ESPN reporting mark martin to replace mears in the 5 car.
the 5 car
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Martin To The 5?
From ESPN...
Sources: Martin to leave DEI, replace Mears in No. 5
By David Newton and Marty Smith
ESPN.com
SONOMA, Calif. -- Casey Mears and Mark Martin look to be on the move, and their futures might be linked.
Mears' future with Hendrick Motorsports appears in jeopardy, ESPN.com has learned. Although Mears has one year left on his contract, team owner Rick Hendrick would not commit to the driver of the No. 5 car beyond this season.
"I'm committed to him right now," Hendrick said on Sunday at Infineon Raceway. "I'm committed to him making that car run better right now."
Earlier on Sunday, sources told ESPN.com that Martin would leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. Later, ESPN.com learned that he would replace Mears, making one last full-time run at a championship.
John Story, the vice president of motorsports at DEI, said there are plans to put Aric Almirola into a full-time ride next season. Almirola currently is splitting the No. 8 with the 49-year-old Martin. He indicated the full-time ride would be in the No. 8.
"Aric is ready for a full-time ride," Story said. "There's a lot of interest in sponsorship for Aric. He's a bright young guy and a hell of a race car driver.
"He fits a lot of company's demographics with his age and Hispanic background. And first and foremost he can drive. We have to get him in a car full time somehow, someway."
Martin, who has been running a part-time schedule the past couple of seasons, was unavailable for comment.
Martin has been pivotal in mentoring DEI's young driving stable, especially Almirola and Regan Smith.
"He's been very good to us and very helpful, and good to our other drivers, so we're working through what's best for Mark, for Aric and for DEI," Story said. "We have five guys we'd like to run full time, and Mark doesn't want to run a full-time schedule.
"So he's looking at something very similar to what he has today. That's the challenge we have. We talk every day trying to make that work."
Hendrick would not address whether Martin could replace Mears. He also would not give Mears a strong endorsement.
"We're looking at everything right now," he said. "We're not ready to make any announcements. Guys, give me a break. What's there to tell? We just want to get in the Chase, we want to run good, we want to win races."
Mears is 27th in points. He has finished 17th or worse in the last six races and 26th or worse in five of six. In 51 races at HMS he has one win and only 12 top 10s.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., who joined the organization this season, has a win and 11 top 10s in 15 races.
Mears has been confident in his return to HMS over the past couple of months. There was doubt in his voice on Sunday.
"I don't know yet," he said when asked if he would return in 2009. "Obviously, we haven't had a good season. I think anything could happen. Right now, I don't really have anything good to talk about."
David Newton covers NASCAR for ESPN.com. Marty Smith covers NASCAR for ESPN.
From ESPN...
Sources: Martin to leave DEI, replace Mears in No. 5
By David Newton and Marty Smith
ESPN.com
SONOMA, Calif. -- Casey Mears and Mark Martin look to be on the move, and their futures might be linked.
Mears' future with Hendrick Motorsports appears in jeopardy, ESPN.com has learned. Although Mears has one year left on his contract, team owner Rick Hendrick would not commit to the driver of the No. 5 car beyond this season.
"I'm committed to him right now," Hendrick said on Sunday at Infineon Raceway. "I'm committed to him making that car run better right now."
Earlier on Sunday, sources told ESPN.com that Martin would leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. Later, ESPN.com learned that he would replace Mears, making one last full-time run at a championship.
John Story, the vice president of motorsports at DEI, said there are plans to put Aric Almirola into a full-time ride next season. Almirola currently is splitting the No. 8 with the 49-year-old Martin. He indicated the full-time ride would be in the No. 8.
"Aric is ready for a full-time ride," Story said. "There's a lot of interest in sponsorship for Aric. He's a bright young guy and a hell of a race car driver.
"He fits a lot of company's demographics with his age and Hispanic background. And first and foremost he can drive. We have to get him in a car full time somehow, someway."
Martin, who has been running a part-time schedule the past couple of seasons, was unavailable for comment.
Martin has been pivotal in mentoring DEI's young driving stable, especially Almirola and Regan Smith.
"He's been very good to us and very helpful, and good to our other drivers, so we're working through what's best for Mark, for Aric and for DEI," Story said. "We have five guys we'd like to run full time, and Mark doesn't want to run a full-time schedule.
"So he's looking at something very similar to what he has today. That's the challenge we have. We talk every day trying to make that work."
Hendrick would not address whether Martin could replace Mears. He also would not give Mears a strong endorsement.
"We're looking at everything right now," he said. "We're not ready to make any announcements. Guys, give me a break. What's there to tell? We just want to get in the Chase, we want to run good, we want to win races."
Mears is 27th in points. He has finished 17th or worse in the last six races and 26th or worse in five of six. In 51 races at HMS he has one win and only 12 top 10s.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., who joined the organization this season, has a win and 11 top 10s in 15 races.
Mears has been confident in his return to HMS over the past couple of months. There was doubt in his voice on Sunday.
"I don't know yet," he said when asked if he would return in 2009. "Obviously, we haven't had a good season. I think anything could happen. Right now, I don't really have anything good to talk about."
