Rick Hendrick talks about 2011

On yesterday’s pre-race show, Rick Hendrick mentioned to Chris Myers that both Kasey Kahne and Mark Martin will be driving in 2011. Myers pressed Hendrick for a “where?” answer and the man who runs quite arguably the best team in all of NASCAR didn’t give a direct answer.

So, fans of Mark Martin and Kasey Kahne are waiting, hanging on for the next four to six weeks, as Hendrick pointed out, to see what the plans are for 2011. The burning questions are who will drive the No. 5 car in 2011? Will Mark Martin be driving it, as was originally planned, or will Hendrick decide to move Kahne into the ride one year early?

Hendrick speaks with Martin before the Autism Speaks 400 on Sunday (Getty Images)

The two options are more than likely pretty even. Martin won five races last year, and this season is 11th in points. Last season Kahne won two races, and finished 10th in the final standings. But the principle behind the action is all too familiar to fans of the 51-year old Martin.

In 2005 Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace embarked on their final year of racing in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. But, midway through the season, Jack Roush said he’d have no immediate replacement for Martin in the No. 6 car, and asked his veteran driver to return. Martin obliged and ran full-time in 2006.

In October of 2006, Martin announced he’d be racing part-time for Ginn Racing, formerly known as MB2 Racing, in the No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet. He was going to cut back on driving and spend more time with his family, trying to help his younger son Matt get into racing.

After two years of part-time racing, Mark Martin got an offer he couldn’t refuse, an offer to drive the No. 5 car for Hendrick Motorsports. In September of last year Mark Martin signed a contract extension through 2011, and just two months ago HMS announced that Kasey Kahne would take over the No. 5 in 2012.

Kahne won't be in the No. 9 car next season, but will he be in the No. 5 car?

But according to Rick Hendrick yesterday, that might happen one year early. Myers and Darrell Waltrip both agreed that what Hendrick said to Myers in the pre-taped interview sounded like Kahne would be in the 5 car next year, and Mark Martin would be operating his own team—like Tony Stewart is now.

Hendrick is seen as one of the classiest owners in all of NASCAR, but the move to boot Mark Martin out of the No. 5 car one year before he promised would definitely tarnish his image a little. Although I’m not making a prediction, I’m going to be very skeptical about this move. If Hendrick makes a move that goes against his original plan, expect Mark Martin to be very gracious, but I’m sure some of his fans will be more than unhappy.

Myself included.
-----------------------------
Tune back in tomorrow for more NASCAR news and notes as the Sprint Cup Series heads into an off week of sorts. All-Star week is a fun week, but in 2005, Mark Martin made it a memorable one. Check back tomorrow for a story.