Cut Pinocchio’s Strings, Geppetto…
Saturday, September 16th, 2006 7:09pm EDT
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
[thumb:176:r:s=1:l=x]The phrase “Houston, we have a problem” could be heard a little over a year ago in the halls of Roush Racing. Mark Martin was well into his “Salute To You” tour and planning his retirement activities for after Homestead. He really didn’t want to quit racing, just cut back a bit so that he could have more time with his family as well as watch budding young Matt’s rising racing career. We all know how the story ended. Jamie McMurray was hand picked by Martin to replace him in the #6, but Kurt Busch spoiled the show when Penske tapped him and offered up the #2 being vacated by Rusty Wallace.
The rest, as they say, is history. Or is it? Jack Roush asked Mark for a very personal favor. Would he stick around another season so that he could fill the seat in the #6, as he was going to let Kurt go to Penske and place Jamie with that team. At the time it was a reasonable request for Martin as his loyalty, admiration, and respect for Jack and their friendship runs incredibly deep. Martin agreed, and here we are a year later.
Mark’s said all along this year that his plan is to run the #6 truck for Roush next season, and that it hasn’t changed. Here it is the middle of September, but where’s the contract for the truck? Mark doesn’t know, but says there’s “still a few things to work out”. He also said in a recent interview that last season the contract for the truck was withheld in order to convince him to stick in the Cup Series for another season. Really?
Here’s how it looks right now. There’s been rumors regarding Mark and Yates all summer. First it was Martin looking at buying a share of Robert Yates Racing. Those faded, and then here within the last couple of weeks it’s been rumors about Mark taking the seat in the #88 next season. When asked if he’s talked to Robert Yates, Mark ensured us just last week that he hadn’t.
Enter Robert and Doug.
Last week at Richmond, Doug Yates said that if they didn’t find sponsorship for 2007 for the #88 team, they would have to close it up and go it as a single car team next season. Bad for Yates, but also very bad for Ford. While Roush is Ford’s flagship, Yates has been #2 in their book. Now Toyota is coming in next season, and the current manufacturers are feeling the pressure. They know Toyota has the funding to ensure this racing venture isn’t taken lightly. While they may not be as competitive out of the box, there is no doubt it won’t take them long to get their act together. To put it bluntly, Toyota has had their eyes on the Cup Series since they first thought about coming to NASCAR. They’ve also been working on their Cup program as long as their Truck program as well. However, they are just now putting the Cup program on the track for competition come February.
Now this weekend we have Robert Yates saying that indeed he hasn’t talked to Mark, but “Doug has talked to him”, and “he’s interested”.
If Mark wants to run trucks next year, why is he considering a full time deal in the #88?
Simple, Mark wants to race. If there isn’t a truck available, he’ll take the best opportunity out there. If that means another year in the Cup Series, so be it.
Here is how I see it, folks.
Think about the relationship between Yates and Roush. Could it very well be that Roush knows its leverage is in that truck contract, and they know Ford’s in a bind as well as Yates? How big of a bonus is Ford willing to put up for this? If Roush “delays” the contract and waits for Martin to become desperate to race and take another offer, what’s the harm? Everybody wins, right?
No, they don’t. Mark loses, and so does his family.
It’s time to cut the strings on your puppet, Geppetto. Pinocchio’s been nothing but perfect in every aspect since the start. He’s put up with far more than any driver should have to bear. All the guy wants to do is race a truck, and be with his family. Is that too much to ask after a 20 year loyalty?
Mark Martin is hands down the most respected driver in the garage. It’s time for the powers that be to quit using him as a puppet for their dog and pony show.
Personally if I were in that position, I’d go find a Tundra to drive… Just for spite.
Filed Under: Damn Good Points, Nascar, Nextel Cup
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