Mark Martin is racing again!!!

Mark has to be one of the nicest guys in the sport.

Now what do I do... :lol:

Scott

It must be another "Salute to You" farewell tour :)

I like him as well but if you say you're gonna retire, then do it.

Kinda like KISS farewell tour #13.
Also known as "The 401k/divorce/support tour :) :)

Later,
Keith

Well, if there was any real talent left in Nascar, Mark would be out of a job.

I really like Mark Martin to, great guy and i think he still has it in him to be up front, go get'em Mark, good luck in your 2009 season, Shon

It will be interesting to watch the 5 team which Mark Martin is a part of. The team has to gel to be able to start winning. Hope they do well. Stewart/Hass is another question mark. Montoya has Target for a sponsor, another one to watch. Jimmy going for 4 in a row, on and on. Can't wait for the season to start.

Mark Martin is a great guy, has had a great career, and is one of the guys that brought rigorous physical training regimens to NASCAR drivers. Look at how they looked in the old days vs now - heck, look at Dale Jarrett in his chubby mullett days vs more recent seasons - it works.

That said, it is amazing that he would fade out and come back again, and again. Is Bill Elliott next again? How about Harry Gant? Cale Yarbrough? Red Farmer?

It speaks volumes about the state of the sport/business. Now will you once-rabid fans come back and watch for one more year? Please? Pretty please? It's the good ol' days all over again - except for the cars, the tracks, the rules, the points championship, the season and the fact that as of today FIAT has taken controlling interest in Chrylser........

Oh My God.. Does this mean there could be a Fiat ram pickup in my future??:eek: Say it isn't so!! :cry:

I like Mark Martin a lot, great driver and superb sportsman with nothing to prove and a total lack of ego, but I think he should get out of the driver's seat and be totally involved with driver development and team management activities - full time.

First of all, this would open up a premier driving slot for one of the other middle tier drivers who might really shine if given an opportunity to show what they can do in top notch equipment. Not to mention open up a slot at the bottom for the next up and coming Davey Allison or Jimmie Johnson type of talent. Plus, there's always the danger of staying around for one or a few too many seasons, like Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip did, and putting a big ol' mediocre cork on the end of what was otherwise a uniformly fabulous career.

Finally and most importantly, given the changing tides in the worldwide economy, the future of NASCAR is by no mean assured. You can always find the next hot handed gunslinger to wow the crowds on raceday. Finding the right kind of people to steer the course of NASCAR into the future and keep the sport healthy, vibrant, and respectable is going to be a challenge. I think Mark Martin is the right kind of person to serve in that capacity. As long as Mark Martin is part of the face of NASCAR, it will always have a little more credibility. He left nothing on the track and has nothing to prove, so now's the time to spread the value of what Mark Martin brings to the sport across a wider sphere of influence.

Oh My God.. Does this mean there could be a Fiat ram pickup in my future??:eek: Say it isn't so!! :cry:

Ahh yes I can see Tony Steward driving in his Fiat Charger and after every wreck we can say hey
Fix
It
Again
Tony:woohoo:

Ahh yes I can see Tony Steward driving in his Fiat Charger and after every wreck we can say hey
Fix
It
Again
Tony:woohoo:

You know, I didn't even see that one comming!!!! Good one!!!!

AFTtoo, well said.

I was flipping channels last night and ... there was Mark Martin making the interview curcuit. I am sure that is part of his contract. It would be nice to think his role is to influence things more, though I would surmise at this point that paid spokesman is more accurate a description. I think they need his image and his media presence to attempt to retain a portion of their audience that has faded away - very well illustrated in this thread.

In it's growth, NASCAR has relied heavily on personalities to win loyalty, severely over-relied in recent years. Can the best drivers play up to the camera and tolerate the mixed bag of the media all the time? Major competitiveness, laser focus does not necessarily equal 100% media friendly, and moreso than any other sport/sanctioning body, NASCAR wants them to stay on script. As was stated, Mark Martin has nothing to prove, and certainly won't be chasing a championship. He is well respected and represents himself very well.

BTW, Fiat is buying a 35% stake in Chrysler now for technology and vehicles to sell - another 20% optional.... A Fiat pickup? So could this alliance mean.... a hemi Topolino? :thumbsup:

Did Mark get a 'Depends' sponsorship?

...and the fact that as of today FIAT has taken controlling interest in Chrylser........

I hope this means that we can see a Hemi 500 Abarth, something to kick that BWM/Mini's butt.

http://www.digimods.co.uk/images/Virtualcarimages/cars/FIAT500.jpg

Wow, it comes with a mini tool box?

