Mark Martin joins Dale Earnhardt Inc. for remainder of year after team merger
Dale Earnhardt Inc. is adding
Mark Martin to its driver roster and growing immediately to four Nextel Cup teams in a merger with Ginn Racing that is expected to be announced today, TheCharlotte Observer has learned.
DEI and Ginn employees were told Tuesday that Mark Martin’s No. 01 team will compete under the DEI banner in Sunday’s Allstate 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As announced last week, Mark Martin and Aric Almirola will share the No. 01 for the rest of the season.
In a separate deal, sources said, DEI officials have talked with Mark Martin about driving the No. 8 Chevrolet next season. That car is being vacated by Dale Earnhardt Jr. at season’s end.
Mark Martin and Almirola join Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 1 and Paul Menard in the No. 15 in the DEI stable.
This is the second step in a shake-up at Ginn Racing where Sterling Marlin (No. 14) and Joe Nemechek (No. 13) were released last week because of sponsorship.
Menard will assume the owner points from Ginn’s No. 14 team, guaranteeing a spot in Sunday’s race as one of the top 35 in owner points.
The expected deal leaves a number of unanswered questions, foremost among them the status of driver Regan Smith.
Smith, who began the season sharing the No. 01 with Mark Martin, was to drive the No. 14 for the rest of the season, beginning this weekend.
Bobby Ginn will remain listed as team owner this season for Nos. 01 and 15, but his future in the series, which started with great fanfare in January, remains uncertain.
