Martin Watch: 2012

The silly season is about to get a little sillier.  Mark Martin, who is leaving Hendrick Motorsports at the end of the season to make room for Kasey Kahne, may have signed a deal.  It is being rumored that Martin will drive the 00 for Michael Waltrip Racing on a partial schedule.  These ideas were set off by tweets from NASCAR writers Jim Utter and Jenna Fryer.

@jim_utter: Hearing David Reutimann will not return to Michael Waltrip Racing next season and No. 00 may run partial schedule #NASCAR

@jennafryer: One more thing ... Mark Martin may have a deal done for a partial schedule in 2012.

@jennafryer: Yeah, put two and two together between my tweet and @jim_utter and you can see what might be happening with Mark Martin...

Could this be the car Mark Martin drives next year in the Sprint Cup Series? (Photo courtesy Getty Images)

These tweets are very surprising.  Many believed, including myself, that Mark Martin would be racing a full-time season in the Nationwide or Truck Series, or  split the ride with Danica Patrick at Stewart-Haas Racing.  MWR has a news conference scheduled for Friday, when they will announce their firm 2012 plans.

I'm not sure how I feel about this, but I'm sure Mark Martin will help bring MWR up a little bit.  MWR has already signed Clint Bowyer and 5 Hour Energy for a full season, and Martin Truex Jr. and NAPA will return for another year.  As of right now, there is no word on who Mark's sponsor could be.  I guess we'll just have to wait until Friday.  But if there is any news on this issue, there will be a blog about it.  Until an announcement is made, Martin Watch: 2012 will continue...