'Old'-timer Martin happy to mentor young DEI drivers

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Mark Martin still wants to feel useful.

That's why, instead of driving off into the sunset as his 49th birthday looms, he's still running a part-time Sprint Cup schedule and mentoring younger drivers like Aric Almirola and Regan Smith at Dale Earnhardt Inc.

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"When you get as old as I am in this business, nobody has much use for you anymore," Martin said during testing at Daytona International Speedway. "I've always helped drivers, always, since I was a kid. I did it then for the satisfaction. For some reason, it made me feel good to help other people who really wanted to do well and especially help people that I like."

Martin, who made his NASCAR debut in 1981 -- three years before Almirola was born -- announced Monday that he'll run the same part-time schedule that he did last year, but this time in the No. 8. (read more)

Working in this capacity makes Martin feel needed, especially when he can impart some of his wisdom and experience to DEI's stable of talented but inexperienced drivers.

"Today, it's not only just driving the No. 8 car but bringing some senior grounding to DEI," Martin said. "They've got a lot of drivers and none of them are 30. So that's pretty cool. I'm hoping they'll keep me around for a while.

"Martin Truex doesn't need any of my help. I'm just hoping that he helps me some. But some of the other guys, once in a while. I talk to Paul [Menard] from time to time, a good bit of time with Regan and look forward to seeing him on a weekly basis in a Cup car full time. ... And working real hard to get Aric ready to be a full-time Cup driver, as well." (video)

After being near the bottom of the speed chart in Monday's first test session, whatever Martin suggested must have helped. He was 18th-fastest of the 45 cars in the afternoon test at 182.360 mph, while Almirola -- subbing for Truex in the No. 1 -- barely missed the top 10, running 11th at 183.367 mph. (speeds)

Martin's biggest disappointment during the offseason was the loss of crew chief Ryan Pemberton to Michael Waltrip Racing in December. (read more)

"It was a big letdown," Martin said. "I've been doing this stuff for a long time and I understand that it wasn't going to work out. I was hell-bent to keep that team together and keep a smile on their faces. I failed."

Martin said the merger between DEI and the former Bobby Ginn Racing organization led to Pemberton's decision to leave.

"As hard as I tried from July all the way to the end, I just couldn't manage to get some of that group over whatever hump there was to make this merger thing work," Martin said. "The ones that weren't comfortable with it, they made their move.

"I still think Ryan Pemberton is quite possibly the smartest crew chief that I've ever worked with. That's how much I think of him. I'll be a great friend to him forever."