Notes: Martin announces race schedule in DEI's 8

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Mark Martin, who came within a half-car-length of winning the 2007 Daytona 500, announced a 26-race Sprint Cup schedule Monday, including a Daytona 500 rematch, 23 other point races and two special events.

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Martin will kick off his 2008 season and debut in the No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet with his record-extending 20th consecutive Budweiser Shootout. Following the 50th Daytona 500, Martin will run the next three events, at Las Vegas, California and Atlanta, before giving way to youngster Aric Almirola, who will run at Bristol and the 11 remaining Sprint Cup point events.

"I think it's going to be an exciting season," said Martin, who will enter his 26th year of Cup racing. "I'm so excited to be behind the wheel of the No. 8 U.S. Army Chevrolet and to be working with Tony Gibson [crew chief] and the No. 8 team.

"Those guys on this team really had some fast cars a year ago, and we are looking to build on that. Our goal is to be competitive and race up front this season."

Martin finished second to Kevin Harvick in the 2007 Daytona in a No. 01 Chevrolet tuned by crew chief Ryan Pemberton, who's left the company. Gibson was Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s car chief on the No. 8 for most of last season.

Other highlights of Martin's 2008 schedule include the Coca-Cola 600, Allstate 400 at The Brickyard, the Sprint All-Star Challenge and pairs of point events at Daytona, Atlanta, Texas, Richmond, Lowe's Motor Speedway, Dover, Pocono and Michigan.

Martin is scheduled to make his 700th career start at California Speedway on Feb. 24.

Keller tests for GEM

Keller

Nationwide Series "iron man" Jason Keller, who set a series record last season with his 422nd career start, is testing Gillette Evernham Motorsports' No. 98 Dodge Charger at Daytona, an effort tended by test team director Pete Rondeau.

"We're going to run a schedule similar to what we did with the No. 98, our R&D team, last season," GEM's Keith Barnwell said after getting down from Daytona's spotters' stand. "At this point, we're not exactly sure what that schedule will be."

Barnwell said the car wouldn't participate in the tests at Las Vegas and California due to the logistical difference of "taking a van to Daytona Beach and only being able to put a certain number of people on a plane to the West Coast."

Keller, who has previous Cup starts on his resume in the former "standard car," as well as a test last season for GEM and one a couple of weeks ago at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in his native South Carolina, said the Car of Tomorrow's higher profile and center of gravity resulted in as-advertised handling characteristics, but said he appreciated the better forward visibility in the car, likening the view out the front glass as being similar to "watching an 18-inch TV and then moving to a 52-inch wide screen." (Continued)