Martin Truex Jr. Extends Contract with DEI
Danni
After a long negotiation period and many, many rumors and false reports, today at Watkins Glen Martin finally announced that he has agreed to the extension on his contract to race at DEI through next year. I can't stay I'm thrilled, but I'm glad that his future actions have been confirmed, at least until around this time in 2009.
From both an interview he did during today's rained out first practice and the official press conference, Martin certainly did not look as "excited" as he said he was. He appeared awkward talking about it during practice and downright uncomfortable in NASCAR.com's video of the conference. Of course, the latter may have been because he was sitting between DEI's president of global operations, Max Siegel and John Story, VP of motorsports operations. Of course, I was not surprised at all when he gave the typical spiel about people being overly critical of DEI. Does DEI tell everyone who works for them to make sure and include that? It's pretty obvious the organization has a lot of internal issues, but they seem to take every chance they get to act like they are at their prime. After reading some things about Doug Richert's odd contract with freakish privacy concerns, things seem to be on the rather paranoid and controlling side at DEI and I really wouldn't put them above being something like dictators. I'm not calling Theresa Earnhardt and Siegel out personally, but neither appear to know how to run a normal business and are leaning on the company's legacy, not its future or integrity.
So why did Martin resign? He was obviously bothered by the 150 point penalty nailed on the team after the car's roof was too low at Daytona in July (without it he would be 15th in points, only 98 markers away from the Chase). A lot of people, myself included, had a feeling that may have been the last straw. However, his relationship with crew chief Kevin Manion is strong and may have been enough to overcome the irritation the penalty brought to Martin. I know he loves his team and his sponsor, Bass Pro Shops, which is signed for the #1 car through 2010.
Who knows? Martin was rumored to go to the #12, #33 and the second Stewart-Haas car. Speculation runs that he may not have gotten an offer good enough money-wise and that disappointed him. With Mark Martin leaving DEI for Hendrick Motorsports next season, Martin may have actually received the best deal from his current team, since he would be top dog and DEI needs him desperately to keep the organization afloat.
The extension is only one year, leaving Martin the option to start the job search again next season. He could watch Stewart-Haas and see whether they'll succeed to the extent of their hype or fall on their faces. Then there is the notorious #5 car. Despite the likelihood of the ride being filled in 2010 by either Brad Keselowski or Landon Cassill and Martin living in Dale Jr.'s "shadow" again, he may very well fight for consideration.
All thoughts, of course. DEI just doesn't seem like a nice place to work since everyone has been trying to get out of there for the past couple of years. It's a shame because it isn't the people who work on the cars that make it that way - it's the administration!
Hopefully Martin will make the best of what he has. He's an above-average driver and deserves a shot. Maybe DEI will turn themselves around one day and become the team Dale Earnhardt wanted them to be. Unfortunately, I don't think anyone's holding their breath.
From both an interview he did during today's rained out first practice and the official press conference, Martin certainly did not look as "excited" as he said he was. He appeared awkward talking about it during practice and downright uncomfortable in NASCAR.com's video of the conference. Of course, the latter may have been because he was sitting between DEI's president of global operations, Max Siegel and John Story, VP of motorsports operations. Of course, I was not surprised at all when he gave the typical spiel about people being overly critical of DEI. Does DEI tell everyone who works for them to make sure and include that? It's pretty obvious the organization has a lot of internal issues, but they seem to take every chance they get to act like they are at their prime. After reading some things about Doug Richert's odd contract with freakish privacy concerns, things seem to be on the rather paranoid and controlling side at DEI and I really wouldn't put them above being something like dictators. I'm not calling Theresa Earnhardt and Siegel out personally, but neither appear to know how to run a normal business and are leaning on the company's legacy, not its future or integrity.
So why did Martin resign? He was obviously bothered by the 150 point penalty nailed on the team after the car's roof was too low at Daytona in July (without it he would be 15th in points, only 98 markers away from the Chase). A lot of people, myself included, had a feeling that may have been the last straw. However, his relationship with crew chief Kevin Manion is strong and may have been enough to overcome the irritation the penalty brought to Martin. I know he loves his team and his sponsor, Bass Pro Shops, which is signed for the #1 car through 2010.
Who knows? Martin was rumored to go to the #12, #33 and the second Stewart-Haas car. Speculation runs that he may not have gotten an offer good enough money-wise and that disappointed him. With Mark Martin leaving DEI for Hendrick Motorsports next season, Martin may have actually received the best deal from his current team, since he would be top dog and DEI needs him desperately to keep the organization afloat.
The extension is only one year, leaving Martin the option to start the job search again next season. He could watch Stewart-Haas and see whether they'll succeed to the extent of their hype or fall on their faces. Then there is the notorious #5 car. Despite the likelihood of the ride being filled in 2010 by either Brad Keselowski or Landon Cassill and Martin living in Dale Jr.'s "shadow" again, he may very well fight for consideration.
All thoughts, of course. DEI just doesn't seem like a nice place to work since everyone has been trying to get out of there for the past couple of years. It's a shame because it isn't the people who work on the cars that make it that way - it's the administration!
Hopefully Martin will make the best of what he has. He's an above-average driver and deserves a shot. Maybe DEI will turn themselves around one day and become the team Dale Earnhardt wanted them to be. Unfortunately, I don't think anyone's holding their breath.
