Mark Martin

[ninja]

and Hendrick

I want to hear the justification for this one.

[FlyinM]

Although I would be happy to see Mark compete full time again, that is a stange move indeed. DEI was whining about not being able to run Mark full time. Must be the pile o' cash the fat man is pushing his way.

[Blackjack]

Old lady Earnhardt is running DEI into the ground. My prediction: they're out of NASCAR within 3-years.

[FlyinM]

I don't think that will happen. The 'Earnhardt' name will keep sponsors interested. You might see Theresa take a dimished role, but I think the company will survive.
There are rumors that Truex will leave too. They would scale back before leaving NA$CAR.

[ninja]

#20- Tony Stewart said Friday the new opening at Hendrick Motorsports could effect his decision about where he drives next season. Hendrick Motorsports announced that Casey Mears would not return in the #5 Chevrolet. "There's no one in the garage area that's not going to look in that direction," Stewart said. "You've got to look at it. Absolutely." Stewart has said he is exploring an ownership option to become the co-owner and a driver for Haas/CNC Racing. He was asked Friday when he might have a decision on his future. "At this morning's announcement [on the #5 car], I don't know," he said. "It may be pushed back even more. We'll wait and see. It's however long it takes to make the right decision. There's a lot of variables to look at. We've got all the information except what happened today. The good news is we still have time to look at it." Stewart is under contract with Joe Gibbs Racing through the 2009 season. JGR officials have said they plan to hold Stewart to his contact obligations in the #20 Toyota. Hendrick did not say who will drive the #5 Chevy next season, but ESPN.com reported Sunday Mark Martin will join the team and take over for Mears full time in one final attempt to win a Cup title

oh. fun. times.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[ninja]

I have to believe that it's a foregone conclusion that he buys into Haas. Hendrick is the #2 choice I think and JGR is #3. I can't help but think it's actually the Toyota thing, and the fact that he's the #3 dog there. I have no idea what to think about it. I'm saddened and hopeful that he re-signs, but I am afraid that the writing is on the wall.

If he does go to Haas, he has to hope that the #66 gets back into the top 35. That way he can put Truex/Newman/Whoever in that car and they're locked into the first five races, and he gives himself the past champion's provisional to get into the field. (Unless Johnson somehow sells off his owner's points) That's the logical conclusion that you can draw, because I can't imagine a marquee driver coming with him without being guaranteed into the show.

[FlyinM]

Well, Mark will be driving full time for Hendick. Talk about the definition of mixed emotions. What kind of run for the championship will he have being the 4th banana over there.

Martin back to fulltime in 2009, to the #5 HMS car: Mark Martin has signed a two-year agreement to drive for Hendick Motorsports beginning in 2009. Martin will race the full 2009 Sprint Cup schedule in the #5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevy, becoming teammates with #24-Jeff Gordon, #48-Jimmie Johnson and #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. It will mark his first full season of Cup competition since 2006, when he finished ninth in points. A Batesville, Ark., native, Martin also is slated to run a partial Sprint Cup schedule for Hendick Motorsports in 2010, sharing the #5 Chevys with a to-be-determined second driver. Martin will enter 26 events, including the non-points Budweiser Shootout and Sprint All-Star Race. “Mark is an incredible racer and one of the classiest guys around,” said Hendick Motorsports owner Rick Hendick, whose organization will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2009. “He is a driver who makes everyone around him better, and our entire company is going to benefit from his presence.”
“I feel very fortunate to have this chance to win races and go after a championship with Hendick Motorsports,” Martin said. “Coming back full time wasn’t something we planned, but driving the #5 car, with all its history, was an impossible opportunity to pass up. Rick and I have enjoyed a great relationship over the years, and we’ve always talked about doing this. Now it’s working out, and we’re both excited about the possibilities.” Martin, 49, will be paired with crew chief Alan Gustafson, who now is in his fourth season at the helm of the #5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevy team. Gustafson has posted four Sprint Cup wins as a crew chief and has a history with Martin, having worked with him in multiple Nationwide Series events.(HMS PR/Markmartin.com)(7-4-2008) Comment here

[FlyinM]

Originally Posted by FlyinM

I don't think that will happen. The 'Earnhardt' name will keep sponsors interested. You might see Theresa take a dimished role, but I think the company will survive.
There are rumors that Truex will leave too. They would scale back before leaving NA$CAR.

And so it begins.....

Teresa Earnhardt Looking to sell DEI? Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway is reporting today that Teresa Earnhardt has enlisted the services of Bear, Stearns and Company to find a buyer -- or at least a major financial investor -- for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Bear Stearns is an investment bank, securities trading and brokerage firm based in New York City, and has been charged with finding a buyer for the entire operation. Barring that, Earnhardt is said to be interested in selling at least a minority interest in the team. DEI President of Global Operations Max Siegel declined to comment on the story when contacted earlier today.(Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway)(7-7-2008) Comment here

[ninja]

and wasn't bear stearns the company that went down the shitter?

some jokes just write themselves