Martin To Replace Mears In No. 5, Sources Say

Mark Martin is expected to announce Friday that he will be replacing Casey Mears in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevy in the Sprint Cup next season, sources familiar with the matter say.

Hendrick has called a press conference for Friday to announce Mears’ replacement.

Martin has been in talks with Hendrick and will be that driver, the sources say.

Don’t Underestimate Martin’s Role In Silly Season

Tim Z. at DoYouNASCAR? wrote a very interesting post about Mark Martin, not Tony Stewart, being the key to the domino theory of silly season.

He wrote:

With the Silly Season talks turning into a chess match – or, even a poker game if you will – do not underestimate the importance of what the perennial Hall of Famer could have to say this weekend. Despite the fact that most people feel that Tony Stewart and Hendrick Motorsports are holding all the face cards in the deck, Mark Martin could very well have a lot to say in who winds up where by the start of the 2009 season.

Tim highlights three possible options for Martin and what would happen if each one of those scenarios plays out.

Definitely worth the read.