2004 Mark Martin California Track Notes - September 5, 2004
Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Roush Racing #6 Ford Taurus
Pop Secret 500/California Speedway
Roush Racing
August 31, 2004DRIVER: Mark Martin
TEAM: No. (6) Viagra® Ford Taurus
OWNER: Jack Roush
CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson2003 WINNER: This is the first annual race.
MARK MARTIN EARLIER THIS YEAR: Started: 26th Finished: 11th
In a wild finish that saw several cars run short of fuel late in the race, Martin brought home an 11th-place finish. Martin’s car was indeed strong early, but wavered during the last two runs of the day. The No 6 was running in 13th place when a wild and wooly end saw several cars either run out of gas late or pit for fuel in front of Martin. That activity moved Martin all the way into ninth place, before his car came up just short on fuel itself coming out of turn two. Martin lost two of the positions gained and coasted across the line for the 11th place finish.
HEADING OUT TO CALIFORNIA FOR THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND SHOW
After a 13th-place finish at Bristol, Martin and the team head to California Speedway for the track's inaugural Labor Day weekend event. With only two races to go, the pressure is intense as Martin continues his march towards the Nextel Cup top-10. Martin finished 11th at Fontana in the spring.
IN THE POINTS-DOWN TO THE WIRE - TWO TO GO
With the race for 10th at a fever pitch, Martin is currently in 12th place tied with Jeremy Mayfield with 2883 points. Martin holds the tiebreaker over Mayfield with wins, top fives and top 10’s accumulated in 2004. Martin is currently 35 points behind 10th place Ryan Newman, 36 points behind ninth place Bobby Labonte and 40 points behind eighth place Kevin Harvick. Martin is nine points behind 11th place Kasey Kahne and 10 points ahead of 15th place in a race where only 50 points separates eighth and 15th places. Martin trailed the top 10 by 123 points just three races ago.
THE CAR
Chassis Number: (RK-231) -The team will run RK-231 this weekend at Fontana. Considered one of the team's favorite cars, Martin ran RK-231 to a second place finish two weeks ago in Michigan. The car also posted strong runs at Chicago , Indy and Las Vegas this year.
MARK MARTIN AT FONTANA
Martin has posted three top-10 and two top-five finishes in eight starts at California. In addition, Martin has started inside the top 10 in four of the seven races. Martin finished 11th earlier this year at California. Last year Martin was set to record another top-five finish at the track, before being taken out by another car on the last lap and falling to a 17th-place finish. Martin actually finished 10th in the inaugural race at Fontana, despite running out of gas on the race's final lap, while in the lead. Martin came back the next year to win the second ever Cup race at Fontana in 1998.
WHITE LIGHTENING IN FOR THE STRETCH RUN
Martin will race the reverse paint scheme in each of the last two races for the Top-10, including this week at Fontana and the following week at Richmond. Martin has run the night race scheme in six races this year (counting the All-Star), recording top-10 finishes on four of the six occasions, including a victory at Dover.
MARK MARTIN FAST FACTS - CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY
- Martin has posted three top-10 and two top-five finishes in seven races at California Speedway.
- Martin has led a total of 194 laps at California Speedway.
- Martin finished 10th in the inaugural California race, despite running out of gas late and posting a DNF. Martin rebounded the following year to win the race.
- Martin has moved from 43rd to 12th in the race for the top-10. Martin has moved from 123 points outside of the top 10, to just 40 points outside of eighth in the last four races.
QUOTING MARK MARTIN AND CREW CHIEF PAT TRYSON ON CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY
Mark Martin on Fontana:
"We are excited about going to California for this race. We've been pretty good on those types of tracks this season, especially over the past couple of months. We ran really well at Michigan two weeks ago and those are similiar tracks. Pat and the guys have done such a wonderful job of giving me strong cars and hopefully we'll have another one this weekend.
"We just have to go and try to win the race. As I've said all along, if we can do that then we'll still have a shot at the top 10. We have to just concentrate on getting the best finishes possible over the next two and if we get in then that's great, and if we don't, then we are going to still go out and try to win every race."
