MB2 Motorsports announced that NASCAR icon Mark Martin and rookie Regan Smith will co-drive the team's No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet during the 2007 Nextel Cup season.

Joe Nemechek, the current driver of the Army Chevy, will pilot a third MB2 entry in 2007 that will carry the number 13; the sponsorship will be announced at a later date. Sterling Marlin will continue to drive the No. 14 MB2 Chevrolet.

Martin, who will be leaving his longtime ride with Roush Racing after the 2006 season, signed a multiyear contract with MB2. The agreement calls for Martin to drive the 01 Army car in 20 Nextel Cup races in 2007 plus the Bud Shootout (Daytona, Feb. 10) and the Nextel All Star Challenge (Charlotte, May 19). Martin's first points race will be the Daytona 500, Feb. 18.

Smith will drive the Army car in the remaining 16 Cup point races and will also drive an MB2 car in the NASCAR Busch Series.

Along with driving in 22 races in 2007, Martin's extended role with MB2 will be a mentor to the 23-year-old Smith and to MB2's development drivers.

"Our goal at MB2 is to reach a new level, and with Mark joining our organization it not only elevates our presence, but his knowledge and credibility will also be a viable asset to all of our race teams," said team owner Bobby Ginn (pronounced GHIN).

"While Mark brings a wealth of experience to MB2, we are also thrilled with the acquisition of Regan," Ginn added. "He's eager, talented and will be groomed by one of NASCAR's greatest drivers of all time."

Martin, who is currently third in the Chase for the Nextel Cup championship points battle, feels his new role with MB2 offers him an excellent opportunity for doing what he enjoys most and that is to compete as a driver and serve as a mentor.

"Joining MB2 is a win-win situation for me," said Martin, a native of Batesville, Ark. "I not only get to drive, but I also get to teach and I love doing both. I have had a great 19 years with Roush Racing. It was a difficult decision to move on. But right now I welcome the opportunity to drive the U.S. Army car and represent our brave soldiers who are fighting the global war on terrorism."

Smith, who grew up in Cato, N.Y., 25 miles west of Syracuse, has been preparing for this opportunity since he started to drive a go-kart at age 4.

"This is an exciting time for me," said Smith. "Driving an Army-sponsored car in Nextel Cup competition with Mark Martin as your coach is an incredible opportunity. I'm going to listen well and take advantage of what has been presented to me. I am ready to give it all I have in both Cup and Busch."

Smith has been competing in the Busch Series this season, driving the No. 35 car for Team Rensi Motorsports. In his new MB2 Busch ride for 2007, Smith is expected to compete full time in the series.

"Mark Martin is one of NASCAR's greatest competitors and having him come on board will greatly enhance and accelerate our development," said Jay Frye, MB2's CEO and general manager. "This is definitely a red-letter day in MB2's 10-year history. We have the best of both worlds with Mark and Regan -- a Hall of Famer, who will work closely with a talented and aggressive young driver."

Frye also said that Ryan Pemberton will continue as crew chief for the Army car in 2007.

Since his first Cup ride in 1981, Martin has totaled 667 starts, 35 wins, 234 top fives, 372 top 10s, 41 poles and more than $57 million in career earnings. He has finished second four times in the NASCAR Cup final point standings - 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002.

Martin, 47, is one of only three drivers who have made the Chase each season since the championship format began in 2004.

It was also announced today that Kraig Kinser and Jesus Hernandez will continue with their MB2 developmental programs in 2007. Kinser's schedule will include NASCAR Craftsman Truck, Busch and Cup races. Hernandez will continue to run the late model series as well as selected ARCA and Truck races.

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Ford Racing Reacts to Mark Martin Departure

October 6, 2006 - It was announced that Mark Martin will be leaving Roush Racing at the end of the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season to join MB2 Motorsports. Below is a statement from Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology.

DAN DAVIS, Director, Ford Racing Technology -"I've had a strong relationship with Mark ever since joining Ford Racing and I speak for everyone at Ford when I say that Mark has earned the right to do whatever he wants as far as his racing career is concerned. He's been the ultimate competitor on the track and a great representative for Ford over the past two decades. That being said, I'm disappointed that Mark may not end his NASCAR career with Ford. We were under the strong impression that Mark wanted to run a full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series program in 2007 and were negotiating with Roush Racing to provide manufacturer support. We completed that process last week and felt like all systems were go for Mark to compete for the championship in that division next season.

"I know people are going to ask about Ford losing another marquee driver to a competitor, and all I can say is that every situation is different. We feel we support our teams as well as any other manufacturer and that our business model has worked as far as winning championships and being competitive. We don't like it when drivers leave, especially when they're the quality of Mark, but the climate of NASCAR is changing and we've, unfortunately, felt the brunt of it this season."

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Roush Racing Press Release: Mark Martin Opts to Stay in Cup

Mark Martin announced today that he will continue in the Nextel Cup Series next season, driving the No. 01 MB2 Chevrolet on a limited basis in 2007.

"I consider Mark Martin a personal friend and over the last 20 years we have had a fantastic relationship professionally and personally," Roush said. "Mark will always hold a special place in my heart and a special place in Roush Racing, and I truly wish him all the best in his future plans."

"Jack Roush and I have enjoyed a very special relationship for the past 20 years," said Martin. "Jack afforded me the opportunity to chase my dreams, and there is no way to put in words what he has meant to me, my life and my career.

"The deal to come back with Roush in the No. 6 with AAA really worked out great and gave me one of the best and most rewarding years of my career," Martin added. "AAA has been great to work with and it's really been awesome to work on such important issues. I'm really glad I was able to come back a year and help those guys and Jack out, and we are going to do everything we can to keep chasing after that Nextel Cup for the next seven races."

"When Mark finally reconciled his somewhat conflicting desires, he settled on staying in Cup and running a 20-race schedule. We had no way of accommodating that desire since all of our Cup programs were previously committed," said Roush Racing president Geoff Smith.

"And, NASCAR team limits prevented Roush Racing from putting together an additional team for Mark, so in the end Mark had to move on - in order to stay in the Cup series. He's meant a great deal to this organization and we certainly wish him the best in whatever he chooses to do down the road."

Martin reiterated that his focus over the next seven races will remain on the "Chase" for the Nextel Cup Championship.

"Our focus is on winning this championship," Martin said. "I've been fighting this fight in the No. 6 car for 19 years now, and we aren't about to give up anytime soon. It's the complete focus of our attention, and we'll fight down to the very end for it."

Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich., based Roush Enterprises that operates 14 motorsports teams; five in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, six in the Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, Todd Kluever and Danny O'Quinn, Jr., and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Martin, David Ragan, Erik Darnell and Michel Jourdain, Jr.