Martin can a-Ford to switch
By Mike Mulhern/Winston-Salem Journal
Daytona Beach, Fla. — In a world in which brand loyalty is so valued, Mark Martin has gone over the top, leaving Ford, his racing lifeline for 19 years, for Chevrolet.
And he said he loves it.
"I'm having fun because, according to a lot of you guys, I'm breaking all the rules this year," Martin said with a grin and a laugh.
Pressed about his stunning jump from Jack Roush's solid Ford camp to new Chevy team owner Bobby Ginn and a three-car operation run by Jay Frye, Martin replied with equal parts optimism and intrigue.
"So, Mark, how's that new Chevrolet running?" Elliott Sadler — himself having jumped from Ford to Dodge — innocently asked.
"Shhhh," Martin replied.
So is Martin still a Ford guy at heart who just happens to be running a Chevrolet, or a new Chevy guy just cleaning out old ties?
How will Martin play this balancing act? Here, for example, he's testing for the Daytona 500 in crew chief Ryan Pemberton's Chevrolet. The day before the 500, he will drive in the Daytona 300 Busch race in a Jack Roush Ford. When it comes crunch time in the draft here, where will he find drafting partners?
Martin appears like a man caught in "The Twilight Zone," trying to find his way back to a simpler era. And everyone watching this episode is waiting to see the twist.
Martin clearly loves all the mystery.
"Just because I drove for Jack for 19 years doesn't make it wrong for me to drive for someone else," Martin said. "It just makes it strange. I'm already beyond that. But it will take some getting used to.
"To me and many of my fans it will always be No. 6. I'll still always be No. 6 to myself. But that's emotions — and this is racing.
"I'll be racing a Chevy in more than just my 22 Cup races. I'll race a Chevy in some Busch races, as well. But I'll race a Roush Racing (Ford) Busch car here in the 300 and in Texas, and that is definitely breaking the rules. And we'll be running six races in the Wood Brothers' (Ford) truck."
Martin said that he just wants to be more like Tony Stewart, Kenny Schrader and Kenny Wallace, and drive what he wants, when he wants and where he wants.
"We haven't spent much time educating our fans and the media about what a great opportunity this is," Martin said. "To be on the ground floor and one of the architects for the future of Ginn Racing. This is not a short-term endeavor for me. I see it being long-term, as long as with Roush Racing. I wouldn't be surprised to be with Ginn for 19 years — though I might only be driving the tractor-trailer by then."
By Mike Mulhern/Winston-Salem Journal
Daytona Beach, Fla. — In a world in which brand loyalty is so valued, Mark Martin has gone over the top, leaving Ford, his racing lifeline for 19 years, for Chevrolet.
And he said he loves it.
"I'm having fun because, according to a lot of you guys, I'm breaking all the rules this year," Martin said with a grin and a laugh.
Pressed about his stunning jump from Jack Roush's solid Ford camp to new Chevy team owner Bobby Ginn and a three-car operation run by Jay Frye, Martin replied with equal parts optimism and intrigue.
"So, Mark, how's that new Chevrolet running?" Elliott Sadler — himself having jumped from Ford to Dodge — innocently asked.
"Shhhh," Martin replied.
So is Martin still a Ford guy at heart who just happens to be running a Chevrolet, or a new Chevy guy just cleaning out old ties?
How will Martin play this balancing act? Here, for example, he's testing for the Daytona 500 in crew chief Ryan Pemberton's Chevrolet. The day before the 500, he will drive in the Daytona 300 Busch race in a Jack Roush Ford. When it comes crunch time in the draft here, where will he find drafting partners?
Martin appears like a man caught in "The Twilight Zone," trying to find his way back to a simpler era. And everyone watching this episode is waiting to see the twist.
Martin clearly loves all the mystery.
"Just because I drove for Jack for 19 years doesn't make it wrong for me to drive for someone else," Martin said. "It just makes it strange. I'm already beyond that. But it will take some getting used to.
"To me and many of my fans it will always be No. 6. I'll still always be No. 6 to myself. But that's emotions — and this is racing.
"I'll be racing a Chevy in more than just my 22 Cup races. I'll race a Chevy in some Busch races, as well. But I'll race a Roush Racing (Ford) Busch car here in the 300 and in Texas, and that is definitely breaking the rules. And we'll be running six races in the Wood Brothers' (Ford) truck."
Martin said that he just wants to be more like Tony Stewart, Kenny Schrader and Kenny Wallace, and drive what he wants, when he wants and where he wants.
"We haven't spent much time educating our fans and the media about what a great opportunity this is," Martin said. "To be on the ground floor and one of the architects for the future of Ginn Racing. This is not a short-term endeavor for me. I see it being long-term, as long as with Roush Racing. I wouldn't be surprised to be with Ginn for 19 years — though I might only be driving the tractor-trailer by then."
