It’s been one of the hottest topics in NASCAR for weeks.

As the sport enters a bold era with a new car and manufacturer, fans remain focused on an old warrior.

Despite leading the points in the Nextel Cup Series, Mark Martin has decided to stick to his original plan and skip Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

That will end a streak of 621 consecutive starts for Martin, who plans to return for the April 15 event at Texas Motor Speedway. It will also be the first time since 1983 that the points leader will miss a race the following week.

“There are mixed emotions, but the bottom line is that I’m gonna take a break,” Martin said. “Right now, I’m doing what I love.

“I want to keep doing it and I want to keep loving it. There have been a few times in the past few years that I didn’t love it. I just need a break.”

Regan Smith, a 24-year-old native of Cato, NY., will replace Martin in the No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet for the first-year Ginn Racing team. Smith, son of former Busch Series car owner Ron Smith, is a former World Karting Association national champion and Hooters Pro Cup standout.

“We’re just carrying out the plan and we’ll just kind of take things one thing at a time,’’ said Martin, who will also miss the April 1 event at Martinsville.

Martin, tied for second in BMS history with seven poles, won the 1998 Goody’s 500 and 1993 Bud 500 at Bristol. He also recorded two Busch Series victories at BMS.

Many members of the NASCAR family, including former Martin teammates Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton, were convinced that Martin would run the entire season. Both drivers even placed bets that Martin would return.

“We can put to rest the Bristol thing,” said Martin, after yet another round of questions this past weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. “There is certain little once-in-a-while mixed emotions. OK, I have done 621.

“You can make all the arguments that you want about changing your mind, but the bottom line is that I’m going to take a break. My family and I are committed to it. My team agreed to it.”

source: tricities.com

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