 | | Mark Martin did not rule out a return to full-time Cup racing in 2008. Credit: Autostock |
By Dave Rodman, NASCAR.COM
September 22, 2006
04:37 PM EDT (20:37 GMT)
DOVER, Del. -- Mark Martin is vigorously pursuing sponsorship that would enable him to run up to a dozen Nextel Cup races in 2007 with Mark Simo's No Fear Racing team. Friday morning at Dover International Speedway, before the opening practice for Sunday's Dover 400, the second race in Martin's third Chase for the Nextel Cup, he reiterated his commitment to race the Craftsman Truck Series in 2007 -- but said he might return to Nextel Cup full time in 2008. Simo's team fielded a No. 60 Ford Fusion in four races earlier this season for Boris Said, using cars, engines and setups procured from Roush Racing. Sponsorship is the big stumbling block for Said to do more races. "I'm actively working right now to try to secure sponsorship for the 60 car for 10-12 races," Martin said. "It's not done, but that's where the focus is as of today." Martin didn't say that those Nextel Cup races would be in conjunction with Truck Series events, but his desire for some time off made it apparent. He also said his truck contract with Roush, while not complete, wasn't in question. "We're only a few weeks away from having [the contract] all settled, but, to answer your question, there is paperwork being worked on because there has been contact with my people on details of how it was to be structured," Martin said. "That's a step further than last week. The terms of the contract are agreed upon. We don't have a problem with that. "I think all of that is agreed on and now it's just a matter of getting it on black and white and getting it structured the way we want it and all that stuff, and pursuing sponsorship, which really hasn't started until this week. "I can't imagine any other scenario for me in 2007 but racing the No. 6 truck." Martin said that he had had some talks with Doug Yates about possibly racing with Robert Yates Racing, but called it virtually a dead issue. "It's unlikely at this point in time," Martin said. "I have had one conversation with Doug quite a while ago, but that's just not very likely [because] my heart is not in a full-time Nextel Cup deal. "Things aren't finalized yet, but my heart is not in a full-time deal. It wasn't a year ago either, and they got my heart into it." Jack Roush and Roush Racing president Geoff Smith talked Martin into doing the 2006 season in their No. 6 Cup car when no suitable replacement driver was available. Martin said that after 19 years of "doing everything they've asked me to do at Roush Racing," what he wants to do in 2007 is simple. "Thirteen weekends off is what I'm looking at, buddy." Martin said of the difference between the Cup and Truck Series schedules. But he said if his limited Cup races would add to his truck program he wanted to do it. "I did have a conversation with Geoff Smith [Thursday] and Jack let him know this week that that is something I not only would like to do, but I really do want to do -- a limited Cup schedule to complement their truck program that they're gonna offer me. "Obviously, we haven't talked about it a lot, but there are a lot of opportunities -- more than I ever expected might come up -- and those things have been rolling around out there. "They're a couple of weeks away, probably, from being all shut down because, like I say and like I've always said, I want to do what I want to do -- not what somebody else wants me to do. "For 19 years I've really done everything that they've asked me to do at Roush Racing, and going forward I'm having to keep reminding myself -- what is it that I want to do? "I've got to keep my eye on that target and do what I want to do and not what someone else wants me to do." But Martin did say that once he gets a chance to catch his breath, all bets are off. "This is another thing I will tell you guys -- I'm not closing the door," Martin said. "I go do this truck thing and I get a chance to catch my breath, I would say that there is a good chance that I'd come back full time [to Nextel Cup] in '08. "I don't know what I want to do and I'll never know until I get a break. I haven't had a day off, I don't feel like, in 19 years. Yes, I've had a day off, but I haven't missed a test, I haven't missed a practice day or a qualifying day or a race day in 19 years and every year I do more and more and more to stay competitive. "I don't know what I want to do until I slow down and it ain't gonna slow down unless I step aside. "I'm definitely ready to do something new. If I was to come back to Nextel Cup, I'd like to do something fresh. I rode that [No. 6] car long and hard, man, and it's been good and I need a break." | 
