Posted on 10/06/2006 4:37:05 PM PDT by Panerai
TALLADEGA, Ala. - There was a time when Mark Martin could not envision himself racing at NASCAR’s top level as he approached 50.
But time has a way of changing perspective. Now the stock car star finds he is not yet ready to walk away at age 47.
So instead of retiring from the Cup series and racing for fun in a lower division - as he has talked about for years - Martin said Friday he will leave longtime employer Roush Racing after this season to drive a limited Cup schedule for MB2 Motorsports in 2007.
“I was 39 years old when I started making my plans for the future,” Martin said at Talladega Superspeedway. “I realize at this time that was way too early. I thought that, at the age that I am right now, I wouldn’t be able to compete with these young guys the way I have in the past. And I think everybody knows I’m not interested in just riding around.
“But, when you can compete like I have been able to the last couple of years in this type of competition, it’s hard to step away from it.”
Martin will take over the No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet from Joe Nemechek, who will remain with MB2 and drive a third Cup car for the team that also fields the No. 14 Chevy for Sterling Marlin.
MB2 part-owner and general manager Jay Frye said Martin will drive 22 Cup races, with rookie Regan Smith, a regular in the Busch Series, driving the other 16 Cup events as well as another full season in Busch.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.bostonherald.com ...
I hate to see him leave Roush but I'm glad he's not leaving altogether.
Even if he doesn't win a championship he'll still rank up there with the best of them.
I wonder if the Army will sponsor him or will they go with Front Row Joe...
WoW...
wow, that'll be a pretty old team. Most of the other teams are scrambling for the young talent. Maybe MB2 should attach a permanently blinking left turn signal to their cars. j/k
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