Ginn Racing Ford to Regan Smith at Bristol Motor Speedway.
"We put to rest the Bristol thing."With those words, Mark hoped to put an end to the ongoing speculation that he might, in fact, give in to pressure and success and race in the Food City 500 Nextel Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway March 25.
"You can make all the arguments that you want about changing your mind, but the bottom line is I'm going to take a break," said Mark, who is leading the Nextel Cup point standings while running a partial schedule with Ginn Racing. "I need to take a break. I'm committed to taking a break. My family and I are committed to it."
He laughed that he wants a photo of Roush Fenway Racing driver Matt Kenseth paying out the $200 that he bet Mark saying that Mark would, in fact, add Bristol to his schedule. With Mark leading the standings entering the race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, speculation has been even more rampant.
But Mark says he's unquestionably sticking to his guns and going to take a weekend off. Rookie Regan Smith is scheduled to debut in the No. 01 Ginn Racing Chevrolet that Mark has driven at Bristol.
Mark says he may add some races that he planned to skip in the second half of the season, races that he gave to Smith so that he could get ready for a full-time Cup effort. But now that Ginn is putting Smith in a fourth car at some races, Mark would be more open to adding some of those events.
