[vincesanity82]

A lot of folks will agree that Mark Martin is probably the greatest NASCAR driver to never win a Cup championship. And when the diminutive pilot from Batesville, Ark., decided he was going to become a big league part-timer to spend more time racing pickups, it appeared his "close, but not quite" legacy was secure. Maybe not. Several news outlets are reporting that Martin will leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of the season and move over to Hendrick Motorsports, where he'll take over for Casey Mears. Mears, of course, is on his way out at Hendrick, and the consensus is that Martin could jump into the No. 5 Chevy and fit in just fine with the likes of Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. The deal -- if it materializes -- would likely mean Martin would compete in all 36 Cup events and thus become eligible to win an elusive series championship. -- Anderson Independent-Mail



Could Mark Martin make one last run at an elusive Cup title? : Columns : Anderson Independent-Mail

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

A lot of folks will agree that Mark Martin is probably the greatest NASCAR driver to never win a Cup championship. And when the diminutive pilot from Batesville, Ark., decided he was going to become a big league part-timer to spend more time racing pickups, it appeared his "close, but not quite" legacy was secure. Maybe not. Several news outlets are reporting that Martin will leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of the season and move over to Hendrick Motorsports, where he'll take over for Casey Mears. Mears, of course, is on his way out at Hendrick, and the consensus is that Martin could jump into the No. 5 Chevy and fit in just fine with the likes of Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. The deal -- if it materializes -- would likely mean Martin would compete in all 36 Cup events and thus become eligible to win an elusive series championship. -- Anderson Independent-Mail

Eligible being the key word. Then again there are about 50 other drivers who fall into the same category. I like Mark but I'm not sure he is a championship contender anymore. Hope I'm wrong.

[loco4pablo]

If I were Casey I'd make sure that car finishes the year out of the top 35!! Casey still has a year left on his contract but as Kyle Bush can attest, that doesn't hold a lot of weight with big Rick.

Oh well it worked out pretty well for Kyle so maybe history can repeat itself with Casey.

Kind of like the curse of the Bambino when the Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the rivial Yankees! This time it's the curse of Rowdy.
Mark will not win a championship driving for Rick CAUSE the #5 car will never win a championship....It's cursed!!!!

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by loco4pablo

Mark will not win a championship driving for Rick CAUSE the #5 car will never win a championship....It's cursed!!!!

The current #5 team is the old #25 team. Maybe it suffers The Curse of Tim Richmond?

[wingkey1]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

The current #5 team is the old #25 team. Maybe it suffers The Curse of Tim Richmond?

I was near to asking a question regarding info presently on the NASCAR site that left me, at the least, wondering what I was missing. Your "stake in the ground" above has me inclined to believe you could give complete clarity in my confused world. At least on this "just who is the current 5 and 25 team?"

From the infamous site speaking of Mears announced release:

"But Mears had too much working against him. It didn't help that, other than the driver, the No. 5 team remained exactly the same unit that finished fourth in points last season with Kyle Busch. It didn't help that Earnhardt found such quick success with what had been Mears' old team last year"

Our ("my" for those concerned about the mouse) initial confusion was the bolded segment. Best guess is that what they are saying here is that E Jr.'s present team is last years 25 team with the exception of he and Eury(?). But then your stake indicates ----- ?????

I seem to recall (danger in that) Gustaffson (sp?) continued on with the 5 and mears. All else/other changed?

Shed the ultimate and final light/truth please.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by wingkey1

I was near to asking a question regarding info presently on the NASCAR site that left me, at the least, wondering what I was missing. Your "stake in the ground" above has me inclined to believe you could give complete clarity in my confused world. At least on this "just who is the current 5 and 25 team?"

From the infamous site speaking of Mears announced release:

"But Mears had too much working against him. It didn't help that, other than the driver, the No. 5 team remained exactly the same unit that finished fourth in points last season with Kyle Busch. It didn't help that Earnhardt found such quick success with what had been Mears' old team last year"

Our ("my" for those concerned about the mouse) initial confusion was the bolded segment. Best guess is that what they are saying here is that E Jr.'s present team is last years 25 team with the exception of he and Eury(?). But then your stake indicates ----- ?????

I seem to recall (danger in that) Gustaffson (sp?) continued on with the 5 and mears. All else/other changed?

Shed the ultimate and final light/truth please.

For the want of an "I think," a kingdom was lost...

I thought that the #25 team became the #5 team but, in checking, I was in error. The #25 team became the #88. So much for the "Curse of Tim Richmond," eh?

Thanks for keeping me honest; I often need that. <slap!>

[wingkey1]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

For the want of an "I think," a kingdom was lost...

I thought that the #25 team became the #5 team but, in checking, I was in error. The #25 team became the #88. So much for the "Curse of Tim Richmond," eh?

Thanks for keeping me honest; I often need that. <slap!>

Wasn't no (sorry to those requiring the grammaticly correct) "keepin' honest" thing in there. We really were on the verge of a post asking for clarification on the NASCAR.com thing when we happened on your input, because we really did not know after reading it/both.

We might be convinced by a semi-strong (guess that is truly one of those "relative" statements) that the "5" and perhaps even the "25" with HMS is hog tied/cursed. Other than Shrub last year in the 5, there have been flashes, but no/few real finishes.

Apologize if we sounded "corrective".