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The Sports Network
Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - According to reports from several media
outlets on Tuesday, Mark Martin will join Michael Waltrip Racing to drive the
No.00 Toyota in a part-time Sprint Cup Series schedule in 2012.
MWR has scheduled a press conference for Friday morning at Texas Motor
Speedway, the site of this weekend's Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World
Truck Series races.
Martin, 52, is in his third year as driver of the No.5 Chevrolet for Hendrick
Motorsports. Kasey Kahne is taking over driving duties of that car, starting
next year. Martin has previously said he wants to run a limited Sprint Cup
schedule after he leaves Hendrick. He has also considered running partial
schedules in Nationwide and truck.
David Reutimann is currently behind the wheel of the No.00 car, but
Reutimann's future with MWR is not known at this time. He is now 28th in
points, with just two top-10 finishes so far this season.
Reutimann has driven for MWR since 2007. He has also given the racing
organization its first two wins in NASCAR's premier series (Charlotte in May
2009 and Chicagoland in July 2010).
MWR's driver lineup for next season will include Martin Truex Jr., Clint
Bowyer and Martin. Bowyer is leaving Richard Childress Racing and moving over
to Waltrip's team at the end of the year.
Driver/owner Michael Waltrip will likely drive the No.00 car in all four
restrictor-plate races (two at Daytona and two at Talladega) next season.
Martin drove a limited Cup schedule for Ginn Racing/Dale Earnhardt Inc. from
2007-08 before signing with Hendrick for the 2009 season.
The Sports Network