Not according to Jack Roush...
Roush: Biffle will lead team in Martin's absence
Most say no one will fully be able to replace veteran driver
By David Newton, NASCAR.COM
October 10, 2006
10:39 PM EDT (02:39 GMT)
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TALLADEGA, Ala. -- One is a married 34-year-old from Cambridge, Wis., with a Cup championship. He's quiet at first impression, but quick on the quips once you get to know him.
The other is a single 36-year-old from Vancouver, Wash., with a Busch Series and Truck Series title, something no other driver can say. He's just as comfortable busting rocks on his farm as he is busting moves on the racetrack.
Matt Kenseth and
Greg Biffle.
Depending on how you look at it, one will be the senior driver at Roush Racing next season with
Mark Martin, 47, departing for a part-time ride at MB2 Motorsports.
Kenseth could argue he deserves top billing because he began his full-time Cup career at Roush Racing in 2000, a full two years before Biffle. Or because he has a Cup title [2003] and 14 Cup victories, more than any driver in NASCAR's largest organization.
Biffle, who likes to say Kenseth is older even though he's not, could argue he deserves the title because of his age. Or because he's won two titles even though neither came in Cup and because he arrived at Roush Racing in 1998, a year ahead of Kenseth.
"Maybe we'll have to arm wrestle for it,'' Biffle said with a laugh.
Not according to team owner Jack Roush.
"Mark will be missed,'' he said. "But Greg Biffle is the heir apparent. He's the senior guy. He has the first opportunity we'll have to see a driver win a championship in all three of NASCAR's top categories.
"He's an inspiration to the rookies and he's been very helpful in every way that he can to give them encouragement and support.''
Actually, Biffle and Kenseth will help shoulder the leadership load, along with
Carl Edwards,
Jamie McMurray and whoever Roush puts into Martin's No. 6 car in 2007.
"I think that's the case,'' said Roush, who appears to have narrowed Martin's replacement to rookies
David Ragan and
Todd Kluever.
Points leader
Jeff Burton, who left Roush Racing for Richard Childress Racing in 2004, said Kenseth and Biffle have the foresight and talent to keep Roush Racing at the top.
But, he added, there's no way anybody can completely replace Martin as a leader.
"Mark has a way of expecting everything to work right,'' he said. "When it doesn't, he lets everybody know it's now working right. In losing Mark, they lose someone who will, under all circumstances, demand more.
"Matt and Greg will have to carry that mantle. I think they can, but there's no way losing Mark Martin -- in any form or fashion -- can be considered a positive for Roush Racing. ... There is just no way you lose someone like that without having a negative impact.''
He gets no argument from Kenseth, who says he wouldn't be at Roush Racing had it not been for Martin.
Kenseth said Martin has been a great teacher and great inspiration the way he is respected in the garage and handles every situation with class.
"He's had a lot of experience and kinda showed me the right thing to do and told me what the wrong thing to do was, and definitely taught me and still teaches me a lot along the way,'' he said.
Biffle said the great "wealth of knowledge'' Martin brought to Roush is what he'll miss most.
"He's good to bounce stuff off of,'' Biffle said. "I remember one of the first times we tested Kansas he came over and kind of threw his arms up in the air and said, 'Try this. Put this front spring in and sway bar in your car and tell me what it drives like.'
"He's really been there for us with a lot of experience.''
At the same time, Biffle feels the experience he's gained the past nine years will help fill the void.
"It's not like we don't need him, certainly, but we're going to be OK without him,'' he said. "I don't think we necessarily need a spokesperson. We're close enough now as an organization ... I'd like to say if we have not a well-oiled machine, but there's not so much controversial stuff that really needs to be such a big issue anymore.
"It's not like we're a union and we need one guy to stand up for us and voice our opinion. We truly don't need that with the organization we have now.''
Edwards agreed.
"[Mark's] done so much for my career,'' he said. "Hopefully, I can still go talk to him and ask questions like I always have. I hate losing a teammate like that, but it's just the way it goes.
"Jack Roush is an amazing leader. [Team president] Geoff Smith does an amazing job. If you go to Roush Racing and see how the thing is structured it's pretty awesome. It's not just a one-man show.''
