Mark Martin hasn't had talks about running full 2010 season
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Friday, March 20, 2009
BRISTOL, Tenn. – Mark Martin says he loves being a full-time driver but he’s not ready to decide if he wants to convince team owner Rick Hendrick that he wants to drive the No. 5 car full time in 2010.
After completing the pole-winning lap Friday for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, Martin said he has a part-time contract with Hendrick Motorsports for 2010 and he’s not ready to talk about trying to change that.
“I love what I’m doing and I don’t want to quit racing, but I have not had a conversation with my wife, with Hendrick Motorsports, with anybody about that,” Martin said. “It’s way too premature to talk about that. I have a [part-time] contract for next year. … I don’t want to talk about next year.”
Last summer when Martin announced his signing with Hendrick Motorsports, he and Hendrick announced that Martin would drive a full season in 2009 with a part-time role in 2010. The other driver was not announced, although Brad Keselowski and Landon Cassill were considered the top candidates to share the ride with Martin.
The 50-year-old Martin has driven part time the last two years and 2009 was seen as his best chance – and likely the last chance – for him to win a title by going to Hendrick Motorsports and replacing Casey Mears in the No. 5 car.
The season hasn’t started out the way Martin wanted; he is 34th in the driver standings after four races. The start hasn’t affected his attitude about running the full season, though. A year ago, he was home for the Bristol race.
“I have looked around, and I have found nothing for the next chapter,” Martin said. “There’s nothing else I want to do. I can be on the beach anywhere in the world today and this is where I want to be.
“I’m not ready to quit. … I want to do what’s right for everybody.”
Martin said the move to Hendrick wasn't about winning the championship.
"You guys were the ones that said that I wanted to win a championship," Martin said in addressing the media after winning the pole. "I told y'all that I wanted to drive a race car that could win a race, and I'm doing that."
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15 responses to "Mark Martin hasn't had talks about running full 2010 season". Post a Comment.
Bob Koba said:
Mar 20, 2009 at 6:57 PMCome on already. This year has barely began. Lets not get on next year already.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMark A. said:
Mar 21, 2009 at 1:45 AMI agree with bob, give it a rest and us a break. 1st race of the season and the commentator's and media were already carrying on about the championship. Enough already. It's just as bad when they compare last year to this. oh, my bad, everything's exactly the same. Take each race for what it is and stop the drama.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportRodney Chapman said:
Mar 21, 2009 at 8:01 AMIsn't this the same Mark Martin that went on his famous "salute to the Fans" two seasons ago? Wiah he'd stayed retired!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJack Keough said:
Mar 21, 2009 at 11:48 AMretire for good and give the ride to some young guy you couldnt win a championship in your prime and you wont do it now.quit before you become DW
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» Confirm Abuse ReportDaniel Kelley said:
Mar 21, 2009 at 2:23 PMIf you don't like Mark, don't read about him! It was Roush's idea to keep Mark in the car for 1 more year after his "Salute to the Fans" Tour. Then he got an opportunity to go part time so he took it, which gave him time to support his son. When his son gave up racing he decided to go back racing full time. And I believe he is still capable of driving the car. 2 years ago he was in the top 10 for almost half the season and that was being a part time driver. I believe that he will be in the Chase, if he has the equipment to get him there.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBernie said:
Mar 21, 2009 at 6:16 PMMark has said he doesn't want to talk about the 2010 season yet let alone the points, the Chase or the championship. I wish media would leave that alone for a while.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportGinger said:
Mar 21, 2009 at 7:02 PMMark Martin brought this issue up. If it's too premature to talk about it, why was he the one that brought it up?
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» Confirm Abuse ReportLinda said:
Mar 21, 2009 at 7:29 PMGinger absolutely. Martin made the statements, and there are recordings of these statements. He also made the statement it came out too soon, that it shouldn't have come out before June. He's trying to retract his statements because of the issues involved. I'd bet anything that it is an absolute untruth that he has not had discussions with Hendrick about it. He just got caught in something that was not ready to be released.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportNancy Willson said:
Mar 21, 2009 at 8:02 PMI completely agree with #5 comment. And for those of you who think Mark is too old - take a look at the shape he is in. He is never out of breath when doing post-race interviews, such as a certain famous young driver always is. He is in better shape than many of those young drivers #4 thinks could win. #7 and #8, do you two think Mark would just bring up next year for the heck of it? It's the media that is constantly bringing up stupid topics such as next year while we're only 4 races in.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBernie said:
Mar 21, 2009 at 10:18 PMThanks Nancy!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportRex Lee said:
Mar 23, 2009 at 9:05 AMMark Martin can win a championship. He's in some of the best equipment any owner has to has to offer. Martin is a racer that expects to win everytime he rolls off. He's in great shape and when his stuff is running good and hooked up he runs well. As far as saying he was going to retire and then decided not to. People in the owners relm must have thought he is still a winning driver. Besides don't you change your mind about things your going to do?
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» Confirm Abuse ReportHoward Englishman said:
Mar 24, 2009 at 11:38 AMMark is the one who is talking about the contract extension. Rick offered him a multi year contract from the start and Mark only signed for the 2009 season. The only thing this hurts is Brad who wont be in a ride again in 2010.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbob chimento said:
Mar 26, 2009 at 10:54 AMI got nothing aginst Mark except... It's over... he did his farewell tour already... give it up.. Go BlueDuece!!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportannomyous said:
Mar 28, 2009 at 10:57 AMWho CAres, GO TO YOUR ROCKING CHAIR OLD MAN
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJason Andes said:
Mar 28, 2009 at 1:04 PMDo you people have nothing better to do than to bash Mark Martin? He is one of the most respected drivers that has ever set in a racecar. Try bashing someone who deserves it like Kyle Bush who talks to his crew like they are dogs, talented he is but has no respect for anyone. For those of you who dont know or havent followed the sport long enough,Mark was stripped of enough points in 1990 that it cost him the championship. The infraction was something that the team had used in the past with no penalty. Mark has more IROC championships than anyone, a former series where the 12 best drivers in the world from the previous year compete against each other.Not to mention he has more Nationwide victories than anyone. If not for rain, engine problems,and tire failure due to debris he would easily be in the top five in points, with at least one win this year. I am confident that Mark could get a ride with ANY of the major teams today. All you people who say its over for Mark you better like the taste of crow, because you will eat plenty this year.
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