[Mike24]

Martin's part-time success could hurt sport in future

By Bill Kimm, NASCAR.COM
June 6, 2007
11:06 AM EDT

Take nothing away from what Mark Martin has accomplished 13 races into this season. With six top-10s and four top-fives, he's on pace to match his 2002 season when he finished runner-up to eventual champion Tony Stewart.
Which is exactly why Martin, if he keeps this up, will ruin NASCAR.


At the halfway point of the Chase, Martin currently sits 12th in points and would qualify for NASCAR's version of the postseason -- all while racing in just 10 events compared to everyone else who has raced 13.
It all started with that amazing finish at Daytona, when Martin came up just short to Kevin Harvick. Martin followed that up with two consecutive fifth-place finishes at California and Las Vegas and a 10th at Atlanta. Then the talking began.
The part-time Martin was actually leading in points. It was very conceivable he could make the Chase on a part-time schedule.
Of course, with the next two races at Bristol and Martinsville, both races in which Regan Smith would take over the No. 01 Chevy for Ginn Racing, Martin's point lead eventually evaporated.
But here we are 13 races into the schedule and Martin is Chase eligible.
This is the worst-case scenario for NASCAR.
This sport has always prided itself on being the most fan-friendly of any in America. One reason that is the case -- all 36 races on the schedule, all of the best drivers in the country are featured at one racetrack.
With Martin's success this season on a pick-and-choose basis, the NASCAR we know and love could all but disappear.
Where is the benefit for Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson or Tony Stewart or Dale Earnhardt Jr. to race 36 races? All that matters to sponsors, to teams and to drivers is make the Chase and have a shot at the championship.
Why would Junior, who is not a good road-racer with no wins in 14 combined races at Sonoma and Watkins Glen, drive at either track? There's no point.
Junior could take a couple weeks off, enjoy the break, and let an up-and-comer get some experience. Or put a ringer like a Ron Fellows or Boris Said in the car.
If a driver knows he can miss a race and not take that much of a hit in points, why not take a week or two off?


Look at this season. Johnson and Gordon are running away with the top-two point positions. It is conceivable, both drivers could take three races off, and still sit comfortably in the top 12. Not borderline, comfortably.
And with the current Chase points system, all Gordon and Johnson would have to do is make the Chase, and they will start 1-2 when it begins.


No one will win three or four races this season the way the Hendrick duo has. So when the Chase begins in New Hampshire, despite where the two finish -- as long as they are in the top 12 they will be seeded 1-2.
So is it not in their best interest to take a couple weeks off and be refreshed when the Chase starts in September?
And don't for a second think the sponsors won't be on board with this.
DuPont, Lowe's, Home Depot, Budweiser, all of them will be just fine backing a car for all 36 races, as long as their money driver gets into the Chase. There is no way one of those sponsors will take their precious dollars away because their marquee driver takes a few weeks off, it just isn't logical.
It's a win-win for all involved. Drivers get a few weeks off, owners get some young guy valuable track time, sponsors will still see their car in the Chase -- the only people who suffer are the fans.
All the Sonoma fans that pay big bucks to see Junior race, get Fellows in the No. 8 instead. Or everyone at Richmond who expected to see Gordon and Johnson battle for the points lead heading into the Chase don't even see the No. 48 or No. 24 on the track because -- well honestly, there is no need.
Gordon has already said this has given him a new outlook on his career.
"I can tell you what, what Mark has done has probably extended my career," Gordon said. "It's now going to make me look at when that day comes when I feel like I can no longer race full time in the Cup Series. I might still want to race part time.
"I'm not saying we could pull it off, but it's something I would consider now,"
That statement scares me.
I don't want NASCAR turning into golf. I don't want to see Gordon, Johnson, Junior and Stewart turn into Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh and Ernie Els and pick which events they will participate in. I want to know when I go to a track, my favorite driver is going to be there.
Don't get me wrong, what Martin has done has been impressive. And if he can make the Chase on a part-time schedule, even more of a feat. But the next time you go to a race or turn on the TV expecting to see your favorite driver only to see a guy in that car you've barely heard of -- blame Mark Martin.
Unbeknownst to him, he has changed the way drivers look at a 36-race schedule, and it's not for the benefit of the sport or its fans.

The opinions expressed are those solely of the writer

[wingkey1]

Oh flippin' NO!!!!!

Here come the "change the points system" folks.

Let's see. Minus 50 points for each race skipped?

Wait, wait -- no -- because then the drivers could conspire to all take off an equal number of races over the season making the 50 point deduction moot.

Okay, so what we'll do then is craft a "no conspire" rule and an associated algorithm based on 43 potential drivers, 10 of which we want to stay home anyway, factoring in 36 total races over a period of 9 months, then we'll consider ------

[Lefty Noob]

Very interesting... if a guy is pretty sure he won't gain points at a certain track, there isn't and never really has been any reason for him to drive it anyway, thus wasting money, time, fuel and potentially a good car (in the case of a wreck) by driving it. These guys can't just now be realizing this because of Mark Martin, can they? On the other hand, if one driver is sitting just a few points behind two others, and they skip a track, I'm sure the first driver would run it merely on the hopes that he can gain ground. I can definitely see this becoming like golf or tennis and there's not much NASCAR can do about save hand out points just for entering.

