Report: Mark Martin to replace Mears at Hendrick-UPDATE
Quote selected text Published June 23rd, 2008 in NASCAR News
UPDATE:
The speculation comes as rumors swirl about Mark Martin’s future with Dale Earnhardt Inc. He’s previously been mentioned as a candidate to split the Cup schedule with Scott Speed at Red Bull Racing, but there could also be a similar role for him in the #5 car for Hendrick. One scenario could have Martin splitting the seat time with Brad Keselowski, who currently drives a Nationwide Series car for JR Motorsports.
Hendrick is partners with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in that venture, and Martin occasionally drives a car for them in that series. Martin is currently splitting a ride with Aric Almirola for DEI, but the team wants Almirola in a full-time ride in 2009. “Aric is ready for a full-time ride,” said DEI vice president John Story. “We have to get him in a car full time somehow, someway.”
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Casey Mears and Mark Martin look to be on the move, and their futures might be linked.
Mears’ future with Hendrick Motorsports appears in jeopardy, ESPN.com has learned. Although Mears has one year left on his contract, team owner Rick Hendrick would not commit to the driver of the No. 5 car beyond this season.
“I’m committed to him right now,” Hendrick said on Sunday at Infineon Raceway. “I’m committed to him making that car run better right now.”
Earlier on Sunday, sources told ESPN.com that Martin would leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. Later, ESPN.com learned that he would replace Mears, making one last full-time run at a championship.
- Martin to run first Busch race for Hendrick
- Reports: Mears to replace Vickers at Hendrick before seasons’ end
- Martin to race for Hendrick in Busch car at Michigan
- Martin prepared to replace Gordon if baby calls
- Report: DEI close to re-signing Martin Truex, Jr
It won’t work, If he wants to make one last full time run either stay at DEI (where he is only like 300 points out of the top 12 and that is with not running every race) or go to JGR, but do not go to a team that can barely co-exists as it is now, not to mention the fact that if he thinks that HMS would actually give him a good shot at winning a championship when they have 3 other drivers that would be committed to the team for more then a year mark really really has to be stupid.
As I wrote on my blog today, It is plausible and would be a good combo.
Martin and Hendrick seemed to work well during the limited number of
Busch Races Martin did for them last year
how many “last good runs” is he going to make at a championship? i get tired of these drivers retiring but then coming back for 5 more years. hendrick would be better served with investing in a younger driver that could give him 10 good years…even though there isn’t somebody in the pipeline just yet.
that’s the only “plausible” explanation i could come up with…hendrick needs a bridge to landon cassel or some other young guy…and martin is it. otherwise mark needs to stay retired.
Has Mark Martin lost his mind? I thought he was retiring? (as I scratch my head in confusion because I thought he was supposed to retire a long time ago) This man will not leave. I’m just not looking forward to dropping more money on more Mears Gear and Sorenson Stuff in the same year, if they even get to join a new team if not I will be saving money. It gets almost as costly to replace their stuff as replacing my MLB and NFL jerseys. Oh well! HMS is stupid to sign a guy for just “1″ year, which could be more since Martin wont go away. If they intend to bring up Brad, that wouldn’t be such a bad idea but I don’t know why they wouldn’t stick it out with Mears then. I realize Mears isn’t the best (hense why I cheer for him and Sorenson) but why hire someone for 1 year.
Im goin to find that rockin chair and install a 5 point safety harness and strap him in it in 2009
sorry for cuss forget
What is so funny is that all the haters (jr) stated how much better DEI would be if they had mark martin over JR. HOW DID THAT WORK OUT? NOT TO GOOD!
This is ridiculous. I can hardly believe that Hendrick would do that. It’s nuts!
Poor Kasey Mears…he just can’t find a team that truly believes in him and will give him a fair shake!
NUTS!!!!
Sam wrote:
I’ve seen more people saying that Mark should have retired years ago when he said he was going to to help his sons racing career, then I have seen people say that Mark was a good move for DEI.
Personally I think any driver that wants to run part time should do so in their own EQ and not another teams.
CASEY mears…god i can’t even spell correctly.
when Dale left DEI it was the beginning of the end. no Earnhardt no DEI. Teresa does not care, she sits on Srs boat and just watches Srs hard work go down the tubes. like Kevin said DEADBEAT CAR OWNER
They got Kerry and Jeffery…. l0l
Fisha695 wrote:
NOT, Kerry is happy with his family and they always said they wouldnt waste money on him. Jeffery is far from ready for a Cup ride.
Howie I have to agree with this
when Dale left DEI it was the beginning of the end. no Earnhardt no DEI. Teresa does not care, she sits on Srs boat and just watches Srs hard work go down the tubes. like Kevin said DEADBEAT CAR OWNER
She is a DEADBEAT as Kevin said and she will not stop until DEI is a museum like Smoke said! Truex in my mind could be the one going to HMS, then there is Newman and others saying Smoke will leave JGR. What a silly season again!!!!
