With silly season in high gear a rumor that has been making the rounds is Mark Martin leaving DEI for Hendrick Motorsports. According to various sources Mark Martin will give it one last try to win a championship as Casey Mears will not be retained at Hendrick Motorsports and Martin will take his spot.

Now these are just rumors, but this move would not surprise me one bit. Martin has always wanted to win a championship and Mears is struggling right now so maybe a change of scenery is best for him. It sure helped Kyle Busch. Martin would fit in well at Hendrick Motorsports, but we will have to wait to see if this really does happen or not.

Mark Martin did not mean for it to happen, but it did and he was the one who benefited from it. Martin tapped Carl Edwards who lost control and was able to take the Checkered flag and give Dale Earnhardt Jr his first win as a owner. Martin has so earned so much respect over the years he apologize immediately as he got out of the car. Edwards said afterwards that you cannot be mad were talking about Mark Martin he does not wreck anyone on purpose. This is how much Martin is respected by his peers.

Kyle Busch was again strong but a blown right front tire cost him a chance at victory once again. This is probably going to be an issue in today’s Sprint Cup Series and that is tire wear. Either way Martin collected his 48th win and the first for Dale Earnhardt Jr as an owner. He just wished it would have been a clean one.

Mark Martin is committed to 24 Sprint Cup races this year in the No. 8 DEI car while  Aric Almirola will drive the remain races. Martin who has been running a limited schedule his last few years is still a very capable driver and is a fan favorite among everyone from the garage to the crowd.

This will be Mark martin’s 26th year in racing and it seems he never loses a beat. Martin will have the No. 8 up front just like he does with whatever car he is in. He has a knack for setups and knowing the right things to do. I don’t know what that is, but he does. Experience sure helps out a lot. DEI will be better that they have him helping them that is for sure.

Through the years of Nascar racing does winning a championship or not winning a championship really effect how you are viewed when you retire. This is a very interesting question and probably has a yes and no answer. Let’s look at two drivers and you can see what I mean. Take Ricky Rudd and Mark Martin neither one has won a Nascar championship, but both have won races and competed for championships coming close but no cigar.

Does this mean they should be looked down on like quarterbacks who don’t win the Super Bowl or NBA players who don’t win the NBA crown. I say no. Martin and Rudd are two very good drivers and command respect in the garage area and among fans, but the question is how much more would they have been respected with a championship under their belt. I guess we will never know.