Crew Chief Pat Tryson on Fontana:
"We are ready. We are taking RK-231, which is one of our fastest cars and the car that we used a couple of weeks ago at Michigan. It was really fast there and Fontana and Michigan are a lot alike, so hopefully we'll have another strong run this weekend. I'm proud of the guys and the effort that this entire Viagra Team has put in. We are going to pull together another couple of strong runs and get ourselves inside that top 10 after Richmond. Hopefully we can get that started with a win this weekend at California."
Mark Martin Authentic Merchandise Opens at Mark Martin Ford-Mercury in Batesville
Groundbreaking in the works for new state of the art complex to house dealership in 2006Batesville, Ark. (August 30, 2004) – Mark Martin Ford Mercury in Batesville, Ark. is pleased to announce the opening of Mark Martin Authentic Merchandise, located on the grounds of the dealership. The store will feature a various array of NASCAR merchandise including that of Martin and other top NASCAR drivers.
“As part of our ever expanding plans at Mark Martin Ford, we’ve opened Mark Martin Authentic Merchandise which is located right there at the dealership,” said Martin. “It’s a really cool store where you can buy all of the latest merchandise Team Caliber merchandise. A lot of people may not have the chance to get to the track or get stuff over the Internet, so we’ve brought the merchandise to the people. I hope everyone enjoys the store as much as we do.”
In addition the dealership has announced plans for a new state-of-the-art site that will offer fans and car buyers added benefit while visiting Mark Martin Ford-Mercury.
“We are excited about our plans for a new site for the dealership,” said Martin. “It’s all a part of the plan we have to offer the most unique car buying experiences out there. We plan to really bring something special to Batesville.”
In addition to the dealership, the new state-of-the-art complex will feature the Authentic Merchandise store and the official Mark Martin Museum, which will house some of the trophies from Martin’s 34 Nextel Cup, 45 Busch Series and 11 IROC victories, as well as some of Martin’s favorite racecars. Other memorabilia also related to Martin’s accolades from over 20 years of NASCAR racing will also be on hand at the museum. One of Martin’s No. 6 Viagra? Fords is currently on display at the dealership.
“This is our way of sharing that with the people of Batesville and the fans from everywhere,” said Martin. “This is a lot more than a car dealership to me. It’s a way to share all of the things that I’ve been fortunate enough to accomplish with a lot of the people out there who helped me be able to get to where I am.”
Martin has also announced some further incentives for potential car buyers who may be in the market for a car.
“We really want to be able to reward the fans who have supported us throughout the years,” said Martin. “And we are offering a discount to anyone who brings in their certificate of membership to Mark Martin Fan Club.
“The Six Pfamily and all of the fan club members have been so supportive of us throughout the years – in both the good and bad times – and we want to be extra sure that we reward them for their continued loyalty. We owe them a great deal and this is just one of the ways that we hope to give some of that back.”
In addition Martin noted that for a limited time everyone who buys a car at Mark Martin Ford receives a free authentic personally autographed Mark Martin Owner Series Team Caliber diecast collectable car.
“As I’ve said before, we want this to be more than a dealership,” added Martin. “We want it to be a unique experience and something that people will enjoy coming to. We have some of my favorite racecars from throughout the years, we have a merchandise store and we have some great cars on the lot.
“It’s our hope that this brings something unique back to Batesville,” added Martin. “And when it is time for everyone out there to shop for that new car or truck, well it’s our hope that they will keep us in mind for what they need.”
The official grand opening of Mark Martin Ford-Mercury back in April drew record crowds to the area and Martin said he was hoping to put on some similar events in the future.
“We had a great time at the grand opening,” said Martin. “And we were really pleased with the great turnout. It was truly touching to see the people in this area come out and support us in that way and there are some plans in the works for some similar events down the road.”
Martin also commented that he has been pleased with the dealership’s growth since January.
