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Earnhardt Jr: Martin would be 'asset' to Hendrick Motorsports
By SceneDaily Staff
Friday, July 04, 2008
Chris Graythen
Getty Images
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – As speculation grows that Mark Martin will join Hendrick Motorsports for the 2009 Sprint Cup season, Dale Earnhardt Jr. says Martin’s willingness to help those around him would make him an asset to any team.
The organization, which fields Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 Chevrolet as part of its four-car stable, is expected to name Martin the driver of its No. 5 car for next season at a news conference scheduled for Friday at Daytona International Speedway, site of Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400.
“He’s very gracious, and he wants to help. He wants to be an asset,” Earnhardt Jr. said on Thursday at Daytona. “Whatever he’s got within arm’s reach, he wants to have a positive effect on it if it’s a driver, a team, a crew, a crewman.
“He just has a good work ethic to him, and I think ... him and Jeff Burton are very similar. And you know what Jeff did for RCR, and you know how hard Jeff works for RCR and the guys at the race track every minute of the day if he can.”
Martin, who is running a partial schedule this season in the No. 8 car of Dale Earnhardt Inc., is said to be Hendrick's replacement for Casey Mears, who is leaving Hendrick at the end of 2008.
Martin already has a relationship with the company as he is making cameo appearances this season in the Earnhardt Jr.-owned No. 5 Nationwide Series car that is fielded in partnership with Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick.
“Mark’s a great race car driver,” said Earnhardt Jr., noting that Hendrick hasn’t “announced anything yet” [about Martin]. “He’s done a great job driving the JR Motorsports cars this year. He’s a veteran that all the guys look up to, and he’s a great ambassador for the sport. I think that anybody that gets the chance to work with him can learn a lot.”
Since leaving the team now known as Roush Fenway Racing at the end of the 2006 season, Martin has driven a partial schedule. This year, he is running 26 races in the No. 8 car, which he is sharing with 24-year-old Aric Almirola.
It was announced Tuesday week that Almirola would become the full-time driver of the No. 8 car next season.
“Mark went to a partial schedule, but he still has that same work ethic,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “He’s just very gracious. ... If he can help you, he’s there. He really, really goes out of his way to try to add something to the whole puzzle. He really does.”
As for Martin’s current team at DEI, which Earnhardt Jr. competed with for eight seasons before joining Hendrick at the beginning of 2008, Earnhardt Jr. says he misses certain aspects of the company but not others.
“I miss the guys, the people,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I don’t miss the place that much. Those are some great relationships. I’d been together for a long time with those guys, and me and [DEI driver] Martin [Truex Jr.] were really, really good friends. We still are. It’s like changing schools.”
Mentioned Drivers: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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5 responses to "Earnhardt Jr: Martin would be 'asset' to Hendrick Motorsports". Post a Comment.
Anonymous said:
Jul 3, 2008 at 7:28 PMI hope Mark drives a full season for Hendrick, not just a partial ride. Go Mark ! Next to Dale Jr.,you are my favorite driver.
Anonymous said:
Jul 4, 2008 at 6:57 AMI agree. Mark please go for the championship next year! I would rather see 49 year young Mark Martin leading and winning races than punk Kyle Busch. Other than Junoir, Martin is also my favorite driver.
Jacki Stevens said:
Jul 4, 2008 at 9:08 AMI really am getting tired of this "I wanna do this.....no....never mind i wanna do that" There are drivers out there that DO want to drive full time ALL the time.. There has got to be positions available to tap Martin's vast knowledge and willingness to share w/out taking a ride away from someone.
Anonymous said:
Jul 4, 2008 at 9:10 AMMark Martin is too old for full time.. Hendrick should hire Ryan Newman to drive the 5 in 09'
jerry swiatek said:
Jul 5, 2008 at 2:08 PMMark is an Icon but I think Hendrick is making the last two decisions are not the best, hate kyle or not he brings home the bacon.