Martin joining MB2 after 19 years with Roush

[6Taurus]

I think i'm going to be sick!Not the news i was expecting as a Martin fan at all!



Martin joining MB2 after 19 years with Roush
NASCAR.COM
October 6, 2006
01:10 PM EDT (17:10 GMT)

 
 

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Mark Martin is leaving Roush Racing after 19 seasons to drive the No. 01 Chevrolet for MB2 Motorpsorts.

Martin confirmed Friday that he is parting ways with team owner Jack Roush, the man for whom Martin has won all 35 of his Cup races. He will drive 22 races for MB2 next season, including the Budweiser Shootout and Nextel All-Star Challenge, with rookie Regan Smith running the others.
 
 
"Joining MB2 is a win-win situation for me," Martin said. "I not only get to drive, but I also get to teach and I love doing both. I have had a great 19 years with Roush Racing. It was a difficult decision to move on."

Martin, 47, has been talking about retirement from the Cup Series for the past two seasons. He was set to give up his ride in the No. 6 Ford after the 2005 season, but he was persuaded by Roush to stay another year because none of the team's young drivers was ready to step into the ride.

Roush still has not named a driver for the No. 6 car, but team president Geoff Smith said Friday that former Formula One driver Jacques Villeneuve, who won the series' championship in 1997, will not be behind wheel of that car.

"Jack Roush and I have enjoyed a very special relationship for the past 20 years," Martin said. "Jack afforded me the opportunity to chase my dreams, and there is no way to put in words what he has meant to me, my life and my career.

"I'm really glad I was able to come back a year and help those guys and Jack out, and we are going to do everything we can to keep chasing after that Nextel Cup for the next seven races."

It previously was reported that Martin was pursuing sponsorship that would enable him to run up to a dozen Cup races in 2007 with Mark Simo's No Fear Racing team.

As recently as two weeks ago, Martin was close to signing a full-time Truck Series deal with Roush. That deal is now off.
http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/headlines/cup/10/06/mmartin.jnemechek.smarlin.mb2/index.html

[smyler]

Martin in a Chevy!  I don't want to over state this but I think MB2 is doing some exciting things.  Joe frequently drives well, he just doesn't finish well, often.  Regan has potential, especially with MM as his mentor.  This is going to be exciting seeing MM driving Hendrick motors.

[Busch Babe 899]

After my initial shock (I haven't been to the Roush boards yet today, but they were all going crazy over there yesterday when the rumor first surfaced.) I'm ticked at NASCAR, who have caused this to happen, making it so that Mark and Jack have to separate now, that whole 4 car/owner cap, the Jack Roush rule, if you will, or you KNOW Jack would field a car for Mark for however many Cup races he wanted to run, for however long he wants to run. Mark would have gladly finished his career with Roush. THANKS, NASCAR!!!

However, I've decided that, despite my disappointment that I won't get to root for Mark going for the Truck championship next season (and I know he's disappointed that didn't work out, because he was SOOOO looking forward to that! ) I'll take whatever I can get, I'll just be happy watching Mark race as long as he chooses to, even if it ISN'T in Roush equipment. And I KNOW Mark will enjoy mentoring Regan Smith, and that MB2 01 team has shown sparks of potential success...they put Mark in there, you KNOW he's going to help improve everything there...but Jack has lost an invaluable part of Roush Racing, and an invaluable source of that mentoring with Todd, Eric, Danny, etc., his up-and-coming drivers.

And despite the manufacturer conflicts, there's a tiny little part of me that really hopes that Jack will come through with that truck ride, if not in 07, by 08...I mean, heck, Matt Kenseth ran a Chevy in Busch and Ford in Cup for several years, because of his existing Busch team when he got the Cup ride with Roush, the same goes here...they already have the 6 team set up for Mark in Truck, he should still be able to work something out IMO. But you know the sponsors will never allow that...Chevy has to be jumping for joy, snagging Mark like this.

Anyway, there's only one thing to do...

CHEER MARK ON TO THE 2006 NEXTEL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP!!!

I'm going to let 2007 take care of itself, and unlike many Mark fans that are Roush fans first, which is their right, I'm a Mark Martin fan first and foremost...he could run a souped-up trike and I'd root for him!