[LSC9901]

The answer to a situation such as that is real easy. Eliminate the chase. Go back to a 36 race schedule. You miss or skip a race then you lose valuable points.

You also need to understand that NASCAR won't go down without a fight on this game. WHAT IF ... all of the top 12 decided to stay home ?? It would make for a great race for the fans but pretty bleak attendance by the locals. Low attendance turns into low profits for NASCAR, track owner, motels and all the other local business's. Agreed, the chance of the top 12 staying home is about zero but what if just Jr stayed home. 30% of all the sales are attributed to him. Gordo & JJ claim another 30% combined.

Nope NASCAR will step in long before that monster gets loose. Also you can say what you want but I still don't think Dupont would be happy with someone other than Jeff in there right now.

I think some staff writer was having a writers block day and this was the best he could come up with.

[Jeffrey4318]

I think what the writer of this article has failed to realize is that only certain driver would be able to get away with missing races. Martin is a special case. Why? Because he was never really figured into the chase to begin with. No one not even his team owner expected him to still be chase eligilble even after missing three races. The writer also uses Jr as an example. I'm sorry if Jr took a couple of races off now he'd be 20th in points not 12th. The only way a driver could pull this off is if he already had a successful season going i.e. Gordon, Johnson, and Martin. If Martin had run all races in no doubtly be in the top 3 possible with one or two wins. So a driver couldn't just schedule off weekends at the beginning of the year, because what if he wasn't having a super year the Gordon or Johnson are having. So if a driver wanted to take a race off it would have to be more of an impulse thing. Kind of like earning it by consistently finishing 1-2 every week.

Another thing that the writer didn't take into perspective is contracts. Most drivers are contracted to run every race. A race team serious about running for a championship isn't going to pitch a part time driver to a multimillion dollar sponsor. Most drivers can't tell a team owner that he is going to run for a championship only running 75% of the races. Team owners and sponsors would laugh at him.

If Martin makes the chase this year it will always be known as the exception and never as the rule.

[wingkey1]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey4318

I think what the writer of this article has failed to realize is that only certain driver would be able to get away with missing races. Martin is a special case. Why? Because he was never really figured into the chase to begin with. No one not even his team owner expected him to still be chase eligilble even after missing three races. The writer also uses Jr as an example. I'm sorry if Jr took a couple of races off now he'd be 20th in points not 12th. The only way a driver could pull this off is if he already had a successful season going i.e. Gordon, Johnson, and Martin. If Martin had run all races in no doubtly be in the top 3 possible with one or two wins. So a driver couldn't just schedule off weekends at the beginning of the year, because what if he wasn't having a super year the Gordon or Johnson are having. So if a driver wanted to take a race off it would have to be more of an impulse thing. Kind of like earning it by consistently finishing 1-2 every week.

Another thing that the writer didn't take into perspective is contracts. Most drivers are contracted to run every race. A race team serious about running for a championship isn't going to pitch a part time driver to a multimillion dollar sponsor. Most drivers can't tell a team owner that he is going to run for a championship only running 75% of the races. Team owners and sponsors would laugh at him.

If Martin makes the chase this year it will always be known as the exception and never as the rule.

Yup. But ya gotta know, unfortunately, that some dimwit will see the need for a change so it will "never happen again", all the while creating a rule that will allow another/other exception. Ever see a dog chase it's tail all the while missing life going by?

[Mike24]

The solution to this: bring back Winston Cup.

[DuPontFan]

Oh no.....I can see 2-man teams within a team.

[Bob Tanner]

Just from my personal perspective, Mark won't be the problem. Jeff Gordon could ultimately be the problem. (I can see Mike and Dupont starting to limber up their typing finger for a terse reply, as I type this. Just wait a second fellows...)

Unless the earth changes its rotation, I think Mark will miss too many races to get into the Playoffs. Jeff is another story, completely. The interview I heard with Martin indicates that he is on standby in case the lovely Mrs. Gordon downloads on a race weekend and Jeff [rightly] decides that his proper place on that day is with his wife. Mark as apparently agreed to drive the #24 for one race.

If a driver is solidly in the top five prior to the start of the Playoff, Jeff's absence will prove that said driver could safely take off one or two races and still make it into the top twelve. Since the drivers in the top twelve playoff players are NASCAR's bread and butter. This concept probably scares the Hell out of the marketing types in Daytona Beach.

Remember, it was a similar situation with the Wood Brothers (David Pearson) and Harry Rainer (Cale Yarbrough) which drove NASCAR to the current point system and the provisional system. Someone wrote that NASCAR will step in before this gets a start. I agree.

Since I attend and watch races to see the racing and not the drivers, I will freely admit I have a hard time relating to this problem but from an outsider's point of view, this is the way I see it.

[Mike24]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Just from my personal perspective, Mark won't be the problem. Jeff Gordon could ultimately be the problem. (I can see Mike and Dupont starting to limber up their typing finger for a terse reply, as I type this. Just wait a second fellows...)

