[WVGrandma4Kasey]

/ Associated Press
Posted: 1 hour ago
TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) - Mark Martin has decided he isn't ready to slow down.






The longtime NASCAR star, contemplating retirement from the Nextel Cup series for the past two years, will instead leave Roush Racing at the end of this season to drive a partial Cup schedule for MB2 Motorsports in 2007.
"What I'm going to do now gives me the opportunity to stay in Cup on a limited basis with great flexibility," Martin said Friday at Talladega Superspeedway. "What I want to do now doesn't fit in with what's going on at Roush Racing."
Roush has fielded a Ford for Martin in NASCAR's top series every year since 1988.
"When Mark finally reconciled his somewhat conflicting desires, he settled on staying in Cup and running a 22-race schedule," said Roush team president Geoff Smith. "We had no way of accommodating that desire since all of our Cup programs were previously committed."
Smith said NASCAR now has limits on how many cars any team can run each year.
"(That) prevented Roush Racing from putting together an additional team for Mark so, in the end, Mark had to move on in order to stay in the Cup series," Smith said. "He's meant a great deal to this organization and we certainly wish him the best in whatever he chooses to do down the road."
Martin, currently third in the standings with seven races remaining in 2006, said he remains committed to longtime boss and friend Jack Roush in running for this year's championship.
"Jack Roush and I have enjoyed a very special relationship for the past 20 years," Martin said. "Jack afforded me the opportunity to chase my dreams, and there is no way to put in words what he has meant to me, my life and my career.
Bobby Ginn, who bought an 80-percent interest in the MB2 team in August, said he hopes the addition of Martin will help elevate the entire team.
"Our goal at MB2 is to reach a new level and, with Mark joining our organization, it not only elevates our presence, but his knowledge and credibility will also be a viable asset to all of our race teams," Ginn said.
The 47-year-old Martin will share the ride in the No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet with rookie Regan Smith, a 23-year-old regular in the Busch Series. Martin said he will drive 22 of the 36 Cup races in 2007.
Joe Nemechek, currently racing in the No. 01, will remain with MB2, but will move to a third team entry, while Sterling Marlin will stay in the team's No. 14 Chevy.
Martin was set to give up his ride in the No. 6 Roush Ford after the 2005 season, but was convinced by Roush to stay another year because none of the team's young drivers were ready to step into the ride.
Earlier this season, it appeared Martin would leave Cup in 2007 to drive a full season for Roush in the shorter Craftsman Truck Series, but he recently began talking about the possibility of running at least a partial schedule in Cup.
Smith said several weeks ago that the team would definitely not field a Cup car for Martin in 2007 and that they were close to completing a deal with Martin to drive a Roush truck. But that deal apparently fell apart after the MB2 ride became available.
Smith said recently he knew Martin wasn't ready to leave the driver's seat.
"We have a man who's not ready for retirement, exactly," Smith said. "I'm pretty sure he's ruled out that this is the time in his life where he's ready to drive (wife) Arlene on her errands every day."
Martin had been hedging his bets in recent weeks - talking about everything from only driving trucks to racing a partial Cup schedule and trucks to racing a full-time Cup schedule in 2007.
He said Friday there remains at least a possibility that he could also race in the truck series, although no deal has been done.
"I was 39 years old when I started making my plans for the future," Martin said. "I realize at this time that was way too early. I thought that, at this age, I wouldn't be able to compete with these young guys at this level.
"But, when you can compete like I have the last couple of years and still feel you have the opportunity to win races, you have to think about it in a different way."
Meanwhile, Martin continues to drive the familiar No. 6 and the four-time Cup runner-up remains in contention for his first series title. He goes into Talladega third in the Chase for the championship, trailing leader Jeff Burton by only 70 points and one point behind rookie Denny Hamlin.
"Our focus is on winning this championship," Martin said. "I've been fighting this fight in the No. 6 car for 19 years now, and we aren't about to give up anytime soon. It's the complete focus of our attention, and we'll fight down to the very end for it." Martin, who drove his first Cup race in 1981, has started 667 Cup races and has 35 victories, 234 top-five finishes and 372 top 10s. The versatile Martin also owns a Busch Series-record 47 wins and has five more in trucks. He has 13 victories and a record five championships in the all-star IROC series.

[Quality88]

Leave already Mark. MB2 doesn't have the quality equipment that everyone else does.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by WVGrandma4Kasey

Joe Nemechek[/color][/url], currently racing in the No. 01, will remain with MB2, but will move to a third team entry, while .

I'd be really interested in hearing Joe's actual feelings on this move.

He took MB2 from a nothing team with a single top ten after Jerry Nadeau got hurt in 2003 to one which was competitive in a number of races, had a couple poles, a couple of wins and put them in a position to have a second team. His driving record Bowers' and Frye's (former owners) team attractive enough to attract Ginn, the current owner.

Maybe I'm a bit myopic, but it looks to me as though, as it stands now and that may change, Joe is being left out in the cold.

But, I could be wrong...

[dhmn]

By the time Mark actually retires, his son Matt will be racing in Trucks, Busch, or even Cup.

[WVGrandma4Kasey]

CUP: BREAKING NEWS Martin Inks 5-Year MB2 Deal


Written by: Tom Jensen Talladega, AL – 10/6/2006

SPEEDtv.com | Nextel Cup | CUP: BREAKING NEWS Martin Inks 5-Year MB2 Deal | by Tom Jensen

[A pirate]

I don't see how that leaves Joe out in the cold. He isn't going to be splitting time with Mark is he? I thought Mark was splitting time with a DD(development driver).

Why is everyone wanting Mark to retire? So he changed his mind. Jack Rousch talked him into staying after 05, and now he's going to do his own thing. The guys heart isn't into retirement. He has a "job" that most of us only will be able to dream about doing. He is clearly still a good driver.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by A pirate

I don't see how that leaves Joe out in the cold. He isn't going to be splitting time with Mark is he? I thought Mark was splitting time with a DD(development driver).

I was referring to the fact that Joe is being ejected from his current team (the one he was instrumental in helping to build), and being relegated to a third team, which as of now, is "iffy," and doesn't even have a firm sponsor.

On the flip side, Joe's performance this season has been marginal. Besides, I'm sure most racing sponsors would sell their corporate souls to acquire a driver with the name recognition of Mark Martin, even on a part time basis.

But, I could be wrong...?

[Zack Man]

I talked to Mark at the big eldora race that Smoke had for about thirty minutes. I asked if he was going to retire and he said it would definitly be his last season in the 6 car so now i guess we know his answer

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by A pirate

Why is everyone wanting Mark to retire? So he changed his mind. Jack Rousch talked him into staying after 05, and now he's going to do his own thing. The guys heart isn't into retirement. He has a "job" that most of us only will be able to dream about doing. He is clearly still a good driver.

I'm not sure anyone here actually wants to see Martin retire. Speaking only for myself, I'm just tired of his "I'm going to retire," "Oops! No I'm not. Now I'm not sure." I'm looking forward to driving in the CTS next season. That's the final plan." No. Actually, I'm not sure what the Hell I'm going to do. I'm looking at my options."

OK, Now he's finally collected the revenue from his two "Thanks to the fans" tour, and he's signed a multi-year contract with Bob Ginn to drive the Army car part time. I guess we finally have the final solution? Or wwe do at least until he decides to retire again.

In Mark's defense, I believe his recent success took him completely by surprise and he still wants to be out there. It's tough to leave when you're on top, or close to the top.

I'd like to see Mark win the thing this season. After the way NASCXAR screwed him in 1990, if there is such a thing as deserving a championship, Mark deserves one.