DRIVER ZONE:
Overall Rank: 558
Overall Score: 4 points
URL: /archidude
Member since: 09/04/2007
Number of hits: 1949
Location: Brevard, NC
Quote/Motto: I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. -Bilbo Baggins
Favorite Driver: Mark Martin
Who Am I:
I am a self-employed architect, and thanks to my daddy I have been a race fan for about 47 years.
Favorite Track:
Richmond International Raceway
Favorite Racing Moment:
Sonoma 1989: Mark Martin rolling his car on its roof, climbing out, running to the pits to wait for his car to get towed back, climbing back in the car and continuing racing.
How I discovered Rowdy, and why I Listen:
I do not remember how I found Rowdy, but somehow found Rowdy about 2 years ago.
Why I'm a race fan:
Became a racing fan as a kid in Indiana in the early 1960s. Roger Ward was my favorite driver after I got a mug with his image on it from a gas station in 1960. Roger Ward proved to be a good favorite driver. I got into NASCAR in 1989 at Richmond. At Richmond, I didn't want to or expect to get hooked, but couldn't help myself.
What car/truck I drive now:
2008 Honda Civic LX
My dream car:
Subaru SVX, manual (non existent)
Favorite Music:
Dire Straits; The Beatles; Sousa marches; Charles Ives; Aaron Copland; Stravinsky; Holst; Taizé music; Percy Grainger - "Lincolnshire Posy"; Mozart - "Requiem in D Minor"; James Gang; Steep Canyon Rangers
Favorite Movies:
Lord of the Rings Trilogy; Bourne (Identity, Supremacy, Ultimatum); Dr. Strangelove; In-Laws (original); Young Einstein; Raising Arizona
Favorite TV Shows:
The Office, American Experience, North Carolina People
Favorite Books:
I do not read much, but nevertheless I purchase many books with excellent pictures in them
Interests:
family, architecture, design, the United Methodist Church, day hiking; Apple (computer) related innovation, beer, wine, these mountains where I get to live
Dislikes:
Phoniness, fakeness, fauxness
Hobbies:
architecture, racing, grilling
Vices:
absolutely none, except lying about vices
Heroes:
my father-in-law (WWII veteran, all-around fine fellow)
Mark Martin out at DEI in '09?
If you can believe what you read, it appears from an ESPN article (early afternoon 6/22) that DEI will pull the plug on Mark Martin in 2009. Where will Mark end up? Or, is this the end of the line?
I suspect that Mark isn't being blindsided by this news. Certainly, DEI cannot hold Aric Almirola back from a full time ride any longer and this has been understood for a while. But, in the twilight of Mark's racing career, he has made it clear that he wants to do it his way, part time. Who else might give Mark a quality, part time ride?
Here's my seat-of-the-pants theory:
First, Mark really does move on from DEI. Next, JR Motorsports moves up to Cup in 2009 and Mark "mentors" Brad Keselowski at JRM for one year. Mark already has a relationship with JR Motorsports, having driven the #5 in Nationwide a few times. Keselowski is a fine driver but lacks experience in Cup and with the COT. Mark has the experience and better name recognition to draw the big sponsorship money necessary for Cup. With support from Hendrick, the Martin/Keselowski tag team will do well and Keselowski gets the full time ride in 2010. In 2010-11 Mark will mentor the driver of a third JR Motorsports car. After that, Mark retires for good or stays on as a consultant mentor and drives in a Nationwide series race now and then.
A third JR Motorsports car in 2010, you ask? Is that a typo? I neglected to mention that Tony Stewart is in a JR Motorsports car in 2009. Hence the third car in 2010.
One wonders if Navy would move from Nationwide to Cup with JR Motorsports? It would be strange to see Mark Martin jump from Army to Navy. Does the armed service allow that?
Did I mention that this is seat-of-the-pants theory making? Time will tell.
Interesting. I don't doubt that Martin will be out of the DEI stable at the end of the year but Aric would be better served at a different team, I think. DEI was moving up when they bought Ginn motorsports but lately they have slipped back and seem to be a pretty solid second-tier team.
Recent rumors have Martin jumping in the no. 5 next year and Casey will be shown the door at HMS. Not so sure about that as Martin hs repeatedly said he does not want to drive full time and I can't see Hendrick willing to have a drivers split duties in one of his cars.
What if Jr. Motorsports eclipses DEI in the cup series? Wouldn't that be some sort of justice?
What about putting Martin in the 4th RCR car, splitting duties with Wimmer? That seems a little more do-able to me.
- J.D.
- 11:34:26 06-23-2008
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