David Newton covers NASCAR for ESPN.com. Marty Smith covers NASCAR for ESPN.
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bsquared31
Guest
I personally think Mears should go run Indy cars or something. I don't doubt he's talanted, but Cup racing does not seem to be his thing.
wilson89
Team Owner
i thought martin was on his farewell tour for the past 4 years how can he race the 5 car 
Betsy
Team Owner
I sure hope not! A one year tryout just won't cut it for me.. I'd rather see one of the young guns take that ride.
Betsy
Betsy
M
mudslinger47
Guest
Dang, I agree with ya again!! Thats why I thought putting LaBonte in K.P.'s 45 was a dumb move. Duane
i agree. While mears isn't doing well...
when has the 5 shop down well as a whole? Vickers may have been booted, but Kyle left for a reason.
when has the 5 shop down well as a whole? Vickers may have been booted, but Kyle left for a reason.
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mudslinger47
Guest
Actually, I never really looked at it that way, but you may be right. Duane
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steveluvs3
Guest
I don't think mears is that bad, I think the #5 is the red headed step child now, it was the #25 which mears was in but it turned into the #88. Like I said before rick said it all in victory lane when Jr. won " We have to get the 24 and 48 back in championship contention" Hello Mr. Hendrick u have another team besides the 24 and 48.
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basscatcher89
Guest
this is the same team that resorted to having terry labonte run 3 laps on new tires to scuff them for 24 and 48. I was at chicagoland one year and this is all he did all race long. Makes you sick seeing a professional driver being treated like that.
between sponsors and talent, he may not for long.
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speedwayphoto
Guest
oh no..... say it ain't so.... It was bad enough Mark goin to Chevy and DEI....... bad enough helping Hendrick in Busch... oops, i mean Nationwide..... but now......... GOIN TO Hendrick?????????? ARRRRRGHHHH..................... Why oh why couldn't he have just gone to the trucks back then..............
kelloggs5TLfan
Team Owner
MRM
Team Owner
Somewhere Kyle Busch is laughing.
Id love to see Mark at HMS over what DEI is now.
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Digger
Guest
at this entire thread.Casey Mears is good, but he's never been consistent. He has one or two good races, a few bad races then a good race here and there.
It just burns you Junyer haters that he's in the top-5 in points, and is running better than Gordon and Johnson.
As far as Gibbs goes, I'm not happy with them. I'm a little pissed they shafted Joey from the 20 car the next few races so their Cup drivers can run in N'wide.
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Digger
Guest
What's everyone going to say when Mark Martin actually wins a race?
Oh, and everybody, when Mark was with Bobby Ginn, yeah, they used Hendrick motors. But, that's right, keep on bashing Slick Rick.
Next up, we're going to hear about how Brian Vickers was better than Junyer as well, right?
I am glad Mark Martin came over to the dark side and raced a GM!
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Digger
Guest
I love Junyer, and man it sucked when he went to Hendrick. But, he did what's best for him. He had to go somewhere where he could win races. Look at that...he won a race, and is third in points.I feel your pain. I love Mark, but this latest makes me want to
And that just eats away at all the Junyer haters, doesn't it?
And he would've won Richmond if he hadn't been wrecked out by some pompous dirty little shrub.
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bsquared31
Guest
And he would've won Richmond if he hadn't been wrecked out by some pompous dirty little shrub.
Amen brother!!!
kelloggs5TLfan
Team Owner
I love Junyer, and man it sucked when he went to Hendrick. But, he did what's best for him. He had to go somewhere where he could win races. Look at that...he won a race, and is third in points.
And that just eats away at all the Junyer haters, doesn't it?
And he would've won Richmond if he hadn't been wrecked out by some pompous dirty little shrub.
Andy, I'm not a Jr hater or lover, he's just there. lol I was not a fan of Senior's at all.
I'm in NO WAY a fan of Rick Hendrick. That has nothing to do with me being a Terry Labonte fan either. I'm a fan of the driver, not the owner.
barelypure
Spectator
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If his engine didn't blow, if he didn't hit the wall, if his tire...etc etc etc A thousand things could have happened and any racing fan has seen strange things happen on the track before.
I know you have a crystal ball and can see the future and all but how about giving it a rest for us mere mortals.
IOW, in your opinion he would have won. And I'll admit that unless something happened he probably would have. But man your all knowing ego...
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Digger
Guest
Same here.Andy, I'm not a Jr hater or lover, he's just there. lol I was not a fan of Senior's at all.
I'm in NO WAY a fan of Rick Hendrick. That has nothing to do with me being a Terry Labonte fan either. I'm a fan of the driver, not the owner.
Junyer did what he had to do. And Mark's doing the same. Like any racer, he wants to win races. There aren't very many more organizations that you have a better chance of winning with than Hendricks.
I'll applaud Mark on this 100%
Now, if only Montoya would get the hell out of Ganassi and join a winning organization.
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Digger
Guest
Unfortunately something did happen, Wild Thing "got loose."
And, no I don't buy that excuse for a minute, not when he talks about "I'll wreck as many cars as I need to" the night before.