“My partner Lance (Landers) and all of the staff have done an awesome job,” said Martin. “The staff here is great and we are committed to really making something out of this thing. We’ve already taken several steps, but we have so many plans in the works and I can’t wait to see how it all turns out. I’m very proud of what we have going on here and I think it’s going to be something that the people of Batesville can be just as proud of.”
No.6 Viagra Team Finishes 13th at Bristol/Martin Sits 35 Points Outside of 10th Place
Mark Martin and the #6 Viagra® Racing Team
Bristol Motor Speedway/August 28, 2004
BRISTOL, TENN. – In a race where simply surviving is considered a key to success, Mark Martin and the Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Racing Team did just that in Saturday night’s Sharpie 500. Bristol Motor Speedway is known for a propensity to tear up a lot of good racecars and Martin was able to survive for 500 laps on Saturday, thus preserving his chances of breaking into the Nextel Cup Top 10 before the cut-off period in just two races. Martin is currently tied for 12th place, 35 points outside of 10th and only 44 points behind seventh with two races remaining at California and Richmond.
"We kept fighting tonight,” said Martin. “We had a pretty good race car and I was really proud of it. We ran better than I thought we were going to and I'm proud of the team and the whole deal. It was a good run for us. We did the best we could and recovered well from getting a lap down because we had such a great car. I've got a great race team. We're going to keep fighting. If we make it, we make it. If we don't, we don't."
Despite the 13th place finish, Martin had one of the fastest cars on the racetrack, starting seventh and powering his way up to as high as second place, before a costly miscue on pit road dropped Martin to as low as 28th and three laps down. Martin, who was pitted on the backstretch, came in for a green flag stop on lap 224 while running in second place. Under green flag conditions the cars are allowed to leave the pits just past the backstretch, while under caution the cars are required to go all the way back around the front stretch before exiting pit road. After a miscommunication between Martin and the pits, Martin unnecessarily drove his Viagra® Ford back around the front stretch pit road under green. The miscue cost the team valuable time and Martin returned to the field in 28th place; two laps down.
“I messed up and cost us a lap there,” said Martin. “Pat (Tryson) told me to go straight out of the race track but I was either concentrating too much or not enough I guess. I had never done a green flag stop here. I know it happened last time. I know he said it on the radio, I just wasn't listening."
True to form, Martin and the team did the only they could do – battle back. By lap 254 Martin was running in 20th position – one lap down. The team took two tires (right sides) under caution on lap 360 to move up to 14th position. Martin would move up to 13th position after the day’s final caution on lap 387, where he would run for the remaining 100 laps of the race. The rebound kept Martin firmly entrenched in the race for the top-10.
Martin had started the race seventh after a solid qualifying effort on Friday. It took the veteran only 18 laps around the .533-mile short track to move his Viagra® Ford into the field’s top five. Martin was up to fourth place when the day’s third caution brought the No. 6 Team into the pits for the first time of the evening for four tires and fuel. As a few other teams opted for different pit strategies Martin returned to the field in 10th position.
Martin was initially shuffled back to 12th place, before quickly rebounding and moving all the way back to sixth place when the day’s fourth caution was called on lap 83. After another quick caution, the field embarked on a long green-flag run that would see Martin advance four more positions to second. On lap 165 Martin moved past pole-sitter Jeff Gordon to break back into the top five. Martin moved past the No. 40 car on lap 190 to take fourth. Martin moved into second place on lap 216, where he would run until coming down pit road under green eight laps later.
The team returns to action next week at the California Motor Speedway where Martin has one win and three top-10s in eight races. Martin finished 11th at Fontana in May. This will mark the first year that the NASCAR Cup series has held two races in Fontana.
With the race for 10th place at a fever pitch, Martin is currently in 12th place tied with Jeremy Mayfield with 2883 points. Martin holds the tiebreaker over Mayfield with wins, top fives and top 10’s accumulated in 2004. Martin is currently 35 points behind 10th place Ryan Newman, 36 points behind ninth place Bobby Labonte and 40 points behind eighth place Kevin Harvick. Martin is nine points behind 11th place Kasey Kahne. Martin is currently 10 points ahead of 15th place in a race where only 50 points separates eighth and 15th places.
