Trouble in Turn2

Unless you have experience as an elite athlete, you have no true idea what Martin is going through. Professional athletes, especially Hall of Fame caliber ones like Martin, live in a different world than the average person. The competition is often hard to leave. Martin loves racing, is still very good and one of the premier teams in NASCAR thinks it’s a good idea to hire him. For a fan or writer to say he should make up his mind or simply retire is incredulous.

On the surface Martin’s indecision may look similar to Brett Favre’s, but there are a lot of differences. Aside from mildly irritating some fans, Martin is not doing anything wrong. Martin is competitive on a weekly basis and more than pulls his own weight. Favre, despite a great 2007 season, has not been a top quarterback in recent years. Martin and Hendrick Motorsports are also not restricted by a salary cap, while Favre’s potential return would be a large pain for the Packers’ salary situation. Thirdly, Martin is not holding any young driver back at Hendrick. Brad Keselowski is talented, but would not be ready for a full time Cup ride in 2009. Favre’s continuous waffling has stunted Aaron Rodgers’ growth and the Packers’ ability to evaluate what they have in the young quarterback. In NASCAR there isn’t really rebuilding like other team sports. If you have the pieces to win races, you do it. Meanwhile Favre’s indecision keeps the Packers stuck between a youth movement and spackling the cracks for another title run.

Martin will get his best equipment since leaving Roush-Fenway Racing after 2006. During his part-time schedule he has had chances to run for wins at select tracks, but not on a weekly basis. Ginn Racing and DEI just aren’t as strong as the top teams. That should change for Martin in the #5 car. Compare Martin and Casey Mears. Last year Mears had 1 win, 5 top 5’s and 10 top 10’s. Martin had 0 wins, 5 top 5’s and 11 top 10’s in 12 fewer races than Mears. Keep in mind that Martin drove for a company, Ginn Racing, that was forced to merge due to financial difficulties. Mears put up those pedestrian numbers with the powerhouse team that won 50% of the 2007 races. Martin should be able to win a race and at least double his top 5 and top 10 numbers in 2009.

Martin will team up with one of the best crew chiefs in Cup, Alan Gustafson. Gustafson will finally work with an elite driver without having to address regular questions about his driver’s actions during the race. Martin will not publicly criticize the team and provide great feedback in the car.

Martin running for his fourth team in as many years also makes this preseason prediction look less tongue-in-cheek:

Mark Martin signs a 5 year deal with Team Red Bull to drive their third #85 car. Included in the deal is a detailed plan for his 2013 Salute to You Retirement Tour.

Last week SI.com’s Lars Anderson (one of the best NASCAR writers, by the way) noted that Martin’s arrival will not only help Hendrick and Martin, but Dale Earnhardt Jr might benefit most.

Martin, on the other hand, will be in a unique position to help Earnhardt. This season Martin has been driving Junior’s old car at DEI, the No. 8 Chevy, and Martin is working with many of the same people that Earnhardt spent time with over the previous eight years. So Martin and Junior have plenty in common, and the depth of their shared history will only help them as they work together to find speed next season at Hendrick.

Martin and Earnhardt Jr have similar driving styles and I actually think Earnhardt Jr resembles Martin more than any other driver. Both have respect for other drivers and in turn receive great respect in the garage, and while they neither wins a lot, they do rack up solid finishes and are usually there at the end of races.