“Right,” it’s Getting to be a Habit!
It wasn’t so long ago, a short three days , I declared any and all rumors about Mark Martin returning to wheel the #6 in ‘07 were as dead as Elvis. (or if you don’t believe that, the Dodo bird)
But even this “Pundit Extraordinaire” (sorry, the finger slipped on the “ego button”) is surprised to learn where he may be headed in ‘07. RYR and the #88!
Three different sources close to Ford Racing said Martin will take over for Dale Jarrett at Yates after Jarrett moves into a new Toyota Camry at Michael Waltrip Racing in 2007, Morris News Service has learned.Martin said Friday he won’t drive the No. 6 Ford at Roush next year - a ride he’s had since the 1988 season - and most people believed that meant he finally planned to start his planned retirement.
Is there irony in the fact Martin started his career in the year ‘88 and may (operative word being may), end it the number 88?
Could be, you be the judge. As things are shaking out Martin may challenge Darrell “who me retired” Waltrip as the world’s oldest “retired” racing driver still driving. (not counting this Coeur d’Alene, ID resident)
The Morris News Service “sources” also disclose Martin tried to buy Yates earlier this year with the apparent support of Jack Roush, a rumor that was floated before and now seems to have a bit more credence.
While on the subject of rumors. Here’s one to my knowledge didn’t even hit the rumor stage and comes from out of the blue: Casey Atwood is back and takes over from David Green behind the wheel of the Brewco Motorsports Busch ride.
Sure didn’t see that one coming.
UPDATE: Mark Martin’s business manager, Benny Ertel, has denied everything. Says no way, no how is Martin headed to the #88 in ‘07. In fact he came close to saying the proverbial “What, are you high,” when asked about it. Now we’ll see of the old axiom remains true. You know the one that says, the more adament the denial the better the possibility the rumor is true.
NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Brewco Motorsports, Mark Martin, Robert Yates Racing, Jack Roush, Busch Series, Sports, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle
No, there is NOT irony in the fact about MM’s career in 88 & ending it in car #88. I say so - not because of the comparable 88s but because its is not a fact that MM’s career started in 88. He was racing Cup back in 81 and 82 - with his own Buick team and sponsorship from Apache Stove. Admittedly, he didn’t have much success, didn’t last long, struggled with the demons of the bottle, dropped off the radar for a few years, and then resurfaced with Roush in 88. But to say he started his career in 88 simply isn’t true. Therefore, no irony.
You’re right of course, however although I failed to state it correctly by “career” I meant in the context of his starting with Roush.
As someone who has followed Martin’s career dating back to his “long-haired hippy” days in the mid-sixties I’m well aware of his first foray into NASCAR.
And far from dropping “off the radar” he returned to his winning ways in the old and lamented ASA Series.