As expected, Dale Earnhardt Inc. announced on Tuesday that Aric Almirola would run the #8 Chevy full time beginning in 2009. Mark Martin, who has run a part time schedule the last two seasons with the company will leave DEI for another team in 2009. DEI representatives did not mention who would be sponsoring the #8 in 2009, though the US Army is expected to leave the team after the 2008 season. This announcement fuels more speculation the Mark Martin will be joining the Hendrick Motorsports garage, taking the seat vacated by Casey Mears after the 2008 season.
"This is an incredibly exciting opportunity," said Almirola. "When you get into racing, you always dream of competing at the highest level and I've had the chance to do that on a limited basis for the past two seasons. Now I will have the opportunity to race the car full time and I could not be more excited about driving the #8 car each week for Dale Earnhardt Inc. This is a really great race team to work with. (Crew Chief) Tony Gibson and these guys have put me in really good race cars this season and they've never treated me like a rookie. They are committed to being competitive every week and I'm really looking forward to working with them on a weekly basis next season."
The move by DEI placing Almirola in the #8 car full time adds to the speculation that Mark Martin will be moving to Hendrick Motorsports in 2009. Martin, who has been running a part time schedule for the last two seasons, is allegedly going to make one final attempt at capturing a Sprint Cup championship. Martin's best opportunity to win a championship would be with Hendrick Motorsports, which has dominated the NASCAR Sprint Cup series in the last few seasons.
There was no mention of what Mark Martin's plans are after the 2008 Sprint Cup season, however Hendrick Motorsports is holding a press conference on Friday morning at Daytona International Speedway to discuss the future of the #5 Chevy. Martin will likely be named as the driver, at least part time, of the #5. There is also no word on whether the current sponsors for the #5 will return next season.
Martin has a pre-existing relationship with Hendrick Motorsports. He has driven the #5 Chevy in the Nationwide Series for both Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports. Hendrick Motorsports merged its Nationwide Series operation in 2008 when Dale Earnhardt Jr. moved to the team in the Sprint Cup Series.
Martin's future has been speculated on in recent weeks. Many reports have had Martin going to Hass/CNC racing if Tony Stewart buys the team, Red Bull Racing in a third car, and even into the #1 DEI Chevy if Martin Truex Jr. leaves at the end of the 2008 season.
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