On Friday morning at Texas Motor Speedway, Michael Waltrip and Mark Martin announced that in 2012, Martin would be driving the 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry for 25 events.
Waltrip will run five races which include the restrictor plate races, except for the Daytona 500.
Martin will drive for MWR in 2012, 2013 and with an option for 2014. One of the key roles that Martin will be doing is evaluating a potential driver for 2014.
Waltrip says Mark Martin will be "elevating our whole program, bringing some experience and knowledge to our whole team.”
Martin actually handpicked Kasey Kahne to make the move from Richard Petty Motorsports to Hendrick Motorsports, replacing him in 2012.
This week Waltrip confirmed the release of David Reutimann from MWR following Homestead.
With Martin’s plans in place, questions are still in the air for Brian Vickers, David Ragan and now Reutimann for 2012.
With sponsors cutting back and or changing how they want to market their brand these drivers are facing a tough battle in lining up full time sponsorship deals.
Roush Fenway Racing still has holes to fill in their sponsorship deals for their cars. MWR still needs to fill races for Clint Bowyer.
RCR and owner Richard Childress hasn’t announced plans for the fourth car, no.33. Austin Dillon will run the Nationwide series full time in 2012.
Sponsors want to see their name in victory lane, in the Chase and competitive on a week to week basis. Usually at this point in the season plans are pretty much in place but the trends we have seen this season is heading into this offseason far more uncertainty than in years past.
Two man battle…
After what was a wreck filled Martinsville race, Tony Stewart now sitting just eight points behind Carl Edwards and the Chase is suddenly a two man battle.
As fans you shouldn’t be surprised, usually at this point in the Chase, we come here with the contenders dwindling and even with the new point system it wouldn’t have changed.
Suddenly, Stewart who proclaimed he didn’t deserve to be in the Chase in August has all the momentum coming into Texas.
Still this is the other house that Roush built; Texas Motor Speedway has been one of Roush Fenway Racing’s best tracks.
Still this race has many transitions from daylight to dusk and virtually finishing under the lights. Anything can happen and if either driver or both have any issues
Edwards is looking to extend his points lead and continue a Jimmie Johnson like Chase, built around consistency.
Even with only two drivers at a realistic shot at the title it is far from decided making the next three races not just intriguing but interesting to watch.
Dan Wheldon…
This weekend Danica Patrick will honor her friend and former teammate, Dan Wheldon in her first start back in NASCAR since Wheldon’s death at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October.
Her winnings will go to the Dan Wheldon Foundation; her helmet will be donated to the danwheldonmemorial.com auction following the race.
This weekend Indy Car fans in the U.K. will honor Wheldon and his family.
Sunday’s race is at 3pm EST Sunday on ESPN.
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