Mark Martin will be in Army fatigues for Budweiser Shootout. Credit: Autostock

Martin's '07 schedule: The long and short of it

Veteran driver opts to miss Bristol, Martinsville and Talladega

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Mark Martin plans to let rookie Regan Smith take the wheel Bristol in March and Martinsville in April, ending Martin's string of consecutive starts at 617 over a 19-year period that began on Valentine's Day in 1988.

MOST POPULAR Features Headlines Opinion Video Conversation: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Conversation: M. Waltrip Conversation: E. Sadler Last Lap: Best of the rest By the Numbers: Daytona 500 More Features Roush No. 6 Cup hauler involved in injury crash Big checks from Toyota a threat or mere myth? Higher speeds, added wrecks close LVMS test Driver opinions differ on LVMS after testing NASCAR puts limit on past champ provisional More Headlines Here's hoping NASCAR fixes the 2007 schedule Jr.: I expect to drive the 3 Top 35 rule is Toyota's worst enemy for 2007 Top 10: Predictions Partial in the buff pose shows Edwards is buff More Opinion NASCAR.COM Junior's future with DEI Earnhardt Jr. on his contract and relationship with Teresa Improve competition Learn how the Car of Tomorrow could improve competition More Videos

"Streaks and numbers like that really say more about the fact that you were fortunate enough to stay healthy and keep your ride for a lot of years," Martin said. "It is something that I've been proud of, but it's also something that it's time to step away from."

According to a schedule released by Ginn Racing this week, Martin's first 14 races include the Budweiser Shootout and Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway and Nextel All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

"Basically we were able to sit down and work on a schedule that worked for everyone," Martin said. "I just wasn't ready to step completely back from Nextel Cup racing and I felt I had a little more to give out there. At the same time, I was ready to be done with the grind of the 38-race Cup schedule, and fortunately I was able to move over to Ginn Racing and have the opportunity to do what I wanted to do."

With the ability to pick and choose, Martin will avoid the strain and stress of 500 laps at NASCAR's two shortest tracks. Ironically, he'll also steer clear of Talladega, a track where he's had just two top-10 finishes in his last 10 starts.

That also means Martin won't experience NASCAR's new chassis design until Phoenix.