Martin Set to Run Four More Busch Races in 2004
All-time series win leader set to pull double duty in Richmond, Dover, Atlanta and Phoenix
Roush RacingCONCORD, N.C. (August 24, 2004) - Roush Racing has announced that Mark Martin will run four more Busch races in 2004. Martin, who made his return to the series last week at Michigan, will run a scheduled Richmond Busch race on Sept. 10 in the Pennzoil No. 9 Ford. In addition, he will now pick up races at Dover and Atlanta in the No. 9 Cottman Transmission Ford and at Phoenix in the Pennzoil car. Jeff Burton was originally slated to run those three races.
"I'm really looking forward to running some more races in the Busch series," said Martin. "We had a great run last week in Michigan and it really felt good to get back out there in the Busch series and compete. I worried that we wouldn't be able to hold up the strong legacy that we set several years ago, but I think were able to maintain that. Hopefully we'll be able to rack up a couple of more wins down the stretch."
Martin picked up in the series right where he left off last week at Michigan, moving all the way from 43rd place for a strong second-place finish in his long awaited return to the series where he compiled a record 45 wins. The finish was Martin's 94th top-five and 127th top-10 finish in 201 Busch Races.
Martin has five wins, 13 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes in 21 Busch starts at Richmond. At Dover, Martin has started 10 Busch races, collecting five top fives and one win. Martin has started nine Busch races Atlanta, with three wins, three top-five and six top-10's. November will mark Martin's first Busch start at Phoenix.
"Those are some of my favorite tracks on the circuit," added Martin. "And it will be great to be able to pull double duty on those weekends. The No. 9 team is a good race team and I think they showed that last week in Michigan. We had a really good car there and we finished second without any testing or a lot of practice. We'll keep building on that and hopefully we'll see some great results in the upcoming races."
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich., based Roush Industries that operates nine motorsports teams; five in NASCAR Nextel Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards; two in the Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth and Biffle, and two in the Craftsman Truck Series with drivers Jon Wood and Edwards. For sponsorship inquiries please contact John Miller at Roush Racing at 704.720.4600.
Martin Vows to Go Down Fighting in Chase for Top-10
Martin, No. 6 Viagra (sildenafil citrate) Team have used past two races to cut 90 points off distance to 10th
Roush RacingCONCORD, N.C. (August 24, 2004) - Mark Martin does not care to talk a lot about the current race to make the top-10 in the Nextel Cup points race. In fact, Martin tends to shy away from commenting on his team's chances to crack the top 10 by the end of the next three races.
"You know this whole thing is silly," said Martin. "We shouldn't even be talking about this stuff. The way this race team has run this year we should be somewhere in the top five, not worrying if we can make the top 10.
"The bottom line is that this is a top-five race team and we've ran that way for several weeks to prove it. I can't make sure the engine holds up and we can't keep air in the tires, but we've ran top five week-in and week-out. I'd rather have runs like I've had this year, strong runs like we had at Watkins Glen and Michigan and even Indy, Chicago and Pocono, than to ride around in 14th all day and be in that top 10.
"I've always said that's why I race," added Martin. "Because I love to be competitive. I love to run up front and to pass cars and to be in a position to win races and we've done that several times this year, despite all of the rotten luck we've had."
Martin may not care to elaborate much about the race for the top-10, but his actions on the track have helped put him back within striking distance of making the field of 10. When Martin lost his tire on the last lap - running third - of the Brickyard 400 three weeks ago, it seemed to put an end to the momentum he had built going into that race. The lost tire dropped Martin to a very disappointing 24th -place finish and dropped him to 15th in the point standings, and 123 points outside of 10th. Just seconds earlier Martin was listed on the TV monitor as close as 40 points outside of 10th.
True to fashion Martin and the Viagra® Team battled back, fighting to a third-place finish at Watkins Glen and a second-place run at Michigan to cut the deficit to only 33 points with just three races remaining at Bristol, California and Richmond.
