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Kris Johnson: Martin's move somehow misses the mark

By Kris Johnson - Associate Editor

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Article Rating: 3.0
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COMMENTARY

It's hard not to like Mark Martin. It's hard not to like Brett Favre.
    
It's hard sometimes to accept when athletes "retire" and then fail to ride dutifully off into the sunset.
    
News this week that Favre reportedly has the itch to play football again called to mind Martin's farewell tour from a few years ago.
    
Now we know that Martin will compete on a full-time basis for Hendrick Motorsports in 2009.
    
It seems like only yesterday that Martin decided his days of full-time competition were over after 19 years with Jack Roush. His loyalty to Roush during that nearly two-decade span was unquestioned.
    
There have since been two part-time seasons with Ginn Racing/Dale Earnhardt Inc. with Martin saying repeatedly how much he has enjoyed the scaled-down schedule and the privilege of driving for DEI, what great cars he's had, etc.
    
Martin will turn 50 before next season begins. He'll be in the best equipment, but his best days as a competitor are behind him.
    
It's fitting in a sense that the announcement with Rick Hendrick came on Independence Day. Because Martin is, of course, free to do whatever he pleases, and when Hendrick comes calling, surely you have to listen.
    
What a lot of folks don't want to listen to anymore? Martin's verbal bouquets about how great part-time duty and his DEI cars are - to say nothing of any future claim regarding his status as an active driver. Based on how things have played out, they'll now ring hollow.
    
There is the romantic notion of Martin getting the Cup crown that has eluded him all these years with Hendrick. It is the only thing left for him to accomplish, but a couple of years ago it wasn't enough to keep him in a car full time. So it was then that he "retired" from full-time competition.
    
Some fans resent the fact that they purchased Martin's retirement-based memorabilia during his "Salute to You" tour.
    
Scene reader Tammy Moore of Lake Station, Ind., writes, "His fans were suckered into purchasing retirement merchandise [and] souvenirs, and track owners gave him retirement gifts, then he decides to run a partial schedule. Now he wants to run a full year again. Then it's retirement Part 2, just to sell more merchandise."
    
I'm not jaded enough to think that Martin is in it for the sake of moving merchandise.
    
I also don't believe he needs a Cup title to be considered among the sport's all-time greatest drivers.
    
His legacy is secure, but it runs the risk of being diminished if Martin plays hopscotch between teams and from full- to part-time status and back again.
    
Like Favre, Martin has given much to his sport.
    
To have positive memories and feelings of goodwill taken away, or even overshadowed by decisions in the autumn of his career, would be a shame.

Average Rating: 3.0

Comments

9 responses to "Kris Johnson: Martin's move somehow misses the mark"
  1. 1
    Anonymous said:
    Jul 5, 2008 at 12:22 PM

    If you feel conned because someone chooses to remain in racing, then that's your problem. Are you saying you wouldn't have bought any merchandise if he didn't retire? Then what kind of fan are you? Retiring should have no bearing on whether or not you purchase an item. Mark could have 38 retirement tours and I'd still like him. Singers always have multiple retirement tours. His performance at Daytona last year showed he can still have at it.

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  2. 2
    Anonymous said:
    Jul 5, 2008 at 12:23 PM

    I stopped believing in Mark 2 years ago when he stuck it to Ford. After all they did for him in setting up his dealership in Batesville and throughout the years with Roush. I don't care what he might have done to Jack ("he was devastated", per Mark on Trackside) because Jack can take care of himself. But Ford was bleeding and Mark took the knife and openned up the wound so it would bleed harder.

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  3. 3
    Anonymous said:
    Jul 5, 2008 at 2:29 PM

    I am glade that Mark is going to run full time next year. I am a hugh fan of Mark Martin. I bought some of his retirement merchandise and I don't feel like I was suckered into buying it. I bought because it was Mark Martin. I have bought things from his 01 and 8 car, and I will buy more stuff as long as he is around. You go Mark!!!

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  4. 4
    Worm Dirt said:
    Jul 5, 2008 at 4:10 PM

    Great article! And not just because I agree with a lot of it. I've never bought into Martin's carefully crafted image, so yet ANOTHER revision to his political stump speech is really NO SURPRISE to me. What REALLY has me scared though is how Hendrick's decision to hire Martin could REFLECT just how bad things are within the sport right now with the economy in a slump!!! This seems like a blatant decision to secure sponsorship money INSTEAD of a move to win championships.

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  5. 5
    Anonymous said:
    Jul 5, 2008 at 5:02 PM

    He never mentioned retiring. He didn't sucker me into buying anything. He came back to Roush to drive the AAA. He wanted to run a partial series. Jack would'n't allow it. Ginn would. I guess those who can't drive write stupid articles. Those who agree are even more stupid!!

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  6. 6
    Frank Alford said:
    Jul 6, 2008 at 12:10 AM

    Mark wanted to do something and ford didn't give it to him. Ginn and Chevy did. Why blame Mark? There is not an owner in the garage that would not want Mark behind the wheel. I am a Ford fan and wish he was still in one. But I am a Mark Martin fan and have bought a lot of his stuff. If mark was driving go-garts I would watch and pull for him.

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  7. 7
    walter gruner said:
    Jul 6, 2008 at 8:37 AM

    For these writers that seem to think Mark doesn't want a championship, you shouldn't call yourselves NASCAR writers. For those that have a problem with Mark unretiring, get over it. He hasn't earned the right to do as he pleases? Seemingly with the offers of rides he gets someone still believes in him and his ability. Although some seem to think Mark owed Jack Roush something, we don't know what went on behind the scenes that maybe kind of pushed Mark away. Maybe Mark needed some time to regroup. Maybe with his son not holding an interest in racing he would take one last shot at his long overdue championship. Of all the NASCAR drivers past and present Mark Martin has earned the right to do as he pleases. He has the respect of his peers and I'd imagine that has more meaning to him than what any sports writer or angry fan thinks and deservedly so.

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  8. 8
    Anonymous said:
    Jul 7, 2008 at 5:20 PM

    I agree with most of the comments above. There are only a couple of them that I don't agree with, and they are so far off base they aren't worth noting. I'm sure that Matt Martin deciding not to race had a huge influence on Mark's decision. I don't like seeing Mark in a "bowtie", but I'm a Mark Martin fan, so I'll cheer for him no matter what he drives. As for him being washed up, I'll let Mark speak for himself in the #5 next season. As a previous racer, I know that drivers will climb into anything with wheels, that might have an outside chance of winning, just because it's what racers do. Mark still loves racing, and owners are willing to give him a class ride, Race it Mark. I didn't by ANY Mark Martin apparel when it had Viagra on it. I'm a Mark Martin fan, but I do have lines I won't cross, even for Mark. I will probably eat more Corn Flakes if that rooster is still on the hood next season. Michael Donn

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  9. 9
    4da88 said:
    Jul 7, 2008 at 11:26 PM

    So the man changed his mind. His son not racing did have something to do with it. Hendrick talked Mark into full time for one year. Oh his flowery speeches are enough to make any one ill, all that sugar. DEI is on such rocky ground it is good move for the man. Give him break, if I can, surely you can.

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