OFFICIAL: Martin Full Time in #5, Almirola Full Time in #8 in '09 - Page 2

Mike24 · 06-24-2008, 12:14 PM

...I'll pretend I didn't hear that whisper...lol

AutoCANE · 06-24-2008, 03:16 PM

Did anyone see these tidbits at NASCAR.com (story by Joe Menzer)? It gets more and more interesting by the day.

Quote:

Rumor: Aric Almirola will drive the No. 8 Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc. full-time next season.

Fact: This is no rumor. Almirola will indeed be in a full-time ride next season, according to DEI officials. But they are still working on the details of how to make it happen.

Rumor: Veteran Mark Martin, who is sharing the No. 8 ride with Almirola this season (code for saying Almirola gets to drive at the tracks Martin doesn't like, and too few others), is leaving DEI and going to Hendrick Motorsports to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet -- a ride he presumably would share with Brad Keselowski, who currently drives in the Nationwide series for JR Motorsports.

Fact: This one appears to be true. Martin wants to continue driving a part-time schedule and has resisted DEI efforts to get him back in a full-time ride. Almirola needs more seat time and DEI knows it cannot afford to impede his progress any longer. And Keselowski's boss on the Nationwide side, Dale Earnhardt Jr., already is tired of pumping his own money into what he quickly discovered is a money pit of a proposition. Oh, and besides ...

Rumor: Casey Mears is out as driver of the No. 5 at Hendrick following this season and will become driver of the fourth Richard Childress Racing car that begins operation next year.

Fact: Mears does appear to be out at Hendrick and in at Childress. General Mills, sponsor of the fourth RCR car, finds Mears an attractive candidate. These days, matching up drivers with sponsors who want them is at least as important as winning races -- as long as said drivers eventually produce some victories, too. Mears is a great guy with some talent who needs to start producing no matter where he ends up.

xanderk · 06-24-2008, 04:58 PM

I would really like to see Mark at Hendrick. He and Jr are my favorite drivers and it would be really cool to see them on the same team again.

DaveyFan28 · 06-24-2008, 05:13 PM

^^ That article really sounds like it should be called "rumor" and "commentary". In the 'fact' parts, the guy's just commentating and placing his own suppositions in with the rumors. Suppositions around circumstances aren't facts, they're suppositions. Where's the editor at NASCAR.com??

Lap_Down · 06-25-2008, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lap_Down

*whispers* Except [Jeff Gordon] really will be the worst driver because IMO Jr., Jimmie, and Mark Martin will all run better then him. LOL.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike24

...I'll pretend I didn't hear that whisper...lol

No wait! There's hope! The article said that Brad Keselowski will probably also drive the 5 car too! Which means the 24 car will probably outrun the 5 car half of the time! Yes!!! Jeff Gordon lives!!! LOL. *just joking*

xanderk · 06-25-2008, 09:04 AM

Jeff Gordon is having a disappointing year, yes. But he is still the best driver at Hendrick Motorsports, and I don't see that changing anytime soon, no matter who steps into that car.

By the way, I'm a jr. fan

Batman1138 · 06-27-2008, 09:40 AM

Well its official today, Casey Mears is leaving Hendrick Motorsports. Hmmm, remember what happened last time a driver left the 5 car??

Mike24 · 06-27-2008, 02:45 PM

...but that other driver actually accomplished something in the 5 car, first...

DaveyFan28 · 06-27-2008, 04:23 PM

Mears' mistake was allowing himself to be seduced by Hendrick motorsports when he was on the verge of some really good things at Ganassi.

Apparently that whole mentorship role Martin has/had w/ DEI is now done & over with. So...how's that whole retirement plan now Mark?

DaveyFan28 · 07-01-2008, 11:17 PM

It's official! Almirola to drive the #8 in 2009 full time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayski.com

UPDATE: After spending two seasons sharing a car with veteran Mark Martin, 24-year-old Aric Almirola will take over the #8 Sprint Cup Series Chevy full time in 2009. "This is an incredibly exciting opportunity," said Almirola. "When you get into racing, you always dream of competing at the highest level and I've had the chance to do that on a limited basis for the past two seasons. Now I will have the opportunity to race the car full time and I could not be more excited about driving the #8 car each week for Dale Earnhardt Inc. This is a really great race team to work with. (Crew Chief) Tony Gibson and these guys have put me in really good race cars this season and they've never treated me like a rookie. They are committed to being competitive every week and I'm really looking forward to working with them on a weekly basis next season." Martin, who has driven the #8 in 12 events this season, will compete in 12 more races this year before moving to another team for the 2009 campaign. Almirola will compete in the balance of the season's seven races. In addition to his time in the Sprint Cup Series, Almirola has made 27 starts in the Nationwide Series, earning four poles and one win at Milwaukee in 2007.(DEI PR), there is no mention of a sponsor or the US Army in the press release.(7-1-2008)

Now we get to look forward to a full year of Jimmy Spencer cheering on "Amarillo" & Dallenbach saying things like 'what a great move by Armadillo!'

