Mark Martin unhappy with media speculation

On second thought, maybe the media pass isn’t the way to go…

On SPEED Channel’s RaceHub Thursday night Mark Martin expressed his frustration with the media speculation of his future. When Kasey Kahne was signed to take over the No. 5 car starting in 2012, everyone in the world of NASCAR began to ask where Kahne would end up in 2011.

Surely he won’t sit out. Surely Rick Hendrick will provide him a car of some kind. Or will Rick Hendrick knock Mark Martin out of the car he’s signed to drive in 2011 to move in his newest young superstar?

Because of all the speculation Mark Martin got tired, ticked off and just plain angry. He said, “I had to quit following the sport because it kinda made me sick. The media didn’t understand and didn’t get it and couldn’t seem to deliver the message correctly. They only delivered the message they wanted to deliver, which was sensationalized … it was disgusting.”

Kahne also had an opportunity to address his future plans on ESPN’s NASCAR Now on Wednesday evening.

“[Next year is] really an unknown for myself and really, everybody that’s working on it,” Kahne said. “We still don’t know but hopefully it’s getting closer. It takes time to find out exactly what’ll happen in ’11 but I think it’ll be something really good.”

Also on RaceHub, Randy Pemberton speculated that Martin will end up driving for Red Bull Racing next season. Pemberton also opined that the press conference held by Hendrick Motorsports to announce Kasey Kahne was “unnecessary.”

OK, I’m confused. Mark Martin is signed to drive the No. 5 car through 2011 and Kasey Kahne is searching for a ride. Yet the speculation has to deal with Mark Martin right now? Call me insane, but isn’t this speculation a little out of hand?

Hendrick Motorsports spokesman Jesse Essex told Dave Moody of Sirius/XM NASCAR radio that, “There is a simple way to stop the speculation, and that’s to announce where Kasey Kahne will drive next year. But that deal won’t be done until it’s done, no matter how badly some members of the media want it to be.”

Point made. I have nothing more to say.

Well, maybe later, but for now, the speculation needs to stop. As Moody said, “Mark Martin deserves better.” He’s just going to prove everyone wrong again. At 51 years old, he’s getting pretty good at that.