[WVGrandma4Kasey]

Associated Press
Posted: 1 hour ago
BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) - Retirement apparently does not mean the same thing to Mark Martin that it does to a lot of folks.
No rocking chair or golf for the longtime NASCAR star.
Martin has said all year he plans to retire from the Nextel Cup series at the end of the season to concentrate on driving in the Craftsman Truck Series and maybe a few races in the Busch Series.
But Friday, while preparing for Sunday's GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway, the four-time Cup runner-up changed his tune a bit.
"My primary focus is still to do the full Craftsman Truck Series schedule, and I would be very interested in an additional 10-to-12-race Nextel Cup schedule. We just don't know what that car would be at this point."
Todd Kluever, who is running full time in Busch this year after one full season in trucks, is being groomed to replace Martin in the No. 6 Roush Racing Ford.
"Todd Kluever is the driver of the No. 6 car so, if I were to come back full-time at this time, it would not be in the 6 car," Martin said.
"In the middle of (last) summer, I would have said, 'No way.' But, in the spring, (there) were some fairly serious talks about me coming back full time in a different car than the 6. It looked to be exciting enough to do it, but then that did not materialize. It's been on-again, off-again, on-again, off-again.
Originally, Martin, now 47, was to step out of the Roush Cup car at the end of the 2005 season. But a driver shuffle left team owner Jack Roush without an experienced driver to replace Martin, and the owner talked his friend, who has been with Roush since the team came to Cup in 1988, to stay for another year.
"That's why I never closed the door on a full schedule," Martin said. "I said I wouldn't be back in '06, so I'm not going to say I'm not going to be back in '07 until it's for sure."
Now it looks like Martin, who enters Sunday's race sixth in the standings and is virtually assured of joining NASCAR's Chase for the championship for the third straight year, could stick around a little longer.
"I don't have to come back, so I'd have to get real excited," he said. "That's what it would take.
"You never know, though. This is a crazy business, and the toughest thing about this business is the schedule. You see Bill Elliott, you give him an opportunity to recuperate, you give Ricky Rudd some time to recuperate a little bit and then, maybe, they are interested in coming back."
Elliott ran his last full season in 2003 and has raced a limited schedule since. But the former series champion has said recently he would consider returning full time in the right ride.
Longtime Cup star Rudd retired after the 2005 season but returned this year to drive for injured Tony Stewart in a race at Dover. He, too, has indicated he might be interested in returning full time.
Roush has said all along he will provide a car for Martin as long as the driver wants to race.
"Whatever Mark wants to do, I'm ready to help him," Roush said in a recent interview.
Meanwhile, Kluever has yet to win a NASCAR race in any division.
He finished 11th in the points in his one season in a Roush truck and is 19th in the Busch points, with two top-10 finishes this season after 24 races. In his only Cup start, earlier this summer at Chicagoland Speedway, Kluever started 35th and finished 41st.
Asked if he might get back into the No. 6 if Roush decides Kluever isn't ready, Martin said, "The 6 car is set right now. Todd's going to drive the car, and there have been no changes."
So, where could Martin wind up if he stays in Cup?
Toyota is joining Nextel Cup with at least two new teams, and the possible addition of several more new cars could offer the veteran an opportunity.
"We are going to interject a number of five to 10 new teams (in 2007) that aren't interested in taking the guy from a short track and giving him a shot," Martin said. "These guys want proven drivers who have substantially long records and a history of being very competitive in this sport.
"It's supply and demand, like anything else. Right now, the supply is short based on the demand out there, and it's honestly going crazy." That demand might just keep Martin around Cup for a while longer.

[Bob Tanner]

Mark is a great driver, even at this advanced stage of his career. He propensity to race for points and not necessarily to win has irked me numerous times but that aside, the guy was, and is, a outstanding driver.

However, Mark, your "Now I'm going to retire; no wait a minute, I'm going another year as a 'favor;' no wait. Maybe I'll run 10-12 races..."

It's getting quite old, Mark, ol' buddy, Either do the number two or get the Hell off the pot! You driving me and a number of others, including some influential journalists (Bob Utter of That's Racin'.com for one) to say, "Mark, who cares?"

[LSC9901]

I considered retiring two years ago and like a fool I kept true to my plans. Now all I can do is surf in cyberspace.

[WVGrandma4Kasey]

RacingStalkers.com

Another sign of the upcoming Apocalypse or just a postcard from the parallel universe? Rumors are swirling long-time Ford stalwart Mark Martin is considering a full-time ride for 2007 behind the wheel of a Toyota. Last year was Martin’s “Salute to the Fans” retirement tour. This year is his “Well, I was only joking about that, but this really is the last year” retirement tour. Next year just might be his “Hey, don’t everyone head for the turnstiles at the same time, see ya’ll around” Tour. And speaking of disturbing rumors, the drumbeats are getting louder that Ford may withdraw from NASCAR competition.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by WVGrandma4Kasey

And speaking of disturbing rumors, the drumbeats are getting louder that Ford may withdraw from NASCAR competition.

Alas there will be room for the Honda's !!!!!

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Alas there will be room for the Honda's !!!!!

My bet is Nissan.

What do you expect, though. They (Ford) announces they're dropping production on their best selling pick up and they're keeping Jaguar (a money-loser from day one)? What's THAT all about?

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by WVGrandma4Kasey[URL="http://www.racingstalkers.com/index.html"

RacingStalkers.com[/url][/i][/b][/color][/size][/font]

Another sign of the upcoming Apocalypse or just a postcard from the parallel universe? Rumors are swirling long-time Ford stalwart Mark Martin is considering a full-time ride for 2007 behind the wheel of a Toyota. Last year was Martin’s “Salute to the Fans” retirement tour. This year is his “Well, I was only joking about that, but this really is the last year” retirement tour. Next year just might be his “Hey, don’t everyone head for the turnstiles at the same time, see ya’ll around” Tour. And speaking of disturbing rumors, the drumbeats are getting louder that Ford may withdraw from NASCAR competition.


[/center]

Another Matt McLaughlin reader!!!

Grandma, you are obviously a person of discerning accomplishment and taste!

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

My bet is Nissan.

I was just kidding. I'm a Honda CRV owner with two of them in the driveway. I was thinking this might be my ticket to becoming a driver since I have experience.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I was just kidding. I'm a Honda CRV owner with two of them in the driveway. I was thinking this might be my ticket to becoming a driver since I have experience.

A sad commentary on today's sport; you can make a joking statement and it's taken seriously. <sigh>

[wardfan]

Originally Posted by WVGrandma4Kasey

RacingStalkers.com

. And speaking of disturbing rumors, the drumbeats are getting louder that Ford may withdraw from NASCAR competition.

Well they all might as well give it up. With the "car of tomorrow" why should any of the manufacturers even bother.

[Quality88]

Make it stop, make it stop. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

[wardfan]

[quote=wardfan]Well they all might as well give it up. With the "car of tomorrow" why should any of the manufacturers even bother.[
/quote]
I bet if you look under the hood the car of tomorrow will have a made in China logo. Think of how much money France can save by buying them in bulk

[Quality88]

Grumble, Toyota, Grumble

[WVGrandma4Kasey]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Another Matt McLaughlin reader!!!

Grandma, you are obviously a person of discerning accomplishment and taste!

Oh yes, and look at how well I stir the pot.

[lilsexy08]

Martin need to retire and stick with trucks for next year! He can't make up his mind!