In three different series? Besides the obvious that he can do what he wants. Im serious here. He's driving a Hendrick powered chevy in the Cup series, a Roush powered ford in the busch series, and a Wood Brothers ford in the truck series. That seems to be a conflict of sponsership interest, with just chevy and ford. And plus with all these races, he'll basically be running what would equate to a full cup season, race wise. Which he didnt want to do anymore, which is why he was going to retire at the same time Rusty did, but stayed on for a year to "help" Roush and was leaving after that, but is now running 22 races for MB2 or Ginn Racing now taking away from Joe Nemecheck's ride which i disagree with. But how can he be allowed to drive for three different teams? To me that shows that he is not loyal to sponsers and teams, which if im not mistaken is what teams and sponsers look for in a driver.
2006-12-12 07:10:44 · 20 answers · asked by Hawk 3 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing ➔ NASCAR
oh i do know about Ken Schrader, but Ken Schrader is in different series all together. Martin is going into NASCARs elite rides, when it comes to where they get their engines. And therein lies some of the difference. But good point thanks.
2006-12-12 07:30:46 · update #1
oh i apologize i wasnt intending to call him disloyal, but if i was from a sponser or team standpoint, regardless of history, thats what it would appear to be to me.
2006-12-12 08:12:05 · update #2
okay obviously i didnt get my point across the first time i added something. I am not personally calling him disloyal, 19 years with Roush yea he's loyal no denying that. What I am saying is if I was a sponser or a team, when i see someone driving for three different teams, it raises the question of how loyal is this guy going to be for a product or team. He is one of the most loyal drivers in the garage. Im not a fan but I can agree with that and agree with that he has earned the respect.
2006-12-12 13:17:41 · update #3
he did mention he was retiring. thats what the whole salute to you tour was.
2006-12-13 01:32:50 · update #4
dont know if anyone else will see this question, but just so people know im not a new nascar fan, ive been watching for 19 years, id appreciate it if i didnt get answers in the tone of im a new nascar fan, i understand the basics behind it, its my fault though i probably shouldve worded the question better.
2006-12-13 05:45:57 · update #5
I've been a NASCAR fan for 15 years or more, and while I agree with your concern over sponsor loyalties, and product loyalties, let me answer you by asking you a question. Do you know of any driver that takes racing and winning any more seriously than Mark? And if you did own a team, wouldn't you want someone behind the wheel that will give it his all to win?
2006-12-16 08:30:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mark Martin can do this when probably noone else can because he has earned that kind of respect. I was under the impression that the truck series was going to be a main focus, but Mark can make his own schedule now. He will not take anything away from Ginn Racing. His experience and knowledge will only help the whole organization. Martin is also that good of a personality that neither Chevy or Ford would ever raise a stink about him driving different cars. I do think it would be different if he were driving different cars in the same series, but he isn't. Mark Martin is a class act and a good role model for other racers. It's funny after 19 years with Roush Racing, you want to turn around and call him disloyal. Now that's funny.
2006-12-12 11:24:32 · answer #2 · answered by Nc Jay 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
If the teams/sponsors thought he was "disloyal" or didn't like him for whatever reason then they wouldn't have hired him to race in those various series. You also may be confused about driver "loyalty" and picking makes to drive for. The sponsors and manufacturers would prefer if they could give the impression taht Mark Martin drives for Ford or viagra because he thinks ford builds better cars than chevy or dodge or viagra is better than its competition. In fact drivers don't really have an opnion about the the manifacturers or sponsors, they actually drive for who they get a ride with.
Some people have pointed out that there has to be some sort of off track politics or drama that is making Mark do what he has done because although he is old he has not really lost one bit of skill and is probably better than he ever was. In fact they think that he wants ot get out of Roush racing for an unknown reason in his mind only. Jack Roush has repeatedly said he would make whatever deal to have him back at Roush.
2006-12-13 05:27:18 · answer #3 · answered by Matt M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The real answer to your question is contracts, contracts, contracts. Some drivers have stipulations in their contracts with their teams and sponsors that state that they can not drive for any other team/manufacture. However, what Mark did was to negotiate is contracts to where he will not be limited to what he drives and who for.
Originally he was going to drive the full truck schedule with Jack, but Jack was slow in providing him a contract he could agree with. So he signed with the Wood Brothers (he made this choice because he always wanted to drive for the Wood Brothers). Then he signed the Driver Coach/Driver deal with MB2/Ginn racing, so that Joe can take a break too. Then as loyal as he is to Jack, and Jack to him he also has some Busch rides. Any driver could only hope that deals like that are still available in the future.
2006-12-13 04:45:58 · answer #4 · answered by gsxrken2002 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of this really boils down to the contracts in which he has signed. Along the way, he was careful not to include anything within his driving contracts that would prevent him from doing just as he is doing.
Many drivers out there have limitations on what they can do away from their primary contract. Some of them are limited to a specific manufacturer and some of them are not. Some of the contracts may prevent a driver from racing at all in another series.
Given Mark's situation as a part-time driver for Ginn Racing, it doesn't surprise me that he has such flexibility. If he were still a full-time driver for any of the teams, he may not have such luxury.
2006-12-12 08:24:23 · answer #5 · answered by mcmurrayjamiefan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mark has stated that he is a Ford guy all the way. With MB2 I think he is mostly there to help get the team on the right track and help them with recognition. I dont think you can call Mark unloyal, he was with the same team 20 years, I cant think of another driver who stayed with a team any longer than he did with Roush. No matter what Mark does he will always be #6 to his fans. It's Mark's time to have fun with racing again, and thats just what he is going to do.
2006-12-12 07:42:33 · answer #6 · answered by oldfrd 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
alot has to do with the fact is that the reason he can do this is yes depending on the contract and also is because
1. Team can get data on the the car from a experience driver
2. The driver can also get seat time ( which make his records look good.
Mark Martin is not the only driver that has done this you also have Gordon Yeley, Biffel, Harvick, Kahne to name a few
2006-12-15 03:47:56 · answer #7 · answered by ohmy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like Lynn stated Mark became in the 6 vehicle for 19 years, at the same time as he keen to run a component-time time table, Roush couldn't accommodate that so he moved over to the 01 over at Ginn splitting time with Regan Smith and Aric Almirola. Then in mid-2007 Ginn merges with DEI. DEI wanting a driving force for the 8 vehicle in 2008 for the reason that Jr left for HMS, strikes Martin to the 8 (back splitting time with Almirola) and places Smith in the 01. Then HMS wanting a driving force in the 5 for the reason that booting Casey Mears, places Mark in the 5 for finished time season(i'm guessing that Mark felt all he did all he can at DEI, and DEI needed to placed Almirola in the 8 seat).
2016-10-18 04:25:37 · answer #8 · answered by gaffke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mark Martin qualifies his car or truck to get into the field of these races. Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch also drove some in all 3 series and in all Nextel and Busch races last year.
2006-12-13 05:28:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For the last few years Mark has been talking about slowing down and not racing a full schedule because he wants more time with his family. Which is exactly what he's doing now. He never mentioned that he was going to retire, wants to retire or is considering retiring. So, why does everyone keep talking about him retiring?
Mark Martin is one of the best drivers on any given track and one hell of a role model. Most importantly he is not retiring . We will get to see plenty of him next season.
2006-12-12 18:20:48 · answer #10 · answered by Bo Darville 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