhaps reviving his full-time driving career, there is already widespread angst over the pending move.

The deal is this: Martin (though he has neither confirmed nor denied any of this) is reportedly considering leaving DEI, where he runs a part-time Cup schedule, to replace Casey Mears at Hendrick.

Though we don’t know for sure yet, there have been reports that Martin is considering scrapping his semi-retirement and jumping full time back into the race for the Sprint Cup championship.

That, of course, would be contrary to everything Martin said he wanted to do when he announced his retirement in 2006 and began running a partial schedule.

And that is what has some die-hard fans and NASCAR purists all riled up. How dare he change his mind and return full time? How dare he go back on his word?

I thought he was enjoying having some time off to spend time with his family. He’s just like all the rest, scrapping his retirement plans and jumping at the first chance to make some more money.

Those are the common refrains from fans that seem to have a problem with Martin coming out of semi-retirement and returning full time.

That’s absurd.

A man has a right to change his mind, especially one of the most respected competitors this sport has ever seen. To criticize Martin for wanting to come back and race full time is blasphemy against a NASCAR star that has few blemishes on his career record and few on his character.

If Martin, one of the most honest, genuine drivers the sport has ever seen, says he has had a change of heart, so be it. Let him come back and race full time.

If he were returning simply for money, then fans should let him have it, especially since he cashed in on a retirement tour.

Others – I won’t name names, but they know who they are – have done just that, taking uncompetitive rides just to make big money. Some came back to help out a friend; others did it just to cash another big check.

One driver you have to credit for not doing that is Rusty Wallace, who embarked on an elaborate retirement tour and then stayed retired. Perhaps the money-making retirement tour or his TV deal with ESPN has something to do with that, but he still stuck by his word when he, no doubt, had opportunities to come back and could have done better than some of the ones who did.

If Martin does indeed return to a full-time schedule, I don’t believe money will be the driving force.

Martin is one of the most intense competitors this sport has ever seen. He has always been a driver who races for the pure joy of racing and who races to win.

If he comes back, I think he will do it for one more shot at victory with a competitive team.

He also has two big voids in his career. Though he has 35 Cup wins and more Nationwide Series victories than anyone, the two things missing from his resume are a Daytona 500 win – which he almost got last year – and a Cup championship.

He has come oh so close to winning the championship many times, finishing second or third in points eight times and in the top five 12. If he has one more legitimate shot with a top team like Hendrick, you can’t blame him for taking it.

If Martin were a money-grubbing jerk who runs over anybody and everybody, on the race track and off, then maybe fans would have a fair reason to begrudge his return.

But that’s not Mark Martin. He has been one of the classiest, most respectful drivers in the sport throughout his career. For that alone, deserves a free pass.

Though Martin insists that he enjoys the time off afforded by a part-time schedule, I can see his competitive fire tempting him to take advantage of one more golden opportunity to win races and, possibly, that elusive championship.

If you find fault with a competitor for that, well, there’s just something wrong with you.

Average Rating: 3.1

Comments

18 responses to "Jeff Owens: Don't fault Martin if he returns to Cup full time in No. 5 car"
  1. 1
    Anonymous said:
    Jun 29, 2008 at 5:05 PM

    I love Mark Martin and it would be awesome to see him come back full time and try to win the championship next year!!!

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  2. 2
    Dennis Brittain said:
    Jun 30, 2008 at 3:35 PM

    Mark is the man and can do whatever the heck he wants. He has had so much bad luck and heartbreak in his career, he deserves the chance to race in a car prepared by Hendrick Motorsports. I really do not think he needs the money. Go for it Mark. I'll be cheering you on every step of the way, just like I have done since the 80's.

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  3. 3
    Matt Rogers said:
    Jun 30, 2008 at 3:50 PM

    I don't know what kind of fans they are. They must be what the teenagers today call "Emo" because I, being only 26, still love watching the Old School guys out there! Mark Martin has been a major factor to my NASCAR addiction, and if he sticks around, then I know the fans like me - real people - will enjoy it!

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  4. 4
    Michael Donn said:
    Jun 30, 2008 at 5:17 PM

    I too love Mark Martin. He is a class act and deserves our respect. The one wild card that Jeff Owens didn't mention was the fact that Matt Martin has decided not to be a racer. I can see where that change in Marks life might have a serious effect on what Mark had planned for his future. I'll always be one of Mark's fans. I stuck with him in a "bow tie" didn't I?

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  5. 5
    Mark Ernst said:
    Jun 30, 2008 at 5:48 PM

    Mark Martin is one of NASCARs best drivers. He is a class act driver that lets the guys trying too win the race on lap fifty go by. Or will he share the ride with Jrs' boy Brad? He would be a great guy to learn from.

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  6. 6
    Malinda Dunbar said:
    Jun 30, 2008 at 7:35 PM

    I do agree that Mark's attitiude toward racing has changed now that Matt has made the decision not to race any longer. Best of luck to Mark in his future racing plans. If he does make the move to Hendrick, perhaps he will achieve that goal of winning the Daytona 500 and that missing championship! Go for it Mark !

