JGR President JD Gibbs said:

We’ve been real fortunate to have never been in this situation with the need to find someone to fill in for an injured driver. A lot goes into a decision like this but we are really pleased to have someone of the character and caliber of Mark Martin to fill in while Denny is out. Obviously we’re not exactly sure how long that is going to take, but Mark’s career speaks for itself and our team knows it will have the opportunity to compete for a win every week.

Martin, who currently shares the No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota with Brian Vickers, will take over driving duties in the STP Gas Booster 400 at Martinsville Speedway.

Martin said:

I’m happy to have this opportunity to help out JGR, FedEx and Denny. Hopefully I can keep those guys up front and compete for wins while Denny heals up.

Vickers is expected to drive the No. 55 while Martin fills in for Hamlin.

Update: Martin will only fill in for Hamlin at Martinsville. He will return to the No. 55 in the NRA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Vickers will then drive the No. 11.

J D Gibbs said:

Obviously having to find someone to fill in for Denny is not an ideal situation to have to be in and when you start a process like this you obviously begin to look at the drivers that are not only available but also able to drive for your race team and manufacturer. We were a bit premature in determining Mark’s status past Martinsville however. We’re real happy to have the opportunity to get Brian in our Cup cars and with him driving Nationwide for us we think we have some continuity there that is beneficial.

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I’m passionate about winning and that was a big factor in deciding to re-sign with Joe Gibbs Racing. I think JGR gives me the best opportunity to win a championship in the Cup Series for M&M’s and Interstate Batteries. I know that everyone on our team is committed to that goal and will push towards making that a reality in 2013.

With the No. 54 moving to the JGR camp, Busch says his racing team, KBM can focus on them team’s other cars. He said:

I’m extremely proud of what we have accomplished in a short period of time at KBM in both the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series. When we started KBM our attention was to build something for the long term and now we are going to put a greater focus on our future with Parker [Kligerman] competing in Nationwide and Joey [Coulter] running trucks.

JGR President JD Gibbs said:

It’s no secret that you have to have great drivers to win in NASCAR and in the past year we’ve been able to secure long-term deals with Kyle and Denny [Hamlin] and of course we were able to add Matt [Kenseth] as well. Kyle is a big part of our success at JGR and we’re thrilled to know he will be with us for a long time.

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If that happens, Martin Truex Jr could leave the team because he has a clause in his contract stating that he must have two teammates, or he can leave the team.

Add to that, the fact that Bass Pro Shops has a performance clause in its contract, and with Truex 28th in points, the sponsorship could be in jeopardy.

Chevy can also change its support, if EGR does not field three teams.

There’s a rumor circulating in the garage that Truex could replace Joey Logano in Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 Home Depot Toyota.

JGR President JD Gibbs said:

Joey’s our guy. We haven’t had any conversations with anyone. We’d like to have someone in line by summer time, but you have to sit down, look at what partner is available, what driver is available and who would be a good fit for the team. We had Hall of Fame [Racing's No. 96] last year and we don’t have it now. So we have room for a fourth team. We’d love to have it.

JGR plans on running a fourth car later this season, the No. 02 Farm Bureau Insurance Toyota for three races later this season.

If Truex were to leave EGR, Bass Pro Shops could leave, too. It could land on Stewart Haas Racing’s No. 39, filling out some races later in the season.

In comments before the Allstate 400 from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, JGR president J.D. Gibbs said of Newman:

Another time, another day, maybe. He’s a great individual. You would love to have him on your team. It’s just all those ducks aren’t in a row.

Newman has been most strongly associated to Stewart Haas Racing, which is where a source at Richard Childress Racing thinks he is headed.