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20th
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The Stewart Haas Racing team made it official. The three-time Sprint Cup Champion, Tony Stewart, will not be back in the No. 14 car this year due to his broken leg. And, with the exception of Talladega where Austin Dillon will fill-in again, the 54-year old, Mark Martin, will finish out the year in Stewart's car.
It was a complicated deal almost like a multi-country trade treaty. Martin had a deal to finish the year in a Toyota at Michael Waltrip Racing. He needed permission from both and the team's sponsor to switch over to the SHR Chevrolets.
"I feel kind of amazed that we were able to get this done," said Martin. "Aaron's (MWR's sponsor) agreed to it. The folks from Toyota agreed to it.”
With Martin moving on, MWR announced that Brian Vickers, will finish out the year for that team. And that's a beneficial development for both the team and Vickers who will be driving that car full-time next year.
"I haven't seen this much cooperation in the past, and I think it was largely in part for the incredible amount of respect that everyone has in the sport for Tony Stewart," Martin said.
SHR competition director Greg Zipadelli said Martin was Stewart's first choice to replace him when he realized the full extent of the recovery process.
"Obviously, I'm disappointed to be out ... for so long, but the team is in very good hands with Mark Martin and Austin Dillon," Stewart said in a statement. "Mark is someone I've looked up to my entire career and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him.”
The team expects Stewart to be back behind the wheel next year.
"We expect a full recovery by Daytona or close to it," said Zipadelli referring to the season opening race. "You know, it may be able to be done earlier, it's just not worth it.
"It's a bad break to the leg, and he needs time to go through the process of healing, rehabilitation, all those things. With Mark coming on board, it gives us the window to go to the end of the year and feel like we are doing our partners the best job we can to fill Tony's shoes."
In a related development Zipadelli declined to offer any more information on the report that SHR offered Kurt Busch a deal for 2014.
"I mean, right now we're really focusing on Mark," Zipadelli said. "Obviously, there's options out there. We're looking at everything that's there. There is nothing done.”
It was a complicated deal almost like a multi-country trade treaty. Martin had a deal to finish the year in a Toyota at Michael Waltrip Racing. He needed permission from both and the team's sponsor to switch over to the SHR Chevrolets.
"I feel kind of amazed that we were able to get this done," said Martin. "Aaron's (MWR's sponsor) agreed to it. The folks from Toyota agreed to it.”
With Martin moving on, MWR announced that Brian Vickers, will finish out the year for that team. And that's a beneficial development for both the team and Vickers who will be driving that car full-time next year.
"I haven't seen this much cooperation in the past, and I think it was largely in part for the incredible amount of respect that everyone has in the sport for Tony Stewart," Martin said.
SHR competition director Greg Zipadelli said Martin was Stewart's first choice to replace him when he realized the full extent of the recovery process.
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| Tony Stewart (Photo: Tony Stewart) |
"Obviously, I'm disappointed to be out ... for so long, but the team is in very good hands with Mark Martin and Austin Dillon," Stewart said in a statement. "Mark is someone I've looked up to my entire career and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him.”
The team expects Stewart to be back behind the wheel next year.
"We expect a full recovery by Daytona or close to it," said Zipadelli referring to the season opening race. "You know, it may be able to be done earlier, it's just not worth it.
"It's a bad break to the leg, and he needs time to go through the process of healing, rehabilitation, all those things. With Mark coming on board, it gives us the window to go to the end of the year and feel like we are doing our partners the best job we can to fill Tony's shoes."
In a related development Zipadelli declined to offer any more information on the report that SHR offered Kurt Busch a deal for 2014.
"I mean, right now we're really focusing on Mark," Zipadelli said. "Obviously, there's options out there. We're looking at everything that's there. There is nothing done.”
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| No. 14 Chevrolet (Photo: Tony Stewart) |