by Ron Fleshman  |  About The Author   |  Discuss

A colleague showed me the story just prior to the Toyota/Save Mart 350 on Sunday. I thought it was a joke. Mark Martin to replace Casey Mears in the No. 5 Chevrolet? Come on. Mark wants to be with his family. He enjoys the limited schedule. He loves DEI. Yada, yada, yada.

I don't know what to think about what Mark is considering. He left Roush-Fenway Racing because he didn't want to run full time anymore. He went to Ginn Racing and ended up at DEI when those two operations merged (or DEI saved Bobby Ginn's behind and bought him out--your choice). He was thrilled to be at the organization founded by Dale Earnhardt, Sr. He bragged on the equipment and nearly won a couple of races. What's up Mark?

If you folks remember, Mark left the only Cup owner he had driven for, Jack Roush, in 2006 because he didn't want to run a full schedule. Earlier, he was supposed to retire to the truck series, but that got sidelined when Kurt Busch bolted to Penske and Jamie McMurray was signed. He agreed to go one more year. A feeble farewell tour was established and then he was signing with Ginn for a partial schedule. The truck races, something he said he really wanted to do, kind of went away. Now, kind of like Jason, he's back full time supposedly. Maybe you understand, but I don't get it.

I still can remember a session with Martin at either Rockingham or Martinsville a few years ago where he sat on the table where lunch is usually served in the press box, and talked for the better part of an hour on how he longed to spend more time with his family and race less. He didn't want to give it up totally, but wanted to slow down. Is Rick Hendrick that persuasive? Did Mark change his mind? What's up with that, Mark?

I still think there are few drivers as good as Mark Martin, but his behavior of late is confusing. Martin's seeming distaste for his former employer is one of them. The man who had faith in him and whose equipment nearly won him multiple championships, is never mentioned. He's dissed Roush equipment and praised whatever he's driven since (William, a regular called on Sirius Satellite Radio's call-in shows says that if Mark was given a bicycle to race, he'd prefer it to Roush-Fenway Fords, but that's one person's opinion). Will this actually be the last go around for Martin or is this just another episode where he comes back again in 2010?

Regardless, a Mark Martin championship would be a huge shot in the arm for NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series. I'd celebrate because he is the champion we should have had. I'll secretly root for him to get that cup. But many of us just wish he'd decide what he wants to do. Either he wants to slow down or he doesn't. I suppose it's hard to give up what you've done and been successful at for so many years. Maybe he should have a long talk with Robert Yates. No one wants to see him go out like a lot of drivers who just stayed too long.

You can contact Ron at ron.fleshman@verizon.net

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