Martin gives ground on retirement talk

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Mark Martin has said all year he plans to retire from the Nextel Cup series at the end of the season to concentrate on driving in the Craftsman Truck Series and maybe a few races in the Busch Series.

But Friday, while preparing for Sunday's GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway, the four-time Cup runner-up changed his tune.

"My primary focus is still to do the full Craftsman Truck Series schedule, and I would be very interested in an additional 10- to 12-race Nextel Cup schedule. We just don't know what that car would be at this point."

Todd Kluever, who is running full time in Busch this year, is being groomed to replace Martin in the No. 6 Roush Racing Ford.

"Todd Kluever is the driver of the No. 6 car so, if I were to come back full-time at this time, it would not be in the 6 car," Martin said.

-- AP