[drnascar48]

If #24-Jeff Gordon is forced to miss a race to attend the birth of his daughter, series veteran Mark Martin will man the #24 DuPont Chevy, multiple sources within the Hendrick Motorsports organization told ESPN.com Wednesday. Martin on Wednesday afternoon will be fitted for a racing seat in preparation for the substitute role, sources said, and plans to begin stand-by duty for Gordon at Infineon Raceway next month. Hendrick Motorsports officials chose not to comment, saying rather that Gordon would address the matter Thursday at Lowe's Motor Speedway, site of this weekend's Coca-Cola 600. Sources said Gordon personally sought out Martin to stand in for him, and after clearing the idea with Ginn Racing officials, Martin gladly accepted. Gordon's wife, Ingrid Vandebosch, is due the week of the June 24 Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma. Martin will fly to Sonoma, during a weekend when he is slated to be idle from racing. If Gordon doesn't require his services, Martin will remain on hand to coach Regan Smith in the #01 US Army Chevy [Ginn Racing]. According to NASCAR officials, Martin could get in the #24 without practicing in the car, so long as Nextel Cup director John Darby gives his blessing. Given Martin's veteran experience, that would seem to be all but a foregone conclusion. If baby Gordon arrives a week early, sources said Martin will turn the #01 Chevrolet over to Smith at Michigan Speedway and drive the #24 for Gordon. Likewise, in the event the baby is a week late, Martin would sub for Gordon at New Hampshire. Gordon hasn't missed a race in his Cup Series career, a span of 484 consecutive races. The last race run without Gordon in the field was the 28th race of the 1992 season, at Phoenix International Raceway.(ESPN.com)(5-23-2007). What do you think about this? and Do you think they picked a good driver to fill in for Jeff Gordon?

[LSC9901]

Mark will be as good a replacement as any. The next bridge to cross will be just when the baby decides to enter our world. I have to believe that if it happens on a Monday that he will be racing in the next race.

As for missing a race .... this would be a good reason to do that. Holding that record does nothing for you at all.

[Mike24]

If Jeff has to miss a race, he will. I know Gordon doesn't want to miss a race, he loves racing and wants to race as long as his body tells him he can't anymore. But, if he has to miss a race to see the baby born, he will. Martin is a great sub for Gordon, or anyone for that matter. But this may not happen at all, it's just in case it does.

[jks812]

I think Martin will be a great replacement driver. I also think its great that he's already making arrangements so that he can be there.

[Racer Duck]

One class act subbing for another class act .. what a great idea!!!

[drnascar48]

I am glad Jeff Gordon and Rick Hendrick are putting Mark Martin in that car. I am also glad that picked someone the knows how to win races and I am also happy that they didn't put a rookie driver into that car. They were thinking about putting Terry Labonte into that car and they said hey lets put Mark Martin into the car. Now I am hearing that Jeff Gordon,Mark Martin,Rick Hendrick, and Nascar are sitting down and talking about what to do about points because if Jeff Gordon is leading the points when he gets of that car. They don't want to mess up his points Lead. So this is what I am thinking. I think they are going to let Mark Martin race the car but te points are going to go towards Jeff Gordon points instead of Mark Martin points. That is what I think they are going to do. So let me know what you think Jeff Gordon,Mark Martin, Rick Hendrick,and Nascar are sitting down and talking about.

[Mike24]

Originally Posted by drnascar48

I am glad Jeff Gordon and Rick Hendrick are putting Mark Martin in that car. I am also glad that picked someone the knows how to win races and I am also happy that they didn't put a rookie driver into that car. They were thinking about putting Terry Labonte into that car and they said hey lets put Mark Martin into the car. Now I am hearing that Jeff Gordon,Mark Martin,Rick Hendrick, and Nascar are sitting down and talking about what to do about points because if Jeff Gordon is leading the points when he gets of that car. They don't want to mess up his points Lead. So this is what I am thinking. I think they are going to let Mark Martin race the car but te points are going to go towards Jeff Gordon points instead of Mark Martin points. That is what I think they are going to do. So let me know what you think Jeff Gordon,Mark Martin, Rick Hendrick,and Nascar are sitting down and talking about.

Well like I said, the baby may not be born on race day, and this won't be an issue. But, in case this does happen, I think Martin will enter in as Jeff Gordon, so the championship points will go to Jeff. But you are right, it would be very unfair to give Martin the points instead of Jeff. One year, 2005 I think, Ricky Rudd subbed for Tony Stewart, and the driver points went to Tony like they should have. I think this situation will be no different. It would be very unfair not to award Gordon the points Martin gets because Gordon wants to attend the birth of his child.

