DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – History is important to Mark Martin, and stepping into the No. 8 Chevrolet has gained added significance for the longtime NASCAR star.

After Dale Earnhardt Jr. decided in May to leave the family team to join Hendrick Motorsports this season, DEI announced Martin would share the No. 8 with rookie Aric Almirola in 2008.

“When I think about driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. and the No. 8, the first picture that comes into my mind is the mid-1980s, Dale Earnhardt driving the No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Late Model Sportsman owned by him and Teresa Earnhardt,” Martin said.

“Dale was a fierce competitor and he gave me some driving lesson in that race car, with his hands and with his bumper. So, heck yeah, it has significance. I’m very proud to be a part of that organization.”

Ironically, becoming part of DEI was not in Martin’s master plan.

After spending 18 years driving for Jack Roush, Martin wanted to cut back to a part-time schedule in 2007. Roush needed only full-time drivers, so his longtime employee and friend wound up at Ginn Racing, driving Chevys instead of Fords. Then Ginn Racing was absorbed by DEI.

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“Dale and I were not good friends,” Martin said Thursday during the annual media day at Daytona International Speedway. “We were great competitors and we got along well. We had tremendous respect for one another. We didn’t go out to dinner together, but we had great respect, and I feel that I give that respect back to the company that he built.”

Earnhardt Jr., who decided to leave the team after some difficult and often bitter negotiations with the current owner, his stepmother Teresa Earnhardt, said Friday he still has great affection for DEI and the No. 8 that he left behind at the end of 2007.

Earnhardt said he couldn’t think of a better driver to replace him in the No. 8.

“I’m a Mark Martin fan from when he was racing the No. 2 back in Nashville,” Earnhardt said. “I remember when he came over to my dad’s house with a couple of tapes from his races in Nashville and played them on a Beta VCR. We watched those races and he was trying his hardest to show my dad how good a race car driver he was. He was trying hard to get a good ride.

“So, you talk about history, that’s ambition for you. Mark had a long, long way to get there and I can appreciate that. He’s earned it.”

Almirola also will drive No. 8 this year, and said he can hardly believe it.

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“Man, it means the world to me,” he said. “It’s an opportunity of a lifetime. I never dreamed it would work out this way, but when I made the decision to leave Joe Gibbs Racing, it was solely based on the fact that I was going to be teammates with Mark Martin. Then the merger come about with DEI and it kind of caught me off guard.”

“I’m more excited about this year than I’ve ever been. There’s a lot of history there with the No. 8 and with DEI company. I’m just looking to make the best of the season and learn as much as I can from Mark Martin.”

With all his experience, Martin loves the idea of being a mentor to young drivers.

“I answer their questions and, from time to time, I talk to them about history,” said Martin, who split time with rookie Regan Smith last year. “I think it’s very important and I set an example for them, which is more important. They watch, observe and I think that’s more important than anything.”

Almirola appreciates the knowledge he can glean from Martin.

“I think the biggest thing about Mark Martin is that he’s always accessible,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve called him and him not answer the phone or call me back within 10 minutes. At any given point, at any time, I can always pick up the phone and call him, ask him for advice, tell him how my day’s going, tell him I miss his voice, whatever. He’s always there to listen, talk and help me with whatever I need help with.”

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The 49-year-old Martin, who nearly won the Daytona 500 last year, is happy to be racing on his own terms.

“Last year was the best year of my entire life, and I’m even more excited about 2008,” said Martin, grinning. I’m going to run 26 (Sprint Cup) races, exactly the same schedule as last year. And I’m doing five Busch races for Rick Hendrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. It’s a real pleasure. I have great respect for Dale Jr.”

As for his future, Martin shrugged.

“I’m gonna do it in 09, that I know,” he said. “I don’t know about beyond, but I’m going to enjoy driving that 8 car while I can.”


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