Tuesday, 8th January 2008

Veteran to contest majority of Cup campaign.

Far from retiring gracefully from NASCAR's top flight, Mark Martin has revealed a 26-race Sprint Cup programme for the 2008 season, including 24 'point' races and two stand-alone events.

The veteran will kick off the campaign - and his tenure of the #8 US Army/Dale Earnhardt Inc Chevrolet - with a record-extending 20th-consecutive Budweiser Shootout, while the stand-out events also include the 50th Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, Brickyard 400 and Sprint Cup All-Star event, as well as making his 700th career start at California Speedway in February.

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Martin will share the ride with rookie Aric Almirola, who will run the remaining twelve events in the car, starting his season five races into the campaign at Bristol and Martinsville.

“I think it's going to be an exciting season,” said Martin, who enters his 26th year of Cup racing, “I'm so excited to be behind the wheel of the #8 US Army Chevrolet and to be working with [crew chief] Tony Gibson and the team. It's an incredible honour to drive the #8 for Dale Earnhardt Inc and we are excited about moving into the season.

“Those guys on this team really had some fast cars a year ago, and we are looking to build on that. Our goal is to be competitive and race up front this season.”

Martin's full Cup schedule is as follows:

February 9 Budweiser Shootout
February 17 Daytona 500
February 24 California Speedway
March 2 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 9 Atlanta Motor Speedway
April 6 Texas Motor Speedway
April 12 Phoenix International Raceway
May 3 Richmond International Raceway
May 10 Darlington Raceway
May 17 Sprint All-Star Challenge
May 25 Coca-Cola 600
June 1 Dover International Raceway
June 8 Pocono Raceway
June 15 Michigan International Speedway
July 5 Daytona International Speedway
July 12 Chicagoland Speedway
July 27 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
August 3 Pocono Raceway
August 1 Michigan International Speedway
September 6 Richmond International Raceway
September 21 Dover International Raceway
September 28 Kansas Speedway
October 11 Lowe's Motor Speedway
October 26 Atlanta Motor Speedway
November 2 Texas Motor Speedway
November 16 Homestead-Miami Speedway

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