I agree with nate. HMS needs to invest in some younger drivers as opposed to 1 maybe 2 or 3 years with martin. I think it just makes more sense, Hendrick will be able to get alot more out of a young, up and coming driver who can run a full schedule since martin will most definatly not run a full season next year.
So, lets see now, Mark Martin has driven for Roush Racing, DEI, possibly Hendrick, so in 2010 is it going to be RCR and then in 2011 JGR?
I will just say ESPN has been wrong before so we will see what happens. Of all the drivers out there i think Truex would be the best fit provided they can get Bono Manion to come with him since they have great chemistry.
Sure are a lot of “experts” on this site and I don’t usually jump into the snake-pit but MM
“making one last full-time run at a championship” would not only be a good idea for NASCAR and for Hendrick.
Face it, NASCAR needs an older ‘leader’ that some of us more senior fans can continue to support. Hey
I throw my support to Tony S. (and I don’t like the fact that Toyota is in Cup, but they are and I have
to live with it)and Jr. It took a bit of time after Sr. left us but something about Jr. keeps me involved
and teaming MM with the group can’t do anything but be helpful. He has been very helpful over at DEI, in
fact, probably their saving grace over the past year plus.
Regarding Hendrick Motorosports, there is little doubt that their program would benefit from the MM
experience, especially when you tie it together with the existing drivers. Team Hendrick has been decent
this year but needs a stimulant and MM could be that shot in the arm they need. Jr. has helped but he
brings his own fans and most don’t really get behind the 24 or 48.
Finally, yes, too bad for Mears. However, there are several opportunities out there and I’m sure he’ll
find his niche.
Have a great week.
Godspeed Scott Kalitta.
-rb
Martin is beginning to look like a desperate
old man trying to hold on to his youth—
Perhaps when his son decided to quit
racing for other interests, Mark couldn’t
give up on some contact with racing???
Was Mark living through his son and with
that option gone he can not give it up…..
I think martin is trying to hang around long enough until his son matt martin is ready to come up.
from what I hear he is quite good
Andrew wrote:
Matt has gone against his fathers wishes and has quit racing to go to school, smart kid I think.
AmpMD88 wrote:
Don’t forget that stint at MB2MBV/Ginn/whatever the heck it was called…. l0l
Howie Motorsports Photography wrote:
I know that’s the way it is presented in public, but I think it was more of his grades started to drop and for once “celebrity” parents did the right thing and made their kid focus on school.
However he will be back in a car racing full time soon.
If Mark wants to make a serious “1 last run” at a championship, then he has two teams that can give him that true chance. Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing.
ANY sponsor would accept Mark Martin, even for just a year.
Could it be that Tony will remain loyal to his contract with Gibbs for one more year, and then leave JGR to go to either HMS or RCR? Is Mark taking 1 last full season run at a championship with a championship team….. while at the same time acting as a “place holder” for where Tony Stewart will end up?
Howie wrote;
Matt has gone against his fathers wishes and has quit racing to go to school, smart kid I think.
I agree! Education is worth more today than having fun racing. What happens if racing doesn’t work? That is why Greg Newman made Ryan go to college! It was tough love but it was the best for him. He has something to fall back on and he can still be in racing with his vehicular structural engineering degree when he quits driving.
I see mark going 2 HMS for a year then JR motorsports to help get a Cup team started for Jr.
I think Bringing Brad up to cup is a Bad idea. Yeah he is doing good in Nationwide, but face the facts there are only 5-10 competitive cars in the Nationwide series whereas there are 25-35 competitive cars in the Cup series.
James, Smoke WILL NOT end up at RCR or HMS. The only way he leaves Gibbs is if he gets ownership, and HMS & RCR WILL NOT even consider giving him 1% ownership.
Which5-10 competitive cars in the Nationwide series whereas there are 25-35 competitive cars in the Cup series.
James, Smoke WILL NOT end up at RCR or HMS. The only way he leaves Gibbs is if he gets ownership, and HMS & RCR WILL NOT even consider giving him 1% ownership.
Which is why he may go to Haas and get part ownership
Haas is basically a Hendrick clone with 2 teams
Haas is an R&D team with one objective and that is to test parts/pieces for various race teams as well as parts/pieces designed on the CNC Machines. I don’t see Smoke going there because unless he gets 100% ownership of that team they will remain an R&D team like they currently are.
The aren’t an R&D team.
I would actually argue the opposite and say that the engines and chassis
they get from Hendrick are of 2nd grade status..
you can bet that when the dust settles that the end of the 2009 season the sign on the door will read STEWART/HAAS RACING. with heavy backing from HMS and Chevy. Their is no other way for Tony he talks alot about racing again in the IRL and spending more time at his 2 tracks and this is his way of getting more time to do that. wait and see.
Howie Motorsports Photography wrote:
I agree
I will believe it when I see it, their is a relatuionship between Rick and Rick and Roger Mears and I dont see Rick firing him unless he has a ride in place, he wont just let him go without a ride. Rick just isnt that kind of owner. Casey needs to drive better and this is his chance to do it and prove himself for the last half of the season.
Howie Motorsports Photography wrote:
Howie there are some rumors that Casey is talking to a few IRL teams about a ride next season.
