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.

"I'm lucky to be driving right now for such a great team, and to be able to do what I want to do with my career. And to have the kind of support that I've had from the fans, and from this team," he said. "I feel like I'm making a contribution, and that's why I'm here. I'm here to make a contribution and try to help get Regan ready to make the U.S. Army team proud."

Martin also was asked if he is growing weary of being asked if folks really should believe him when he says he fully intends to step out of his Cup car before the Bristol race -- which will end a streak of 621 consecutive Cup starts. The last Cup race run without him in the lineup was on Nov. 22, 1987.

"I'm fine. But five times [of asking] is enough," he said. "Fifteen times might start working on my nerves. I'm in an awfully good mood right now."

Twice before while during a 19-year run with Roush Racing that ended following last season, the four-time Cup points runner-up said he was planning to retire -- and didn't. Again, he keeps insisting that he's no Rocky Balboa, and that this time his plans won't change.

"I had a lot of pressure behind me then that you don't know about. I don't have that pressure now," Martin said of his earlier flirtations with retirement that did not come to pass.

He said the "formula" he has in life right now is sweet for him and his family, and that he doesn't want to disrupt that. And just where will he be on March 25 when the green flag drops on the Cup race at Bristol? He is scheduled to be racing Late Model cars with is son, Matt, and NASCAR newcomer Ricky Carmichael at a short track in Lake City, Fla.

"I don't want to be tampering with the formula. I'm pretty happy right now," he said. "I'm ready for a weekend off already."

"This test is getting in the way of my relaxation."

To prove just how much he is into relaxation these days, the 48-year-old smiled broadly when asked what he would have been doing Wednesday if he hadn't been testing at Bristol.

"Probably taking a nap," he said, squinting at the midday sun. "It's right after lunch. That would sure feel good right about now."