TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) -- There was a time when Mark Martin could not envision himself racing at NASCAR's top level as he approached 50.
But time has a way of changing perspective. Now the stock car star finds he is not yet ready to walk away at age 47.
So instead of retiring from the Cup series and racing for fun in a lower division -- as he has talked about for years -- Martin said Friday he will leave longtime employer Roush Racing after this season to drive a limited Cup schedule for MB2 Motorsports in 2007.
``I was 39 years old when I started making my plans for the future,'' Martin said at Talladega Superspeedway. ``I realize at this time that was way too early. I thought that, at the age that I am right now, I wouldn't be able to compete with these young guys the way I have in the past. And I think everybody knows I'm not interested in just riding around.
``But, when you can compete like I have been able to the last couple of years in this type of competition, it's hard to step away from it.''
But time has a way of changing perspective. Now the stock car star finds he is not yet ready to walk away at age 47.
So instead of retiring from the Cup series and racing for fun in a lower division -- as he has talked about for years -- Martin said Friday he will leave longtime employer Roush Racing after this season to drive a limited Cup schedule for MB2 Motorsports in 2007.
``I was 39 years old when I started making my plans for the future,'' Martin said at Talladega Superspeedway. ``I realize at this time that was way too early. I thought that, at the age that I am right now, I wouldn't be able to compete with these young guys the way I have in the past. And I think everybody knows I'm not interested in just riding around.
``But, when you can compete like I have been able to the last couple of years in this type of competition, it's hard to step away from it.''