06-24-2008, 12:14 PM	#11 (permalink)
Mike24 Fenway Faithful Status: Fenway Faithful Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boston, MA Age: 18 Posts: 2,739 Downloads: 174 Uploads: 34 Rep Power: 288	...I'll pretend I didn't hear that whisper...lol __________________ ________________________________________________ "Failure is not an option." -Apollo 13 "Life is a team sport." -Hendrick Marrow Foundation "Never talk about politics or Dale Jr. in mixed company...you'll always offend someone..." Jeff Gordon (6-Time Champion): '95, '97, '98, '01, '04, '07

06-24-2008, 04:58 PM	#13 (permalink)
xanderk Staff Member Status: Staff Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kansas Age: 20 Posts: 295 Downloads: 45 Uploads: 21 Rep Power: 40	I would really like to see Mark at Hendrick. He and Jr are my favorite drivers and it would be really cool to see them on the same team again. __________________ The backstretch, what a stupid place to wreck!

06-24-2008, 05:13 PM	#14 (permalink)
DaveyFan28 SRD Moderator Status: SRD Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Valencia, CA Age: 24 Posts: 630 Downloads: 70 Uploads: 0 Rep Power: 78	^^ That article really sounds like it should be called "rumor" and "commentary". In the 'fact' parts, the guy's just commentating and placing his own suppositions in with the rumors. Suppositions around circumstances aren't facts, they're suppositions. Where's the editor at NASCAR.com?? __________________ "I think Davey had a way about him that made people feel special when he spoke with them. When he was around them he had just a rare quality that was truly a star quality. I think people were drawn to him because of that. It has really lasted all of these years. He was a great guy." -- Liz Allison "What kind of man would live in a world where there is no daring? I don't believe in taking foolish chances, but nothing can be accomplished without taking any chance at all." -- Charles Lindberg

06-25-2008, 09:04 AM	#16 (permalink)
xanderk Staff Member Status: Staff Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kansas Age: 20 Posts: 295 Downloads: 45 Uploads: 21 Rep Power: 40	Jeff Gordon is having a disappointing year, yes. But he is still the best driver at Hendrick Motorsports, and I don't see that changing anytime soon, no matter who steps into that car. By the way, I'm a jr. fan __________________ The backstretch, what a stupid place to wreck!

06-27-2008, 09:40 AM	#17 (permalink)
Batman1138 Why So Serious? Status: Why So Serious? Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: CT Age: 21 Posts: 1,693 Downloads: 94 Uploads: 0 Rep Power: 178	Well its official today, Casey Mears is leaving Hendrick Motorsports. Hmmm, remember what happened last time a driver left the 5 car?? __________________ You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. Harvey Dent The Dark Knight

06-27-2008, 02:45 PM	#18 (permalink)
Mike24 Fenway Faithful Status: Fenway Faithful Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boston, MA Age: 18 Posts: 2,739 Downloads: 174 Uploads: 34 Rep Power: 288	...but that other driver actually accomplished something in the 5 car, first... __________________ ________________________________________________ "Failure is not an option." -Apollo 13 "Life is a team sport." -Hendrick Marrow Foundation "Never talk about politics or Dale Jr. in mixed company...you'll always offend someone..." Jeff Gordon (6-Time Champion): '95, '97, '98, '01, '04, '07

06-27-2008, 04:23 PM	#19 (permalink)
DaveyFan28 SRD Moderator Status: SRD Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Valencia, CA Age: 24 Posts: 630 Downloads: 70 Uploads: 0 Rep Power: 78	Mears' mistake was allowing himself to be seduced by Hendrick motorsports when he was on the verge of some really good things at Ganassi. Apparently that whole mentorship role Martin has/had w/ DEI is now done & over with. So...how's that whole retirement plan now Mark? __________________ "I think Davey had a way about him that made people feel special when he spoke with them. When he was around them he had just a rare quality that was truly a star quality. I think people were drawn to him because of that. It has really lasted all of these years. He was a great guy." -- Liz Allison "What kind of man would live in a world where there is no daring? I don't believe in taking foolish chances, but nothing can be accomplished without taking any chance at all." -- Charles Lindberg

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