Martin doesn't envision team owner role in his future
By SceneDaily Staff
Friday, July 11, 2008
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JOLIET, Ill. - Mark Martin, a man familiar with the thought process that goes into career-altering decisions, says that he is pleased to see Tony Stewart doing what he wants with his career. That doesn't mean, though, that Martin has any interest in a team ownership role.
While he applauds Stewart for being willing to take a chance, Martin seems content in the driver role – at least for now. He recently announced plans to leave his part-time driving role at Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of this season to return to full-time competition in the Hendrick Motorsports' No. 5 Chevrolet next year. He'll chase the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship one more season and then again slip back into a part-time role as he mentors another young driver entering the Cup arena.
“It is a road that I don’t want to travel," he said when asked about team ownership while preparing for Saturday night's race at Chicagoland Speedway. "But you know, I have said a lot of stuff that I have changed my mind about. I have no interest in it at this time. But I think it is where Tony wants to be, and I think it is the right move for Tony Stewart. It is what he wants to do and he has a lot of passion for it, and I think it is the right move for him.”
He also thinks this could open the door to a full-time driving role for Joey Logano, the 18-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing that Martin has always spoken highly of and who Martin helped along earlier in his career.
"I think it will be really really exciting if Gibbs puts Joey in the No. 20," Martin said. "I have been touting him since he was 12 years old,
telling you guys he is coming."
Martin says that's the hardest part of building a team, landing the talent and keeping it. He worked closely with team owner Jack Roush for 19 years and saw that struggle up close. Perhaps that plays into the reason he doesn't think a similar role is in his future, though he's not completely ruling it out.
Martin doesn't have any immediate plans to leave NASCAR. He's been in the sport full time since 1988, running a handful of races prior to that. He's watching this weekend as Richard Petty, once a driver and now a team owner, celebrates the 50th anniversary of his first start.
Could he see himself doing that?
“I don’t know," he said. "I love racing. If I was able to do it on my terms, then I can see me here 50 years. I am halfway there. Certainly could see that if I was having fun and I could contribute to an organization somehow. I am very interested in that.”
- Mentioned Drivers:
- Mark Martin
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