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RICHMOND -- Mark Martin will be among two drivers replacing Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 8 car next season, and Martin says he'll race beyond next year.
Martin said Friday at Richmond International Raceway that he plans to race a limited scheduled -- about 22-25 races a season -- through the 2009 season. He would be 50 before the 2009 season started.
Martin will share driving duties with rookie Aric Almirola. Dale Earnhardt Inc. also announced that rookie Regan Smith will drive the team's fourth car, joining Martin Truex Jr. and Paul Menard. The car number and sponsor for Smith's team have not been announced.
Martin said he talked to various people, including car owner Richard Childress about the No. 8 before accepting the ride.
Said Childress: "I know what our intention was when [Dale Earnhardt] retired and we had the 3 car. He wanted the number to stay with us. He was going to help me pick the person to drive the car. Jeff Burton is who [Earnhardt] wanted to see in the 3 and Mark Martin was one of the [options]. I explained that to Mark. I said, "Mark, I think Dale would want to see you in the 8 and he would be proud to see you drive it."
Junior's number
Car owner Rick Hendrick said that an announcement on Earnhardt's number and sponsor is likely in a couple of weeks. Hendrick did say that it won't be 25, which has been with Hendrick for years.
Hendrick said that Earnhardt's number likely would have an 8 in it.
Looking for work
Chip Ganassi Racing officials have told David Stremme he can look for other rides for next season.
The team announced earlier this week that Coors is not returning as sponsor. A report states that Indy Racing League driver Dario Franchitti could replace Stremme. Ganassi officials have not ruled out Stremme returning, though.
"I won't be in the 40 car, but, obviously, they want to try to get a fourth team, but it's late in the season to want to do a lot of stuff," Stremme said.
Major changes at Yates
Car owner Robert Yates announced that he'll retire after this season. His son, Doug, will take over the team, which will be called Yates Racing.
David Gilliland will return and Travis Kvapil will replace Ricky Rudd. The partnership with Newman/Haas/Lanigan will not continue. They announced an intention to merge at Indianapolis. Instead, Roush Fenway Racing will provide full support from hardware, engineering, marketing and operational practices. No sponsors were announced for either of Yates' teams.
Unusual spot
Chesapeake native Ricky Rudd was at Richmond but as a spectator after separating a left shoulder in his crash at California last weekend. This is the first time in Rudd's career he's missed a Cup start because of an injury.
"I'm very happy that a shoulder injury is the only thing that I'm having to deal with," said Rudd, whose arm was in a sling Friday. "It could be a severe head injury considering the way the wreck was and the way these [non-COT] cars are built and designed.
"They've got one major inherent design flaw and that's that the driver sits way too close to the left side of the car. His head is very vulnerable in an accident like that, so all the safety devices and everything worked great."
Rudd said he's unsure how long it will take for him to recover and return to racing.
Pit stops
An ESPN.com report states that open-wheel driver Patrick Carpentier could be headed to Gillette Evernham Motorsports and race a Cup car during the Chase. ... Hendrick Motorsports has signed a contract extension with Chevrolet that will keep the team with the manufacturer beyond 2008.
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