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Martin steps into No. 8 Chevrolet for DEI
Taking over Earnhardt Jr's old car significant for longtime NASCAR star
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - History is important to Mark Martin, and stepping into the No. 8 Chevrolet has gained added significance for the longtime NASCAR star.
After Dale Earnhardt Jr. decided in May to leave the family team to join Hendrick Motorsports this season, DEI announced Martin would share the No. 8 with rookie Aric Almirola in 2008.
“When I think about driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. and the No. 8, the first picture that comes into my mind is the mid-1980s, Dale Earnhardt driving the No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Late Model Sportsman owned by him and Teresa Earnhardt,” Martin said.
“Dale was a fierce competitor and he gave me some driving lesson in that race car, with his hands and with his bumper. So, heck yeah, it has significance. I’m very proud to be a part of that organization.”
Ironically, becoming part of DEI was not in Martin’s master plan.
After spending 18 years driving for Jack Roush, Martin wanted to cut back to a part-time schedule in 2007. Roush needed only full-time drivers, so his longtime employee and friend wound up at Ginn Racing, driving Chevys instead of Fords. Then Ginn Racing was absorbed by DEI.
“Dale and I were not good friends,” Martin said Thursday during the annual media day at Daytona International Speedway. “We were great competitors and we got along well. We had tremendous respect for one another. We didn’t go out to dinner together, but we had great respect, and I feel that I give that respect back to the company that he built.”
MORE: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23057445/
Taking over Earnhardt Jr's old car significant for longtime NASCAR star
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - History is important to Mark Martin, and stepping into the No. 8 Chevrolet has gained added significance for the longtime NASCAR star.
After Dale Earnhardt Jr. decided in May to leave the family team to join Hendrick Motorsports this season, DEI announced Martin would share the No. 8 with rookie Aric Almirola in 2008.
“When I think about driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. and the No. 8, the first picture that comes into my mind is the mid-1980s, Dale Earnhardt driving the No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Late Model Sportsman owned by him and Teresa Earnhardt,” Martin said.
“Dale was a fierce competitor and he gave me some driving lesson in that race car, with his hands and with his bumper. So, heck yeah, it has significance. I’m very proud to be a part of that organization.”
Ironically, becoming part of DEI was not in Martin’s master plan.
After spending 18 years driving for Jack Roush, Martin wanted to cut back to a part-time schedule in 2007. Roush needed only full-time drivers, so his longtime employee and friend wound up at Ginn Racing, driving Chevys instead of Fords. Then Ginn Racing was absorbed by DEI.
“Dale and I were not good friends,” Martin said Thursday during the annual media day at Daytona International Speedway. “We were great competitors and we got along well. We had tremendous respect for one another. We didn’t go out to dinner together, but we had great respect, and I feel that I give that respect back to the company that he built.”
MORE: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23057445/