I hope it’s true, I mean we have a 3rd Generation Andretti, A 2nd Generation Rahal, now all we need is that 2nd Generation Mears back in a car.
Apparently RCR is interested in Casey. General Mills is interested in Casey as well, and they’re going to be a sponsor at RCR next year. That’s what I read on NASCAR.com anyway.
Unless one of RCR’s drivers wins the Cup this year so that Richard could pull a Penske I don’t see a driver that is not a former champion going into that 33 car
Chelsea wrote:
I dont know about about that, Casey is what 30 now, I dont know if he is who Richard would have in mind as a young driver, that is not young. I think if he was going to go with a driver that old he would go with Scott who is only a couple of years older than Casey and is already driven for him.
I don’t think Casey will go back to the IRL. Atleast, he shouldn’t. I only say that because I don’t want to hear that he only got his start because of uncle Rick. I can’t believe Hendrick though. He stuck it out with Kyle and Brian for the rest of their contracts. Casey has done a good job of being an HMS team player. He is the only HMS driver to sign on an almost weekly basis at his merchandise hauler, except for the week when it broke down and he shouldn’t have signed when it still had Kyle Busch’s name on it. I’m glad he finished well this weekend. Hopefully he will keep finishing well and showing other teams what he can do. I will support him wherever he goes. I just hope not the IRL.
41Reed5Casey wrote:
Well here how that goes, any top drivers like Jimmy, Jeff, and Dale and so on cannot sign autographs on the trailers due to insurance reasons. you will never see a top driver on a trailer. second MA only brought 11 out of 21 trailers out there because of fuel. and last they need to bring certain drivers out to sign so that their merchandise moves quicker.
2006 at Pocono Jr was signing stuff at his trailer
Thanks Fisha…I was about to say I have Matt Kenseth, Martin Truex Jr., Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Rusty Wallace, Dale Jarrett, Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch (i gave that one to my friend), and Carl Edwards and that is all I can think of off the top of my head just sitting here. I realize these guys may not be considered “top” in everyone’s books but I stood in line for hours to get them. And I’m pretty sure the HMS website and Casey’s website didn’t go to those kinds of lengths to make up the fact that his trailer couldn’t make it to Phoenix because it broke down in Texas, but I could be wrong.
I’ve been to California Speedway twice a year for 5 years, and each time I go, there are lots of drivers signing merchandise in their merchandise haulers. I’m not talking about Nationwide drivers either. We’re talking Sprint Cup - best of the best - drivers. Some do tickets, some don’t.
what, he has not been out in years, i dont remember that. he has 4 trailers and im usually around one of them on saturday. it must have been for 5 minutes because i never heard of it and Chuck is the one who would have brought him out on the cart and he never said nothing about it. did you hear that from someone because he is not allowed by policy to come out and its been that way for years
41Reed5Casey wrote:
i didnt say all the drivers just the top drivers , if you got Tony it had to be many many years ago.Matt , Martin, Rusty, Dale, Ryan, and Kurt are not considered top merchandise movers so they go out and sign to move diecast, hats, shirts etc.
Howie Motorsports Photography wrote:
It was on a Sunday, and the sign said that Dale Jr would be there from 10am till 10:15am And the only reason I remember that was because I was trying to walk over to were the rc car track thing was set up to play with that and I had to walk my lazy but all the way back around that row of merchandise trailers because of the massive throng of people in front of that trailer. They had security Guards and a few of those metal railing barriers set up to form a line.
from 10-till 10:15 , 15 minutes that was weird and on a sunday morning, usually between church services, hospitality, and then drivers meeting. i still dont remember that and it was in 2006. he has not been allowed to come out in years. its even in his contract.their are certain roush drivers that come out on sunday but alot of them dont come out anymore since Sports Design broke off from MA this year.
You people are blowing smoke out your A S S. It’s all Media hipe to get the fans stirred up.
M Martin is one heck of a driver no matter what he drives. He is the most respected driver on the track and knows them all. He brings years of experience and knowledge plus savy to anyones table and these young drivers have nothing on him on or off the track.
As for Mears, the guy is a great person off the track, but he is lacking in the driving area, even if he is Rick Mears line. Nothing againist ya Casey.
I say, Martin will go where he is needed, without us having anything to say about it in the end.
Go Martin. One more time at bat.
Mel wrote:
Yes Mark is a good driver and a good guy but unfortunatly he just doesnt have the racing luck to go with it. the difference between Kyle and the rest of the field right now lady luck is in his hip pocket but who knows how long she will stick around.
until it comes from the horses mouth i aint buyin into any of it…thats like sayin that smoke is gonna replace casey mears….if it isnt comin from the horses mouth it’s all speculation…and how many last hurrahs can one driver have!!!!geeez
Mark Martin and Dale Jr have one thing in common:::: Neither one of them will NEVER
win a championship! Dale Jr has had more unjustified hype than anyone in history. I think if his old man were still alive he would tell you the same. So all of you Dale Jr bandwagoners, get used to Jr sucking Hendrick or notr!