Notebook: Martin reiterates decision to retire at Bristol

LAS VEGAS -- Mark Martin had family and friends over to his home in Florida last Sunday, and served barbecue while everyone watched the Mexico City Busch race. It was a dry run for a similar party set for two weeks from now, when the veteran Nextel Cup driver will step away from the series for the first time in 617 race weeks.

And he will step away. Martin made that clear yet again Friday morning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, when the series points leader reiterated plans to turn his No. 01 car over to Ginn Racing teammate Regan Smith for the March 25 event at Bristol Motor Speedway.

But, in true Martin fashion, he left the door just slightly ajar in case he has a change of heart.

"I don't want to run for the championship," he said. "I don't want to race for points in 2007. I'm taking a break. I'll know more about what I want to do after Bristol. Because if I feel after Bristol like I felt after Mexico last week, I don't know. But if I feel sick that I missed that race, or I feel sick during the race and wished I were there -- which I doubt very seriously -- then my opinion or my mind might change."

He's changed his mind before, putting off semi-retirement twice since 2005. But he said things are different now that he's no longer at Roush Racing, his home of 19 years.

"The things that came up before was, I was working in a group that put pressure on me to do things I might not want to do," he said. "I'm not working with a group that is going to do that. So I had help in my indecision."

Now he's excited about things like Ginn developmental driver Ricky Carmichael, whose first stock-car race will be March 24 in a late model owned by Martin. "I chased that Cup for 20 years," he said. "At this point in time, I've put chasing that thing behind me."

Much to the chagrin of Bruton Smith, chairman of the company that owns Las Vegas Motor Speedway, who wants to see Martin chase that elusive championship yet again.

"I would like to see Mark do that," he said. "He's a great driver, and he's leading the points. What if he wins the race Sunday? If he does, I'll bet he's there, pal. I'll bet the farm." (Continued)