FINAL DECISION.(Mark Martinto contes in two special events next year in Chevrolets for MB2 Motorsports. )(Juan Pablo Montoya in his first stock car race.)(MB2 Motorsports)(Indy Racing League to add at least two more races to its 2007 schedule.)

Mark Martin was going to quit full-time Nextel Cup racing after last season. Then, when team owner Jack Roush asked him to stay, Martin agreed to make this his final Cup season. But all year, talk suggested that Martin might 1) buy into-and race for-Robert Yates Racing next year, 2) run the 2007 Craftsman Truck Series in a Roush-owned Ford, 3) race a truck for Roush and a few Cup races for owners Boris Said and Marc Simo, or 4) run the truck schedule and some Cup next year before returning full time in 2008.

Wrong on all counts.

Martin severed his relationship with Ford and Roush in favor of 20 Cup points races and two special events next year in Chevrolets for MB2 Motorsports. He'll share the No. 01 Army-sponsored Monte Carlo with Cup newcomer Regan Smith, a middling Busch Series driver. It's unclear whether Martin will run any truck races next year.

Publicly, at least, everybody still loves everybody else. "He'll always hold a special place in my heart and a special place in Roush Racing. I truly wish him all the best in his future plans,'' Roush said at Talladega.

Martin was also ready to make nice. "Jack and I have enjoyed a very special relationship for the past 20 years,'' he said. "He afforded me the opportunity to chase my dreams, and there's no way to put in words what he's meant to me, my life and my career.''

Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing, was the only one who sounded torqued off. "Mark has earned the right to do whatever he wants,'' he said. "[But] I'm disappointed he may not end his NASCAR career with Ford. We were under the impression he wanted to run a full Craftsman program next year, so we were negotiating to provide support.''

Real estate developer Bobby Ginn bought 80 percent of MB2 in July. He and minority owner Jay Frye immediately announced plans to upgrade the team. They began courting Martin several weeks ago.