Mark Martin leaving DEI at end of the season
Quote selected text Published June 22nd, 2008 in NASCAR News
NASCAR veteran Mark Martin will have a new racing home in 2009, ESPN.com has learned. Martin was unavailable for comment Sunday. Officials for Martin’s current team, Dale Earnhardt Inc., would neither confirm nor deny the speculation, but did confirm that young Aric Almirola would run a full-time schedule in 2009.
“Aric is ready for a full-time ride,” said John Story, DEI vice president of motorsports operations. “There’s a lot of interest in sponsorship for Aric. He’s a bright young guy and a hell of a race car driver.
“He fits a lot of company’s demographics with his age and Hispanic background. And first and foremost he can drive. We have to get him in a car full time somehow, some way.”
Almirola has shared the No. 8 U.S. Army Chevrolet with Martin for the past two seasons. Martin has been pivotal in mentoring DEI’s young driving stable, especially Almirola and Regan Smith.
“He’s been very good to us and very helpful, and good to our other drivers, so we’re working through what’s best for Mark, for Aric and for DEI,” Story said. “We have five guys we’d like to run full time, and Mark doesn’t want to run a full-time schedule.
Bookmark to:
- Martin says no to full-time schedule again
- Martin still may race Ford truck for Roush in 2007
- Martin to race for Hendrick in Busch car at Michigan
- Martin appears to be headed to MB2 in Cup in 2007
- Roush and Ford Offer Martin Big $$ for One More Year?
Without Martin, the only plausible asset DEI still have is
Martin Truex Jr, and his desire to leave is well documented.
DEI is in fact a sinking ship
DEI wants a drivers championship, Mark is not willing to put in that commitment so he has to go.
I don’t think there will be any hard feelings, but then again this is kind of an abrupt move (at least as far as public knowledge)
More then likely this also has to due with the Army Sponsorship going to BDR next year. It’s got to be a lot easier to find sponsorship for a full time driver with a chance to win the championship, then two part time ones without a chance to even make the chase.
I don’t expect Mark to go to RCR or even Penske if Newman leaves, however I think he may end up in either the 2nd BDR car with Army sponsorship (maybe running part time with front row Joe), or he may end up in next years 4th JGR car to help get that car ready for a full time 2011 season with Joey
And a little bit of a long shot, but with some of the rumors that I’ve heard, Vavoline may be looking to return to Roush, and Ragan has not been signed for next year yet. Mark could return to that team in either a full time or part time role.
Or he could have retired a few years ago when he signed off on all that retirement tour merchandise that he made millions of dollars off of……
Mark needs to retire, I know that with Matt not racing now he has alot of time on his hands but he had his chance to win a championship several times. Jack will not take him back, his best bet is to stay at DEI. its does not look good for them. Can you say SINKING SHIP, where is Max? how come John Story is doing all the talking now?
Good point howie.
Max was the public face of the team and
now we hear nothing of him.
I didn’t even notice his abscence
John Story is the Vice President and General Manager
Max Siegel is the President Of Global Operations
Maybe they take turns being the public face. l0l
President of Global Operations? lol What a title for a NASCAR team
What global operations do they do?
Andrew just about every NASCAR team has that position. Global Operations includes things like Licensing since merchandise (including video games) are sold worldwide.
they only hired Max from the music world to try to keep Dale. he was at every race last season. now that they didnt get Dale you hardly see him . BAD INVESTMENT
max is too busy with investments for the max and jennifer siegel foundation based in cornelius, nc.