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Rick Hendrick is a very persuasive person. I mean he would have to be to lure a man who has been trying to retire from racing for years. On Friday we learned that Mark Martin would drive for Hendrick Motorsports full time in 2009 and part time in 2010. So much for the rocking chair.
I have mixed emotions about this. I respect Mark Martin the veteran driver who is highly regarded by drivers, owners, and the fans. But I also feel like he mislead fans as well. There was huge fan fair about his impending retirement. But rather than retire he stayed on one more season because Jack Roush needed him, then on to part time with a Ginn Racing and now with Dale Earnhardt Inc.
Over and over we have heard Mark insist he only wants to drive part time, he liked the schedule he had. Then enter Rick Hendrick. Some how, some way he gave Mark an offer that was too good to pass up. The 49 year-old veteran insists it wasn't a lure of a possible championship, but rather an opportunity to win. That may be true. But what does that say about the team he is with now? We have heard time and time again from Mark that DEI has great equipment, his cars are fast, and that Tony Gibson and crew are the best to work with. Again, it all could be true. But what did Rick offer that forced Mark to rethink his retirement for at least another couple of years? The No. 8 car has been far more competitive than the No 5. car. There is still no guarantees that Mark will find success in his new ride. But one can assume that Mr. Hendrick will make sure Mark has the best.
My question is this, why Mark Martin? Why now? There are so many great drivers who are looking to switch teams and could provide HMS with a long term relationship with the organization and the sponsors. To develop a relationship with a driver who will only be driving a limited schedule in the second year of a contract doesn't make a lot of sense. Sponsors want to tie their product or service to a driver. To me, it makes little sense to put that much effort into someone who isn't going to hang around long enough to develop a connection to the sponsor that is marketable and recognizable to the general public and not just race fans.
While Mark has the drive and fire inside to be as competitive as guys half his age, he still isn't going to commit long term. Long term relationships in NASCAR are rare these days, but since 2006, this will be Martin's fourth team to drive for. One has to wonder what is he trying to do. I see the potential of good drivers with less than stellar teams and young drivers ready to make a name for themselves being shut out for no good reason. Mark Martin is a class act, but this retirement act is getting old.
Sharon@insidethepitbox.com
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