"Will it fit???"
"Sure will!! We'll just set the engine back in the passenger compartment and have them sit in the engine compartment!!"
"Hmmm!!"
"They won't care!! Not as long as it's got a Hemi in it!!"
"Cool!!!":thumbsup:

Ok.. maybe not, but it could happen!!! :tongue:

"Will it fit???"
"Sure will!! We'll just set the engine back in the passenger compartment and have them sit in the engine compartment!!"
"Hmmm!!"
"They won't care!! Not as long as it's got a Hemi in it!!"
"Cool!!!":thumbsup:

Ok.. maybe not, but it could happen!!! :tongue:

Hey, remember the Renault R5 turbo? Econobox monster! It's been done before!!!!!

Hemi engined Fiats are legendary.Anyone remember the
AA altereds? They were my all time favorite dragsters.

If Martin is returning to race he will win every event because no one else races anymore.

If he joins the status quo then maybe the correct phrase is "Martin returns to drive in a parade!"

Jim Norton
Huntsville, Alabama

If you had to define Mark Martin with one word, it would be "class". Like him or hate him, you have to give him his due for being upfront, honest, and dedicated to the sport. I'd also put Jeff Burton in the same league. One of the best "Mark Martin" stories I ever heard was that during a testing session the team was changing tire pressures for each short run. They would change the pressure in one tire and Mark would tell them which tire it was and how much they had changed the pressure, even down to a one PSI change! Amazing!!!

Bob Weichbrodt
"Rawafx"
W-S, NC

You're still a driver's fan? Man that's like so 90s. You might as well be a jackman fan. Nascar sports entertainment has evolved past the driver. It's all about the crew chief. He collects info on mileage and tire wear for 400+ laps in preparation for the main event, the yellow flag inside the last 20 - 30 laps. Four tires, no tires, splash and go? Woohoo, Nascar has captured the thrills and excitement of a chess match. King's knight takes pawn baby! Now where did I put my Bobby Fischer t-shirts and action figure?

If you had to define Mark Martin with one word, it would be "class". Like him or hate him, you have to give him his due for being upfront, honest, and dedicated to the sport. I'd also put Jeff Burton in the same league. One of the best "Mark Martin" stories I ever heard was that during a testing session the team was changing tire pressures for each short run. They would change the pressure in one tire and Mark would tell them which tire it was and how much they had changed the pressure, even down to a one PSI change! Amazing!!!

Bob Weichbrodt
"Rawafx"
W-S, NC

I agree. I have Sirus which has the Nascar channel. He has been on there a few times doing interviews and he is interesting to listen to. They had a fan day at his dealership in Arkansas for charity with Tony Stewart last year, and he an Stewart were on the radio for about four hours telling about each other while signing autographs and talking on the radio. He really is a nice guy and grateful for the position he is in.

Yeah, I would say Mark Martin is off to a good start. He dang near had the pole.

Yeah Mark Martin has to be happy with the front row. Good to see Bill Elliott up there in 5th place. This field has 8 drivers 50 or over and an average age of 36 years old. Be interesting to see what Montoya can do with his much faster piece this year. Dark horse Regan Smith is in the race with the furniture row car. Nemechek is running his own car and has to race his way in. Scott Speed, former F-1 driver is in the field and is in good shape for rookie of the year. I am ready for the duel on Thursday.:hat:

Hi, All. First time post here.

I have liked Mark Martin ever since he started with Jack Roush. He has ALWAYS been one of the guys that will help anyone, irregardless of who that person is, or what team they are a part of. Another reason that I have liked him so much is because he would not intentionally "push" someone out of the way. Would he have a championship or two, if he "pushed" cars out of the way? Like Earnhardt or Gordon? ( Hey, I like them also, so please be kind.)

As to his ability today, watch and see how many younger drivers will pull down and let him pass, if his car is faster. That's called "respect." He didn't get by be being a "back marker."

As to him retiring, I also thought that he was fading out of the picture, developing new drivers. The only reason that he took the 5 car was that Rick Hendrick asked him if he wanted another chance at that elusive championship.

Where would Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano, Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch and countless others be today, without his support and guidance?

Just my 2 cents worth...

I also have just received my first Mega G car, and love it. Very fast and sticks like no other. I've been lurking here for a while and enjoy the conversations. Joe

What's with this "no testing" rule NASCAR has now? :confused:

No testing at Nascar sanctioned tracks. Teams can test at other tracks, and can still electronic test. Supposed to save money and help smaller teams to be more competitive.

Hemi engined Fiats are legendary.Anyone remember the
AA altereds? They were my all time favorite dragsters.



This was the car my old man first worked with......

Ended up retireing with Sabco Racing...under Kyle Petty as the driver.

BTW, circa 1960 something, I was a young lad.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v211/lookinforcars/gasser.jpg