[Busch Babe 899]

You should HEAR the rumors flying now over at RR.com...MB2 to go to Ford, but can't release that info right now, for risk that Chevy will pull their factory support for the rest of the season...that's the latest. And I haven't even GOTTEN to Mark's part of the site yet...I'm still on Carl's part! LOL (well, this thread is linked in the discussion on Carl's board, so I guess I HAVE gotten to Mark's site...just not viewed all the threads yet... )

http://www.roushracingforums.com/showthread.php?t=3546

I don't know how much of this is just to make the Roush fans feel better, but apparently Ford released a statement about Mark leaving, "slamming" him, in the words of one Roush fan...I haven't read the statement, but WOW, is this spawning a lot of speculation.

I think I'll just sit back and see where all the shrapnel lands...

[Dustcloud]

Maybe I'm just confused but.... someone's lined up for the No. 6 for 2007?

[Busch Babe 899]

Ha! OFFICIALLY, it's still Todd Kluever, but Jack has said he has weeks yet to decide...rumblings over on the RR boards is that David Ragan MIGHT be more ready than Todd. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in it next season.

Personally, I think Roush and AAA are STOOOPID for not even CONSIDERING doing what MB2 is with Mark next season...or rotating all the Roush rookies, Kluever, Ragan, Darnell and O-Quinn, through that car, see which one seems to do best, then go with him in 2008, but I think Jack and AAA want to gamble on one of them. Sadly, it'll likely be years before we see the #6 car in the Chase again.

[Chris]

rotating all the Roush rookies, Kluever, Ragan, Darnell and O-Quinn, through that car, see which one seems to do best, then go with him in 2008, but I think Jack and AAA want to gamble on one of them

I read a Roush statement somewhere that this was a possibility this was what may be done.  Also heard that Ragan is possibly the leading canidate right now if they put someone in full time in 2007.  He's just looked so good in the CTS, and adapts to everything he drives so quickly.

Also there is already a Statement posted over on Jayski that MB2 could be going to Ford in 2007.

[Dustcloud]

It'll be interesting to see the results if they rotate the rookies through. Because I know if my entire future in the sport I love depended on four or five races with no learning curve, I'd do REAL well and be not at all likely to make... well, rookie mistakes. No pressure there...

I thought this was a stupid idea the last time someone did it and I think it'd be an even stupider one for a high-profile Cup car. Splitting seat time with a veteran who'll teach you is one thing. Demanding immediate success or you lose your ride to a competitor who might be luckier rather than better is another.

[Chris]

It'll be interesting to see the results if they rotate the rookies through. Because I know if my entire future in the sport I love depended on four or five races with no learning curve, I'd do REAL well and be not at all likely to make... well, rookie mistakes. No pressure there...

I thought this was a stupid idea the last time someone did it and I think it'd be an even stupider one for a high-profile Cup car. Splitting seat time with a veteran who'll teach you is one thing. Demanding immediate success or you lose your ride to a competitor who might be luckier rather than better is another.

Well 36 races split up among just 4 drivers comes out to 9 races each... so I think thats plenty of "looks" to should decide who should get to drive the following year.
I think it wouldn't TAKE that long IMO.  The ability to work with the team, the ability to transfer info back and forth, and the ability to adapt quickly would show in a SHORT matter of time.  IMO the "most qualified" driver would "show himself" before mid-season.
And just the "finish" of the race (as most fans would look at)... is in NO way indicative of how the weekend went.  Lets say (case in point) David Ragan drove the Roush CUP car a Dover recently.  He got punted, and crashed out early and finished 42.  Most folks would say he had a bad weekend and he did poorly. (kinda a strike against him)
There's WAY more then just the final finish position that goes into account when they will evaluate who gets that seat.  Ability to communicate, hows the car doing and what does it need,.. can he get the crew chief to understand what HE needs the car to do, etc etc.
Fact is from some inside sources I have,.. Roush was well pleased with Ragans weekend,.. in spite of the 42nd place finish.

As far as any other team having 4 drivers drive one car to compete for the top spot in "any" series,.. I must have missed that.  Whose done this before DustCloud.  Please fill me in.