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  7. 7
    Harry Callahan said:
    Jun 30, 2008 at 8:08 PM

    When Mark Martin retires is when I retire from watching every Cup race. That Dude is the reason I watch. With the stupid "Chase" and the never ending Lucky Dogs, I will have had enough by the time my idol retires. I just hope I can convince Arlene that her husband has another shot at what we all would like Mark to get. THE NextelSprint/Whatever Cup. I still call it Winston Cup so whoopy doo. GOOD LUCK TO MARK WHATEVER HE DESIDES !!!

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  8. 8
    emily bagwell said:
    Jun 30, 2008 at 8:15 PM

    Well, Jeff, Why are you suggesting that anyone would have an ax to grind with Mark coming back to race full time after he has been retiring for three years. Are you planting a seed? Sure would be nicer if Mark hadn't made such a big deal about driving for DEI and his supposedly respect for Dale.

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  9. 9
    Worm Dirt said:
    Jul 1, 2008 at 1:02 AM

    Rick Hendrick is no fool and hiring Martin FULL-TIME would simply be.... FOOLISH! I really really don't see it happening. MAYBE if anything a part-time deal to mentor a Keselowski or somebody who is up-and-coming, but I think even that's a LONG shot. Don't think for a second that Rick Hendrick isn't looking over at Joe Gibbs, the team he's chasing right now, and seeing his ace in the hole Lagano and others waiting on the back-burner.... If Hendrick puts Martin in the car, he's BASICALLY keeping his future driver on the sidelines while the other young bucks start getting their experience right away! Martin will end up somewhere decent, but a powerhouse team like Hendrick should be looking more toward the future.

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  10. 10
    Timothy Schultze said:
    Jul 1, 2008 at 5:18 PM

    Well said Worm i totally agree. On top of the fact that hes been retiring for the last three years.

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  11. 11
    Grover rickman said:
    Jul 1, 2008 at 8:37 PM

    I can't believe HMS would give Midget Mark a full time ride when he needs to get a good young driver some wheel time, What happened to his undying LOVE For DEI, just like his first retirement tour,$$$$$$$. If he drives the #5 full time I will not watch another Race until he does Retire, not one penny on anything HMS.

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  12. 12
    Grover rickman said:
    Jul 1, 2008 at 8:48 PM

    Jeff you are starting to sound like DW and his love for the shrub, everything in the last year that Martin has said is a lie,just like when he had to crash Brad to win a Nationwide race and how sorry he was, B.S. Please RETIRE Mark and do your fans a favor!!!!!! Whats left.

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  13. 13
    emily bagwell said:
    Jul 2, 2008 at 7:16 PM

    You know what, Jeff? I re-read this article, and it just occurred to me that you called Mark one of the most respected competitors in the sport, and I agree with you, but don't you think he needs to try and keep that repect by bowing out gracefully. He should know when it is time to go. You must think something is wrong or you wouldn't be trying so hard to convince others.

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  14. 14
    Lee Goldsmith said:
    Jul 3, 2008 at 5:30 AM

    Comments 8-13, you people are nothing but winers, Mark never has said he was going to stop racing, he did say he was going to scale back, should have been the truck series with Jack Roush, but that did not happen. This man has had some of the worst luck any driver has ever had and lost several championships in the process. Name another driver that has been in the top 3 eight years and top 5 12 years in his career. He deserves to do what ever he wants and if this is another shot for a championship then so be it, AND DON"T BE SUPPRISED IF HE DOES WIN IT IN 2009.

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  15. 15
    Timothy Schultze said:
    Jul 3, 2008 at 7:57 PM

    Oh and i want to thank my sponsors and apologize to the crew and the team the crew chief gave me a great car and if i could have carried a spare tire or two we could have won i just really let down oh well now back on with THE ROAD HOME TOUR which is what his final supposed year was called yes he said he might run a few here and there also made millions on 2005 souvenir sales Sterling Marlin Ken Schrader these drivers to name a few never actually retired. These spots on the NASCAR circuit are earned by winning not by a name or deserved so if your talking about whining just look in the mirror.

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  16. 16
    Jacki Stevens said:
    Jul 4, 2008 at 7:26 AM

    I would be disappointed if Martin does to to HMS. WHY? Because there are some really talented drivers out there looking for FULL time rides EVERY season. Ones that are not going to change their mind every other year about what they are going to do. Not that Martin is NOT talented. He is everybit of what y'all have said about him. Maybe he should have taken a REALLY good look at DEI before jumping on that bandwagon. Jr left for a reason; does anyone coming on board DEI think that DEI is going to treat them better, get them better contending cars? Proof is in the puddin folks. The answer is a resounding NO; for what ever reason.

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  17. 17
    Anonymous said:
    Jul 9, 2008 at 4:27 AM

    Mark Martin should be allowed to continue in the sport for another reason not mentioned: Look at the drivers he's helped bring along in this sport! Think Matt Kenseth for one!

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  18. 18
    Rex Lee said:
    Aug 13, 2008 at 3:54 PM

    Mark Martin is still compettitive. He still wants to race. Put him in some good equipment again and he'll win. A team with Martin alongside Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson And Tony Stewart brings class and winners [champions] together!!GO SMOKE!!! And MARK to!!

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