Mark Martin, Martin Truex Jr

Posted by Jeremy Dunn Jul 4, 2008

The rumors were put to rest on Friday when an official announcement was made that Mark Martin will drive for Hendrick Motorsports full-time in 2009. In 2010, Martin could cut back to 26 races, but you never know with him. Initially, he was going to retire following the 2005 season. Three and a half years later, he is still going strong. Currently, Martin drives the 8 Chevrolet for DEI on a part-time basis, but he could not refuse the opportunity to drive for Hendrick Motorsports.

"It just was an opportunity that I absolutely could not, I just couldn't let it go by," Martin said. "I told Arlene when we talked about this that I'm pretty sure the last breath I took on my death bed would be, 'I should have drove Rick's car when I had the chance.'

Martin joins an all-star cast at Hendrick Motorsports- Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, and Jimmie Johnson

NASCAR confiscated the 1 car on Thursday as the car did not meet specifications.

"Something about the roof template. I don’t know. I guess NASCAR wasn’t happy with the way it fit. It’s their ballgame, it’s their call. They took the car. We’re trying to get our backup (car) ready, they had to put an engine in it and get everything ready,” said Martin Truex, Jr.