 | | Mark Martin's Truck Series contract will prevent him from running a full Cup schedule next year. Credit: Autostock |
By David Newton, NASCAR.COM
September 17, 2006
08:13 PM EDT (00:13 GMT)
LOUDON, N.H. -- Roush Racing president Geoff Smith said Mark Martin's Truck Series contract that is in the final stages of preparation will not allow him to run a full Nextel Cup schedule in 2007. "You can't do both," Smith said emphatically before Sunday's Cup race at New Hampshire International Speedway. Smith also said Martin's replacement in the No. 6 next season will be one of Roush's four developmental drivers, Todd Kluever, Danny O'Quinn Jr., David Ragan or Erik Darnell. He said a decision will be made by owner Jack Roush within the next two weeks. "We signed AAA to have a rookie driver in it [after Mark]," Smith said. "That strategy fundamentally is the same." Smith said Martin's best option for a partial Cup schedule if that's what he desires will be in the No. 60 team that Roush Racing manages with Boris Said. He smiled when told that Robert Yates continues to put Martin on his wish list to drive the No. 88 next season. "Yes, I think that's wishful thinking," Smith said. "I could say my wish list is we want Kasey Kahne, followed by Jimmie Johnson." Yates, who said on Saturday that Martin has expressed an interest to drive the 88, replied, "I'd like to help Mark win his first [Cup] championship." Smith said Martin's truck contract will be ready to be signed within the week. He said there were delays finalizing details with sponsors. Training the Tiger Defending Cup champion Tony Stewart, whose waistline has been the butt of many jokes, has hired certified trainer Marc Arnone to get his weight in check. Arnone will receive around $200,000 a year to move into Stewart's Columbus, Ind., home and be with the two-time champion on a full-time basis. "It's a good move for Tony from a performance standpoint," said Al Shuford, the head trainer at Joe Gibbs Racing. Shuford helped Stewart train for the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 double in 2001. "He dropped 13 pounds right away just knocking out the Cokes, McDonald's and milkshakes," Shuford said. "He was in the best shape of his career." While Shuford didn't blame Stewart's weight on him missing the Chase for the Nextel Cup, he did say that was a "wakeup call." "This is going to be a positive move for us," he said. Big game hunter Richard Childress cut short his hunting trip in Alaska to be in New Hampshire with drivers Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton as they begin their chase for a title. That he bagged a trophy doll sheep with 42-inch horns and a big moose made the decision easier. "I wanted to be down here and give my support and let all these guys know I'm behind them," said Childress, who was in Victory Lane celebrating Harvick's victory. Childress said he walked for 14 hours to climb an elevation of 8,000 feet on the hunt. He kept in touch with his team on a satellite telephone. | 