"Don't get me wrong," said Martin. "We plan to go down swinging in this thing. We aren't going to go out and get all hyped up and set up for heartbreak, but we are not about to give up without a fight either."
Martin's season has been full of up and downs. Martin started the season in 43rd place, after losing his engine only seven laps into the Daytona 500, but battled back, picking up 31 places to 12th over the next four races. Problems with an defunct oil line at Martinsville dropped Martin from a top-five run to a 34th -place finish and all the way down to 18th in the points.
Once again the team rallied, using top-10 runs at Talladega and Richmond to move back up to 12th in the standings, only seven points outside of 11th place heading into the Coca-Cola 600. Martin was headed to a top-five finish at Charlotte, when he lost both of his ignition boxes, losing several laps and dropping to a 36th place finish. The malfunction dropped Martin all the way back to 15th in the points.
Again the team rallied immediately, winning the following week in Dover. The win moved Martin back into 13th place and the team seemed on a roll moving into Pocono, where Martin was running seventh when he lost his engine just past the halfway point of the race. The setback dropped Martin back to 14th. The following week the bad luck continued, with a transmission failure on the first lap of the race. The team replaced the transmission but not before Martin had lost enough laps to drop him to a 34th -place finish an to 16th in the points.
The back-to-back failures put Martin 205 points outside of 10th place and it looked like Martin's chances of making the top-10 had came to an abrupt halt.
However, with their backs firmly planted against the wall, Martin, Pat Tryson and the No. 6 Team dug down deep for their best work of the year. Back-to-back top 10 finishes at Sonoma and Daytona moved Martin back to 14th in the points, 156 points outside of 10th place heading into Chicago with one of his best cars of the season.
Martin looked poised for a big points day at Chicago, exhibiting one of the fastest cars in the field, and running in third place with only three laps remaining, when an engine failure dropped him to a 24th place finish. Still, Martin was so strong that day, while he dropped one place in the standings to 15th, he picked up 18 points on 10th place.
Again the team would rebound, and after a second place finish two races later at Pocono, Martin was back up to 13th place, and only 89 points outside of 10th place as they confidently headed to Indianapolis. The team was once again on its game at Indy, as Martin sported one of the fastest cars on the track. In fact after 400 miles of the Brickyard 400, Martin was in fourth place. However Martin lost his front-left tire on the final lap of a green-white-checkered and dropped to a 25th place finish.
Once again Martin had dropped to 15th in the points and his chances at the top-10 again looked dead in the water. However, the Viagra® Racing Team refused to give up as Martin came back with the back -to-back top three runs at Watkins Glen and Michigan to put Martin back to within 33 points of the top 10; his closest margin to the top-10 since going into the Daytona 500.
"It's been an up and down process for sure," said Martin. "But all we can do is just keep coming back. We have had great cars and we've been able to run up front. That is what we are looking to do. We are going to go out and try to win races and the rest will fall where it falls. If that gets us in that top-10 then that is great and if it doesn't well then we are still going to go out and try to win every race. That's what we do and we'll keep doing that until the last checkered falls in Homestead in November, regardless of what any points list says."
Four races ago Martin was 192 points outside of top-10 and not much was being made of his chances to crack the top-10. Four strong runs and three top-three finishes later Martin is once again knocking on the door.
"I want to go down slugging as hard as I can," said Martin. "If that doesn't work out, then I don't want to be broken-hearted. I've had enough of those.
"I don't car what the points say," added Martin. "I know this is one of the best teams in the business and nothing can take that away from us."
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich., based Roush Industries that operates nine motorsports teams; five in NASCAR Nextel Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards; two in the Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth and Biffle, and two in the Craftsman Truck Series with drivers Jon Wood and Edwards. For sponsorship inquiries please contact John Miller at Roush Racing at 704.720.4600.