[jks812]

I might be wrong, but I think if Gordon doesn't start the race he don't get the points. They'll get the owner points for the car. And why would it be wrong not to give him the points for a race he doesn't run? When Mark isn't driving the #01 and the other guy is, Mark doesn't get those points. This will be no different. If Mark runs the race Jeff won't, and shouldn't, get the points.

[Mike24]

Originally Posted by jks812

I might be wrong, but I think if Gordon doesn't start the race he don't get the points. They'll get the owner points for the car. And why would it be wrong not to give him the points for a race he doesn't run? When Mark isn't driving the #01 and the other guy is, Mark doesn't get those points. This will be no different. If Mark runs the race Jeff won't, and shouldn't, get the points.

I strongly disagree. From what you said, I guess that your saying it's wrong for Jeff to attend the birth of the child, he should race to get the points instead, and he shouldn't get the points because he wants to attend the birth of his child, as he should? That's totally wrong. Martin is subbing for Gordon in case this happens, so of course Jeff should get the points. You can't control uncontrollable situations.

In 2006, Ricky Rudd subbed for Tony Stewart because of an injury he received. Stewart got those points that Rudd got, and he should have. You can't control these type of things.

Subbing and running a car part time is different. Mark Martin runs the 01 part time along with Regan Smith. But, they enter in as 2 different drivers. In this situation where Martin may have to sub for Gordon, Gordon would get the points because Martin was subbing, not running the car part time. It's confusing, but that's the way it works.

[jks812]

And also when Jr got burned and Andretti drove for him, they said the only way Jr would get the points was to start the race.
I'm not saying Gordon should race for the points instead of being at the birth of his child. But I am saying he shouldn't get points for a race that he don't run. And even if he misses a race and don't get points, it's not gonna knock him out of the chase.

[Mike24]

Originally Posted by jks812

And also when Jr got burned and Andretti drove for him, they said the only way Jr would get the points was to start the race.
I'm not saying Gordon should race for the points instead of being at the birth of his child. But I am saying he shouldn't get points for a race that he don't run. And even if he misses a race and don't get points, it's not gonna knock him out of the chase.

I do agree with you that you should start the race to get the points. But this is a birth of a child. You can't control when that will happen. You can't control if it will happen on race day, or in the middle of the week. So why should Jeff be punished for that? When Jr got injured at that time, to me it was unfair to make Jr start that race and potentially injuring him further. Why should NASCAR put a driver at that risk? To me it's just unfair to put someone in that position when it's uncontrollable. I'm assuming your an old school fan, so you may see views differently, but as a fan for about 10 years now, in my opinion it is unfair not to give a driver points because he either got hurt, or had to attend a personal matter. Those situations are uncontrollable, and they shouldn't be punished for that.

[jks812]

But look at it from Nascar's perspective. Regardless of the reason, if they start letting drivers have subs but yet they still get the points, can you imagine what would happen?They would probably hear all kinds of excuses. So I agree that regardless of why, if the driver don't run the race they shouldn't get the points.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by Mike24

One year, 2005 I think, Ricky Rudd subbed for Tony Stewart, and the driver points went to Tony like they should have.

It was 2006 and Tony had to start the race in order to get the points.

Shuford has spent the past week making sure Stewart is comfortable enough to start the race and collect all the points necessary to remain in contention for a second consecutive title. He's fitted him with a new state-of-the-art brace and put him through hourly treatments.
He also has worked with helping Stewart exit the car most effectively and comfortably after the first caution or two so that relief driver Ricky Rudd can finish.

[Mike24]

Originally Posted by jks812

But look at it from Nascar's perspective. Regardless of the reason, if they start letting drivers have subs but yet they still get the points, can you imagine what would happen?They would probably hear all kinds of excuses. So I agree that regardless of why, if the driver don't run the race they shouldn't get the points.

So what your saying is regardless of the situation, they should start the race? I'm not saying they should just have subs and get the points right away. In this situation, we have a driver that may have to miss a race to attend the birth of his child. Why should NASCAR punish Gordon for wanting to attend the birth of his child. I understand that you should start the race, regardless if you are hurt or not. But, a birth of a child is uncontrollable, so why punish Gordon for something like that? There are very few excuses for a sub to start the race and drive for another persons championship points, but in a situation of a birth, I think that is a great excuse.

[wardfan]

If Hendrick Motor sports has figured out all the angles of subbing for Gordon, then why don't they just save all the drama and have wifey schedule a C section?