Joe Gibbs Racing announced Friday that Mark Martin will drive the Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry in the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series race in March at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“We’ve always hoped to have the opportunity for Mark to drive for us and to have him behind the wheel of our Interstate Batteries Toyota for the Nationwide race in Vegas is exciting,” said J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing. “He is a great example to all drivers of the dedication it takes to be successful and certainly we’re honored to have him part of our efforts in 2012.”
Martin currently has 49 career victories in 235 Nationwide Series starts. Martin made four starts in a Nationwide car in 2011 where he recorded one victory and three top-ten finishes.
“This is exciting,” said Martin. “No organization has been better in the Nationwide Series over the past three or four seasons and to have the chance to get behind the wheel of a Joe Gibbs Racing Nationwide car will be a thrill. Maybe I can pick up a few more races and try to catch Kyle (Busch) to get my record back again.”
Martin, who left Hendrick Motorsports at the end of the 2011 season to make way for Kasey Kahne, will drive 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup races for Michael Waltrip Racing this year, according to an earlier MWR announcement.
NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers will be arriving at Daytona International Speedway this week to test their cars in preparation for the 2012 season which begins in February at the Florida track.
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