[LSC9901]

Martin to Leave DEI, Almirola Full Time Next Season: UPDATE 3 announcement at Daytona? Mark Martin will have a new racing home in 2009, ESPN.com has learned. Martin was unavailable for comment Sunday. Officials for Martin's current team, Dale Earnhardt Inc., would neither confirm nor deny the speculation, but did confirm that young Aric Almirola would run a full-time schedule in 2009. "Aric is ready for a full-time ride," said John Story, DEI vice president of motorsports operations. Almirola has shared the #8 U.S. Army Chevy with Martin for the past two seasons. "Were talking to Mark about what his objectives for the future are, and trying to marry that with our own, with Aric Almirola, to make sure Aric has an opportunity to run full time next year. We're going through the process right now of trying to make sure that we get something for Aric that provides him a 36-race schedule, and at the same time that Mark is in a good situation."(ESPN.com)(6-22-2008 )
UPDATE: Casey Mears and Mark Martin look to be on the move, and their futures might be linked. Mears' future with Hendrick Motorsports appears in jeopardy, ESPN.com has learned. Although Mears has one year left on his contract, team owner Rick Hendrick would not commit to the driver of the #5 car beyond this season. "I'm committed to him right now," Hendrick said on Sunday at Infineon Raceway. "I'm committed to him making that car run better right now." Earlier on Sunday, sources told ESPN.com that Martin would leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. Later, ESPN.com learned that he would replace Mears, making one last full-time run at a championship.(ESPN.com)(6-22-2008 )
UPDATE 2: The speculation comes as rumors swirl about Mark Martin's future with Dale Earnhardt Inc. He's previously been mentioned as a candidate to split the Cup schedule with Scott Speed at Red Bull Racing, but there could also be a similar role for him in the #5 car for Hendrick. One scenario could have Martin splitting the seat time with Brad Keselowski, who currently drives a Nationwide Series car for JR Motorsports. Hendrick is partners with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in that venture, and Martin occasionally drives a car for them in that series. Martin is currently splitting a ride with Aric Almirola for DEI, but the team wants Almirola in a full-time ride in 2009. "Aric is ready for a full-time ride," said DEI vice president John Story. "We have to get him in a car full time somehow, someway."(Associated Press)(6-23-2008 )
UPDATE 3: SPEED's Wendy Venturini reported that sources say Mark Martin could announce his 2009 plans next week at Daytona.(SPEED)(6-29-2008 )

[Quality88]

Place your bets folks.... what's he gonna do.... retire, move and be part-time, or go full-time one more year?

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Place your bets folks.... what's he gonna do.... retire, move and be part-time, or go full-time one more year?

From all I've read I'll go with one more year at full time ... although I think it is a mistake.

[Phils20]

One more full time year in the #5 HMS car.

I agree, it's a mistake.

[LSC9901]

I really believe that he will not shine and actually make his departure look overdue. It will never cease to amaze me why athletes insist on staying just a little bit to long. I do understand that Mark would like to go out in a blaze of glory and that being the championship but his best days are now behind him. Dale Jarrett stayed to long. Rusty Wallace stayed to long. Bill Elliott stayed to long. Darrell Waltrip stayed (way) to long ..... am I the only one who sees the writing on the wall ??? He can't even give a team a Champions provisional.

[Phils20]

I thought Rusty did the best of those you listed! He at least made the Chase his last year!

[loco4pablo]

I could see Hendrick using Mark as a part time driver for a younger driver such as Brad. K who isn't quite ready to move up too cup full time yet. That approach was a success with the 8 car and DEI.

BUT...I think it makes no sense to hire mark for one more full time season to make one last run at the championship!
Well.......unless he (rick) wants to sell t-shirts and stuff

[saltysenior]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I really believe that he will not shine and actually make his departure look overdue. It will never cease to amaze me why athletes insist on staying just a little bit to long. I do understand that Mark would like to go out in a blaze of glory and that being the championship but his best days are now behind him. Dale Jarrett stayed to long. Rusty Wallace stayed to long. Bill Elliott stayed to long. Darrell Waltrip stayed (way) to long ..... am I the only one who sees the writing on the wall ??? He can't even give a team a Champions provisional.

martin will consult family,friends,other driver and owners and even doctors for advice...being down to earth man he is, he will surely ask the good lord for a proper path to follow.....................then he'll do what his financial adviser tell him to.

[Racer Duck]

Wonder why everyone is so quick to believe Mark has changed his mind? He stated quite emphatically last year that he was OK with not having achieved a championship, that he just wanted to race without the pressure of a championship run and didn't want to commit to a full season of racing.

Just goes to show what the mediots and rumor mill will do for excitement...