"This has been a thrill. We've known we were going to do this for quite a long time, and I've been anxious to announce it because that's been something we've kind of been holding back. I'm real excited about it. This is one of the most exciting things I've done in my career. It ranks right up there with anything that I've ever done to be able to be involved with Hendrick Motorsports and the history that they have and to be able to see their excitement putting behind it."

Martin confirmed that his 'reduced' schedule currently called for 22 Cup appearances with Ginn Racing, two other Busch outings with Roush Racing and six Craftsman Truck races with the #21 Bad Boy Mowers entry, and he insisted that he was looking forward to them all.


"That #21 isn't a Cup car, but it still means much more to me than it might to Kyle," Martin admitted, "Someone who is as young as Kyle doesn't totally grasp what the Wood Bros meant to NASCAR racing, so that's also something that's real special to me.

"But, to be real honest with you, the thing that I'm really excited about is just working with Ginn Racing. They've given me the opportunity to run the US Army car, but also to do everything that I want in racing. I have a dream come true right there with that organisation. I'm able to do what I want, and drive for Rick and to drive the Wood's truck, and to be able to work with Ricky Carmichael and the other development drivers and have them racing in my cars and on and on. I'm living a dream."