Martin insists he won't race at Bristol in March

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Mark Martin was settled in at Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday, but he has no plans to return when the Food City 500 Nextel Cup race is held at the venue on March 25.

"I have plans for that weekend, and they don't include Bristol," Martin said. "I can't say that would never change, but right now I have plans. I'm going to be at a racetrack, but it isn't going to be this one."

Martin currently leads the 2007 point standings after two Nextel Cup races, fueling speculation that he might not step out of the No. 01 Chevrolet he is supposed to share this season with rookie driver Regan Smith. Martin has been scheduled all along to run the first four Nextel Cup races of the season for Ginn Racing, but he is supposed to give way to Smith for the fifth race of the season at Bristol.

So if Martin doesn't plan on being anywhere near Bristol when that occurs, why was he participating in the Car of Tomorrow tests here?

"I'm here helping Regan, and also trying to get acquainted with this Car of Tomorrow," Martin said. "I do have some Car of Tomorrow races on the schedule this year. So I'm trying to get familiar with the car and we're trying to get Regan ready to make our Army team proud."

Martin was asked if Bobby Ginn, the owner of the No. 01 race team, has approached him about possibly changing his plans to run a full schedule in pursuit of the points championship that has eluded Martin during an otherwise illustrious career.

"That's not going to happen. He won't do that. That's why I'm happy here," Martin said. "I'm really in a good place in my life. I feel like I've taken stock of my career and my personal life, and I'm really blessed for all of the things I've got going and for all of the support that I've had from the fans. I'm going to get to keep doing this at the level that I want to."

So for now Martin continues to insist that he is perfectly content running his part-time, 23-race Nextel Cup schedule with Ginn. (Continued)