Wednesday, November 9th 'What If' Question

Retire - to leave one's job and cease to work, typically upon reaching the normal age for leaving employment.

When Mark Martin announced that 2005 would be his final Sprint Cup Series season and he would be entering retirement, many in the garage joined in on the farewell tour. Offerring gifts and congratulations on a wonderful career. But six year laters Martin has not yet sat down in the rocking chair that was given to him by those in Sonoma, instead he's still racing and has changed his mind many times about leaving the track behind.

It started innocently enough when Jack Roush asked Martin to come back in 2006 because he couldn't find a suitable replacement for Mark in the No. 6. One more year before Martin left the big leagues and went to race trucks. Except in 2007 he decided to head to the newly merged Dale Earnhardt Inc and Gin Racing team, driving the No. 01 Army Chevrolet on a partial schedule, sharing the car with Regan Smith. In 2008 he remained with the team and shared the ride with Aric Almirola.

For the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons Martin drove for Hendrick Motorsports and he came one spot short of capturing the championship that has eluded him in his career in 2009 when he finished second in points to teammate Jimmie Johnson. Perhaps the loss has helped fuel Martin to keep going and keep trying because he still isn't leaving.

In 2012 it has been announced that Martin will be driving for Michael Waltrip Racing, replacing David Reutimann, another driver that seems to have fallen to the Mark Martin retirement rouse.

Regan Smith left DEI and is now with Furniture Row Motorsports, a less than well funded team, but one that Smith and company has made into contenders. They won this year's Southern 500 at Darlington. As for Almirola, he was never able to find another Cup ride and has landed at JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series.

Casey Mears, who Martin replaced at Hendrick after he won his first career race at Charlotte, is now with the ever struggling Germain Racing team. And time will tell what happens to David Reutimann now that he is out of the only home that he's ever known, a home that he brought their first two and currently only Cup wins.

But ...


What if Mark Martin had retired in 2005, would Casey Mears still have lost his ride at HMS & David Reutimann still lost his at MWR? #NASCAR

@ladybug388 I think Reuti wouldve because of what he's done for MWR & success compared to others at that team. Casey Mears, I believe wouldve still lost his ride because the success wasn't there for him.

@HotDog388 Mears would of still lost his ride his performance wasn't up to par for HMS, Reuitmann still would of kept his job nxt season

Dustin Parks (via Facebook) That's a complicated question. Its hard to judge. Going into 2005, we all thought Mark was retiring. He came back because unfortunately Roush didn't have things ready for his heir-apparent. So, I can't say yes or no to either Mears at HMS, or Reutimann at MWR. Too many factors to consider.

Tim Kaufman (via Facebook) Yes and both deserved to do so, also. Mark won 5 races and nearly the Cup title his 1st yr @ Hendrick Motorsports then they stripped down Mark's team 4 Jr., but that's another story. Mark's still got it... Casey never had it (still doesn't) and Reutimann is just too "quiet" to be marketable. nice guy. I got to see him win @chicagoland last year, but just not as marketable as Mark.