Unless the earth changes its rotation, I think Mark will miss too many races to get into the Playoffs. Jeff is another story, completely. The interview I heard with Martin indicates that he is on standby in case the lovely Mrs. Gordon downloads on a race weekend and Jeff [rightly] decides that his proper place on that day is with his wife. Mark as apparently agreed to drive the #24 for one race.

If a driver is solidly in the top five prior to the start of the Playoff, Jeff's absence will prove that said driver could safely take off one or two races and still make it into the top twelve. Since the drivers in the top twelve playoff players are NASCAR's bread and butter. This concept probably scares the Hell out of the marketing types in Daytona Beach.

Remember, it was a similar situation with the Wood Brothers (David Pearson) and Harry Rainer (Cale Yarbrough) which drove NASCAR to the current point system and the provisional system. Someone wrote that NASCAR will step in before this gets a start. I agree.

Since I attend and watch races to see the racing and not the drivers, I will freely admit I have a hard time relating to this problem but from an outsider's point of view, this is the way I see it.

You may find this a shock, but I agree with you.

If a driver is able to run in the top 5 every week, and maintain in the top 3-5 in the points standings, he can easily take 1 or 2 weeks off. The sponsors would not want that, and I believe NASCAR will put a roadblock before that starts happening. Gordon could easily take 2 races off, and maintain his spot in the top 12. If the Chase started this sunday, he would be 2nd in the standings with 3 wins. I think the sponsors wouldn't want their main driver missing 2 races. If Gordon has to miss a race, he will prove if you are having a great season, you can afford to miss a race and not hurt your championship status. But in my opinion, if a driver can afford to miss 2 races and still make it into the top 12, that should be awarded to the driver for his success, not taken away.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Mike24

You may find this a shock, but I agree with you.

If a driver is able to run in the top 5 every week, and maintain in the top 3-5 in the points standings, he can easily take 1 or 2 weeks off. The sponsors would not want that, and I believe NASCAR will put a roadblock before that starts happening. Gordon could easily take 2 races off, and maintain his spot in the top 12. If the Chase started this sunday, he would be 2nd in the standings with 3 wins. I think the sponsors wouldn't want their main driver missing 2 races. If Gordon has to miss a race, he will prove if you are having a great season, you can afford to miss a race and not hurt your championship status. But in my opinion, if a driver can afford to miss 2 races and still make it into the top 12, that should be awarded to the driver for his success, not taken away.

We probably agree on more things than you know, Mike.
But even if we wouldn't, I respect the Hell out of your ability to put your thoughts on paper. You, and the majority of the other contributors to this forum, are very proficient with the written word.

I look for the sponsors to put a clause in the contract, if one already isn't there, making it very uncomfortable for their driver to arbitrarily sit out a race.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

We probably agree on more things than you know, Mike.
But even if we wouldn't, I respect the Hell out of your ability to put your thoughts on paper. You, and the majority of the other contributors to this forum, are very proficient with the written word.

I look for the sponsors to put a clause in the contract, if one already isn't there, making it very uncomfortable for their driver to arbitrarily sit out a race.

If I know lawyers .. and I know a few .. it's already in the contract.

But, usually the driver has a contract with the owner, not the sponsor....

that being what it is, the sponsor wants their car at the track in the race .. which driver is secondary (except for NAPA & UPS!!!)

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by DuPontFan

Oh no.....I can see 2-man teams within a team.

Don't we already have that to some degree? Martin and the rookie he switches off with, not to mention Bill Elliott stepping in to someone else's ride. It really doesn't surprise me, and I can definitely see it with different individuals running part-time schedules and specializing in different types of tracks.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Don't we already have that to some degree? Martin and the rookie he switches off with, not to mention Bill Elliott stepping in to someone else's ride. It really doesn't surprise me, and I can definitely see it with different individuals running part-time schedules and specializing in different types of tracks.

I think the thing to remember is that NA$CAR cannot control the contracts between the owners, sponsors and the drivers. Each will do what they think is good for them.

there's plenty of precedence with the "ringers" for road courses, etc. and if NA$CAR tried to limit competition they might get slapped with enough law suits by owners, sponsors and drivers that it wouldn't be financially wise of them to continue that course of action...

the way I understand the Elliott thing is Schrader wasn't able to stop their slide out of the chosen; he wasn't let go; he's actively helping Elliott get the 21 back into the chosen ranks; they're using the existing rules to help themselves get back (I don't like the rule, don't know of many that do, but more power to them for using it constructively for their benefit) Anytime you can get 2 drivers with the experience of Schrader and Elliott working on the same problem together, you will have a much better chance of success!

same goes for the Martin/Smith deal. it's good for owner, sponsors and drivers. if Martin driving Ginn's car is good enough to get done in 10 races what it takes others to do in 13, so be it. sorry they're embarrassed by that .. they need to get over it.

same with Harvick winning the Busch crown last year .. he could have sat out the last 4 races and no one could have caught him. and this year's Busch is shaping up the same, only it's Edwards who's running away from everyone.

some could make the argument that HMS has too many wins in Cup .. more than their fair share. should NA$CAR make rules about that?