[simple simon]

Mark Martin has added three races to his NASCAR Nextel Cup schedule, Ginn Racing announced Tuesday. He will now drive the No. 01 Chevrolet at Pocono (Aug. 5), Richmond (Sept. and Dover (Sept. 23), bringing his total number of 2007 points races to 24.


Martin is 15th in the driver standings despite skipping three of the first 11 races this season. He and teammate Regan Smith have combined to put the No. 01 Chevy into sixth place in owner points.


Martin will compete in the next five Cup events -- including Saturday night's non-points Nextel All-Star Challenge -- before skipping the road-course race on June 24 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

NASCAR.COM - Martin adds three races to part-time Cup schedule - May 15, 2007

[simple simon]

any chance he runs a full slate next year ?

[LSC9901]

I don't think he'll run a full schedule again. If he misses the chase by a few points then that may change but even getting into the chase doesn't get him the championship. I think he is in it for the enjoyment this year

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by simple simon

any chance he runs a full slate next year ?

I see him pulling a Roger Clemens next year... starting the season on the sidelines, but coming in when some team needs him to help their Chase prospects and get their owner points up. Or not. Maybe he'll just run another part-time schedule.

[Racer Duck]

Mark is doing what he hasn't done for 20 years .. racing for the fun of it. He doesn't need the money, he's at peace with not winning a championship, he has nothing else to prove, he's in an enviable position of being able to play or not as he chooses.

[Nevadastars]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Mark is doing what he hasn't done for 20 years .. racing for the fun of it. He doesn't need the money, he's at peace with not winning a championship, he has nothing else to prove, he's in an enviable position of being able to play or not as he chooses.

He's fortunate that he can drive a competitive car without the owner and sponsors demanding a full season and a shot at the Cup. There aren't too many rides out there that are willing to cater that much to a driver. Most semi-retired drivers end up in non-competitive cars, and are usually just field fillers. I know if I was an owner and had a car capable of running up front every week............it would have the same driver in it the entire season.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Nevadastars

He's fortunate that he can drive a competitive car without the owner and sponsors demanding a full season and a shot at the Cup. There aren't too many rides out there that are willing to cater that much to a driver. Most semi-retired drivers end up in non-competitive cars, and are usually just field fillers. I know if I was an owner and had a car capable of running up front every week............it would have the same driver in it the entire season.

Great point. It's a good deal for Mark but if you're an owner of a really competitive ride which is playoff material, you're screwing yourself by letting Mark run part time.

About the only positive I could see about running such a deal is the additional marketability to a sponsor by Martin's driving his rolling billboard around the track.

I'm like you, in that if I had a car and team like the #01, I'd be looking long and hard for a driver who didn't want to "Hot seat."

[LSC9901]

With him now running some more races maybe their thought is if he can do well enough to get into the chase the rest really won't matter. If he could run a partial season and do that, it might become a more prevelant situation where ready to retire drivers would consider a part time job with the chance of top honors.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

With him now running some more races maybe their thought is if he can do well enough to get into the chase the rest really won't matter. If he could run a partial season and do that, it might become a more prevelant situation where ready to retire drivers would consider a part time job with the chance of top honors.

I agree, but the operant word is "IF" he can get the car into the playoffs while on a P.T. basis.

Another view which I haven't seen is: Is this really giving Regan Smith a fair shake? How is this P.T. gig affecting his racing resume? Will he be remembered as NASCAR's Terry Hanratty? (for you youngsters he was possibly one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL but he made an almost entire career being a backup QB at Pittsburgh)

These part time assignments are great for the departing famous driver and give the fans a real "warm & fuzzy." However, there is a downside to it which is easily overlooked.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Another view which I haven't seen is: Is this really giving Regan Smith a fair shake? How is this P.T. gig affecting his racing resume? Will he be remembered as NASCAR's Terry Hanratty?

Seems like I heard Mark saying some good words about Regan and how well he's progressing. That makes me think that Mark is helping groom Regan for the full time seat he'll deserve at season's end. In the meantime, Mark's having a bunch of fun racing without "the pressure of makin' the chase" and Regan doesn't have to worry about "non-chosen qualifying"....

[jks812]

I think it's great to see Mark and hear him talk about how much fun he's having this year. And even though it's part time, I don't think it's hurting the owner to much. Everyone has talked more about Ginn Racing this year than they ever have. So even part time it has bought him alot of publicity that he hadn't had before. And it might in the future make some other driver say " if they can do that for Mark part time, how good could I run full time".

[clutch]

This surely must be to give Martin a better chance to remain high enough in the standings that if needed they can pull Regan Smith from the drivers seat to allow Mark to make the chase. I'm not to sure that will impress Regan too much but if Ginn and Mark want this option so much, why not just ride all races you feel like and keep Regan on call.

[Souporscotty]

Originally Posted by jks812

I think it's great to see Mark and hear him talk about how much fun he's having this year. And even though it's part time, I don't think it's hurting the owner to much. Everyone has talked more about Ginn Racing this year than they ever have. So even part time it has bought him alot of publicity that he hadn't had before. And it might in the future make some other driver say " if they can do that for Mark part time, how good could I run full time".

I agree with this. It's been good PR for NA$CAR and Ginn. And that,and the almighty $ is all that matters to NA$CAR.