[Busch Babe 899]

It's pretty moot, because I believe part of the issue is that AAA wants a full-time driver in that car next season...pick one, stick with him, and give him the seat time to become good enough to eventually run for the Cup. I don't necessarily agree with it. Jack COULD have kept Mark in that car part-time, in fact I think he WOULD have, had Mark been clear he would be willing to run 20 or so races, and had AAA been willing to bend for one season, allow this, so Todd or David or whoever shared that ride could benefit from Mark's experience.

I'm saddened that Roush Racing could not see their way to give Mark what he wanted. I mean, Mark came back for one more season to help Jack out in a pinch, and this is the thanks he gets...Jack and RR should have been moving heaven and earth to help Mark do what HE wanted to for once.

I'm still hopeful that Mark will still be in the 6 truck, Geoff Smith was quoted as saying they are working on it. But we've heard the "We're working on it" all season, indeed since last year, from them in relation to Mark's future there. I'm hopeful, but won't be surprised if it doesn't happen.

[Chris]

I agree BB,... seems something could have been worked out.
As far as the truck,... who knows maybe Mark just wants to race,... CTS, CUP, whatever.  I don't know if he even cares about winning a CTS championship.

Seems MOST I have heard is he wanted to get away from all the many time constraints of CUP racing and the 36 week schedule, testing, etc etc... so he could spend more time with his son and wife.  The CTS is a 25 or 26 series season.
Maybe he decided by just running 22 races in the CUP series he could have an extra couple weeks at home.

Gotta admit that CTS schedule SUCKS.  Race a few weeks then off for a MONTH,.. race a few more weeks then off for ANOTHER MONTH.  Then to get 26 races in they start racing every weekend like the CUP cars.
Maybe with the switch to MB2, he has a lot more control over when he'll race and when he won't.  How he can schedule time with his family, etc etc.

I'm sure after a career of driving a Ford, 20 years with Roush.... its not a decision he made lightly.  I wish for him the best, and anxiously await Matt moving up into some type of Nascar competition.

[Tyyrus]

WELL I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO TAKE THE GOOD WITH THE BAD ...EH !!! GOT MY MOOSE'S , BUT APPARENTLY LOST MY OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH MARK WIN A CTS. CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2007 !!!


I CANNOT FATHOM JACK ROUSH NOT MAKING THE CTS CONTRACT WORK OUT WITH MARK ,
MB2 BE DAMMED !!!  MARK IN A CHEVY !  HELL , I'LL ROOT FOR THAT MAN RUNNIN A MOPED !

GOTTA GET IN TO MY ROUSH WEB-SITE TO CHECK ALL THIS OUT , TO MUCH TO TAKE IN MAN !
WERE DID I LEAVE MY TYLENOL ?? OH YEH.. BACK IN THE CAMPER !  WOW MAYBE I'LL GO BACK IN
AND HAVE A NAP & WAKE UP AND THIS WILL ALL BE JUST A BAD DREAM !  NO CAN'T DO THAT
MAN ! THEN MARK MAYBE DIDN'T MISS THE BIG ONE AND END UP 8TH @ THE BIG "T" MOVIN HIM TO
3RD IN THE CHASE , ONLY 10 PTS OUT....OOOOOH , CHEVY...IN 2007 TELL ME IT ISN'T SO..MAN !!!!!!!!

[Dustcloud]

It was tried with the No. 9 Busch car.  Last year, I think? Maybe the year before. Don't think any of those drivers ever showed worth a thing. And I see your point, but I don't agree with it. Luckily, as BB6 said, they decided against a merry-go-round. As for Martin, wish him the most enjoyment our of racing both next year and beyond, whatever vehicle he's in.

[AfterShock]

MARK MARTIN CHEVROLET, CADILLAC, GMC.........??
Batesville, Arkansas.

Hmmmm

[Tyyrus]

HEY FOLKS THE RUMOUR MILL HAS IT THAT MARK WILL RUN A LIMITED CTS SCHEDULE WITH EITHER MB2 OR ROUSH IN 2007...HUUUUMMM JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO ENTER THE WATER MR. BODINE !!!