NASCAR's Mark Martin Will Switch from Fords to Chevrolets

It's been a punishing year for Ford Motor Company, as they have now lost their two most successful drivers over the past two decades. Not even two years removed from their previous championship in 2004, some of Ford's most significant drivers are practically evacuating from the long-time NASCAR manufacturer.

When Ford and Roush Racing snagged the young and marketable Jamie McMurray away from Chip Ganassi's Dodge program last season, it appeared to be profitable move. But less than a month later, Kurt Busch, the 2004 champion and one of Ford's most proverbial faces this decade, announced that he was leaving Roush Racing to drive Penske Racing Dodge's in 2006. Let's see, McMurray for Busch- not exactly a parallel trade, however, Roush persuaded Mark Martin to continue on for another season.

Fast forward to 2006- in April, after weeks of conjecture, long-time Ford diplomat Dale Jarrett announced that he was departing Robert Yates Racing to drive the Toyota Camry's fielded by Michael Waltrip Racing. And to strike another blow to Ford, the big money sponsor of UPS will follow Jarrett out the door. Now this was huge, Jarrett has been Ford's most victorious and successful driver since 1995. He has won two Daytona 500's, two Brickyard 400's, and the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup championship while driving for Ford. This would be like Jeff Gordon suddenly announcing that he would be leaving Hendrick Motorsports to drive Dodge's for Evernham Motorsports.

The inestimable Dale Jarrett fans were incensed, and scores of them chose to abandon Jarrett as their favorite driver. As of today, Yates has yet to name a successor for Jarrett in the 88 Ford, and no sponsor has been signed.

Three months later, Jarrett's teammate Elliott Sadler, who has three wins with Ford since 1999 and qualified for the 2004 Nextel Cup Chase for the Championship, uttered his desire for new employment after struggling for most of the 2006 Nextel Cup season. But things fell into place a lot sooner than expected as he joined the Dodge fleet at Evernham Motorsports in August after Jeremy Mayfield was released. Sadler was replaced by rookie David Gilliland.

And now, the silly season move that very few saw coming, Mark Martin driving Chevrolets in 2007. It has been difficult for Ford fans to accept the fact that Toyota and Dodge will possess two of their beloved drivers, but Chevrolet? The rivalry between General Motors and Ford Motor Company is equivalent to the Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys, or the New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox. Imagine how Yankee fans would feel if the Red Sox acquired Derek Jeter, or how Cowboys fans would have reacted if the Redskins had somehow acquired Emmitt Smith or Troy Aikman back in the 1990's.

Martin's desire to drive in NASCAR Nextel Cup competition has been discernible, as he refused to commit to retirement or even the Craftsman Truck Series for 2007. It was presumed that Martin would drive the #60 part-time effort for Roush Racing, or even the 88 Ford for Robert Yates Racing. Instead, Martin will share driving duties of the 01 Chevrolet for MB2 Motorsports with current Ford driver in the Busch Series, Regan Smith. MB2 Motorsports is presently powered by Hendrick Motorsports engines.

There will be a lot of fans who will disband their loyalty to Martin, who has driven Fords for Roush Racing since 1988. They will claim that money is the root. But if there is anything that has become apparent this season, it's that no driver is bound to one team, manufacturer, or car number.

Regrettably, Ford Motor Company will suffer the most.

Since 2001, Ford has lost- Bill Elliott to Dodge, Rusty Wallace to Dodge, Ryan Newman to Dodge, Jeremy Mayfield to Dodge, Jeff Burton to Chevrolet, Kurt Busch to Dodge, Ricky Rudd to retirement, Dale Jarrett to Toyota, Elliott Sadler to Dodge, Mark Martin to Chevrolet

Since 2001, Ford has gained- Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, Jamie McMurray, Ken Schrader, David Gilliland