Reports: Almirola full time in the No 8, Martin in the No 5 full time in 2009
Quote selected text Published June 30th, 2008 in NASCAR News
An official announcement that Aric Almirola will drive the No. 8 car at Dale Earnhardt Inc. full time next season will be made on Tuesday, sources close to the situation said.
DEI decided to put Aric Almirola in the No. 8 car full-time because he has developed a good relationship with crew chief Tony Gibson.
Meanwhile, Mark Martin is expected to announce this week at Daytona International Speedway plans to move from his part-time role in the 8 to a full-time ride in the No. 5 car at Hendrick Motorsports in 2009.
The decision to put Almirola into the U.S. Army-sponsored car full time had nothing to do with Martin’s decision to return to a full-time Sprint Cup schedule and make one last run at a championship, sources said.
It had more to do with advancing Almirola’s talents and taking advantage of the appeal he has shown with sponsors looking for a younger driver. One of those is U.S. Army, whose target audience fits the 24-year-old Almirola much more than the 49-year-old Martin.
Sources said DEI informed Martin during the All-Star race in May that the organization planned to move forward with Almirola in a full-time ride, either in the No. 8 or 01.
At that time, Martin expressed an interest in competing in more than the 15 to 19 races he was contracted to run next season at DEI.
It was decided soon afterwards that the 8 would be the best situation for Almirola because he had developed a good relationship with crew chief Tony Gibson while splitting time with Martin.
Almirola was eighth in his first start at Bristol and was 23rd on Sunday at New Hampshire.
Martin also made it known then that he had other opportunities, Hendrick one of them, to run a full-time schedule next season.
Martin was unavailable for comment. A team spokesman said he would address the media in Daytona.
- Mark Martin leaving DEI at end of the season
- Gibbs didn’t have a sure deal for Almirola
- Report: Mark Martin to replace Mears at Hendrick-UPDATE
- Martin says no to full-time schedule again
- Almirola will make Nextel Cup debut in Las Vegas
this is interesting news, but makes sense. Martin is the type that can look at you and tell you that he does not need a title, but deep down you know its killing him and to have that on last opportunity, at Hendrick none the less. Would be interesting to see him win it and then retire, that is the ultimate dream every driver has.
Joe wrote:
No Joe, the ultimate dream for Rick you mean, Mark would sell more Championship merchandise than the last 3 champions put together and thats big bucks. just jackets alone they would make a killing.
Yeah but if Mark thinks that he’ll actually have a shot at a championship he’s kidding himself, especially is Haas keeps its connection with HMS when Smoke takes it over.
Fisha695 wrote:
Whats that got to do with the price of tea in China, Mark will be like anyone else who drives for him ex. Dale, Jeff, or Jimmy. he will have the best shot and equipment to bring a championship back to Rick.
Mears career took another downward turn when it was announced a guy old enough to be his father will replace him in the 5 car. (lol)
Dustin wrote:
While your point is still true, Mark is only 19 years older then Casey, (29 years older then me)…. but wow now that I think of it that way 49 is old…. l0l
if Dale JR wins a championship with Hendrick, which regardless what most of you think, he is capable of doing….he will sell more merchandise than the dealers can put out….i wouldnt mind seeing Mark win a title, i pulled for him hard in 2005 when he made a serious run at it…mainly cause there was 4 roush cars in the chase that year….and i hate roush except for martin at the time….
but i dont think the 5 car will be as competitive as the other 3 cause of the money rick has to shellout to JR, JG and JJ….were talking MILLIONS….Jr makes what $30 mill….Gordon makes $31 mill at HMS…dont make no sense b/c JG has way more stuff than JR and JJ only gets like $26 mill and hes a bk 2 bk champ…but i do see that 5 car winning races and being up there but in contention for the cup…doubtful even with its best chance in a long time with Martin behind the wheel
darrell wrote:
There is no difference in cars or motors only setups and personel but it’s all about team chemistry and mostly the relationship between crewchief driver and spotter but it only takes one rotten egg to spoil the whole carton
Mark Martin is determined to be Dale Jr’s teammate. Lol.
Jack and I are real good friends, I have a lot of respect for Jack …what an opportunity to drive for a great orginization like DEI and Dale and I were such good friends…..What’s the new line going to
be? 49 sounds young to me since I’m staring at 50, but as I’ve posted before…Marky Mark should finally give it up an retire, really retire. I lost all respect for him when I heard him screaming like a spoiled
little kid for his spotter to tell all the other drivers to stay away from him and give him
plenty of room…”I’M RACING FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP”. So you are right, he wants a championship
and he’d probably trade his left n~t for it…that is if he has one.
Howie Motorsports Photography wrote:
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Are you saying that he will have a better chance to win a championship over JJ< JG< DJR?
How long till DEI turns into yates and is struggling to get sponsors, so begins the downfall of DEI
I was married to my high school sweetie and a father at 18. I graduated a year earlier. No she wasn’t pregnant either. Where Martin comes from, they have a lot of 15 year olds having babies. So, yes, Martin is definitely old enough to be Mears’ father.
I find myself agreeing with rowdy
its only a matter of time
Sam wrote:
He will have the same equipment as the other 3, everyone at HMS gets equal equipment.
Howie Motorsports Photography wrote:
And the Dalai Lama is getting it on with the Queen of Sheba……….
Howie Motorsports Photography wrote:
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Did he have the same equipment as Matt?
Sam wrote:
I dont know the way Jack was the last few years to Mark but I do know at HMS all the engines except the lease engines are equal and as far as chassis they are equal too. Their is no reason if he can race just as hard as the young guys he cant win a championship.
Well DEI has Kerry here in Daytona as the driver of the #8 this weekend in the Nationwide series,and word has it he will be pulled out of mothballs to drive next year in place of Paul Menard. now thats a joke.
If Paul goes, so does John’s money. Can’t see Menard sponsoring DEI car if Paul isn’t driving it.