2004 Mark Martin Bristol Track Notes - August 28, 2004
Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Roush Racing #6 Ford Taurus
Sharpie 500/Bristol Motor Speedway
Roush Racing and Compiled Info
August 25, 2004DRIVER: Mark Martin
TEAM: No. (6) Viagra® Ford Taurus
OWNER: Jack Roush
CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson2003 WINNER: Kurt Busch
MARK MARTIN 2003 EVENT: Started: 2nd Finished: 36th
It was clear to all of the 160,000 fans in attendance that Martin had one of – if not the strongest – cars in the race. Martin started the race in second place, led 49 laps and was running the fastest lap times on the track before getting caught up in an accident on lap 347 that put an end to both Martin’s night and a strong bid for the victory. Martin’s car was fast from the start and the veteran driver posted his best qualifying performance of the season, starting the race from the front row in second place, missing the pole by only one-one thousandths of a second. Two mistakes in the pits would end up costing the team. The first came when the team dropped the jack early and to surrender the lead to come back into the pits and dropped back to 28th place. The team quickly put the mishap behind them and employed a combination of Martin’s driving skill and an aggressive pit strategy to move back to the front. On lap 262 Martin took the lead and led the next 49 laps The second mistake would prove costly, as Martin came in for fuel only, but the team let the catch can get out of the box. The can fell only a few inches outside of the pit box, but Martin and the team were forced to come back down pit road again for a stop and go penalty. When everything had cycled through Martin was back in 26th position. Three laps later his night would come to an end as the No. 4 car made contact, sending the Viagra Taurus into the wall and ending Martin’s strong bid for the victory.
MARTIN, NO. 6 TEAM ON A ROLL HEADING INTO BRISTOL
Martin and the Viagra Racing team move into Bristol fresh off of a second-place run at Michigan. Martin, who had probably the fastest car in the Michigan race, has scored top-three finishes in three of the last four races. He has climbed from 123 points out of 10th place to only 33 points out in the last two races.
THE CAR
Chassis Number: (RK-215) -The team will run RK-215 Bristol this weekend. It is the same car that the team used earlier this year at Bristol. The car scored a 10th place finish in the All-Star Challenge in its only other run of the season, despite sustaining severe damage late in the race.
MARK MARTIN AT BRISTOL
Martin's trek at Bristol is tale of streaks. In 35 races at Bristol, Martin has finished top 10 on 20 occasions and inside the top five 15 times. From 1995-2000 Martin had a total of 10 straight top-10 finishes at Bristol. He won four straight poles in 1995 and 1996. However, Martin has not finished inside the top 10 at Bristol in the past eight races, five of which he was involved in accidents that put an end to his chance of a strong run. Martin finished 23rd this spring at Bristol, after dropping down to seven cylinders late in the race.
GETTING OFF TO A GOOD START AT BRISTOL
Martin's seven poles at Bristol ties for the most of any driver (Rusty Wallace). Martin just narrowly missed his record eighth pole there last year at the Sharpie 500. All-in-all Martin has started inside the top five in 16 of 35 races at Bristol and inside the top 10 25 times.
WHITE LIGHTENING RETURNS
Martin will once again run the special 'reverse' white paint scheme this weekend at Bristol. Martin has run the night race scheme in five races this year (counting the All-Star), recording top-10 finishes on four of the five occasions, including a victory at Dover. In addition to Bristol, the scheme will run three more times this season at Fontana, Richmond and Charlotte.
MARK MARTIN FAST FACTS - BRISTOL
- Martin has two victories at Bristol (8/98 and 8/93 both coming from the pole).
- Martin's seven poles at Bristol tie for the most ever. He just narrowly missed the pole at last year's fall race.
- Martin won four consecutive poles at Bristol in 1995-96.
- Martin has posted 20 top -10 and 15 top-five finishes in 35 races at Bristol.
- From 1995-2000 Martin scored 10 straight top-10 finishes at Bristol, but a rash of accidents and problems have prevented him from finishing inside the top 10 since.
- Crew chief Pat Tryson led the Wood Brothers to a victory at Bristol in 2001. Tryson's pit strategy was vital in the No. 21 car's victory there as Tryson earned his first career Cup victory.
QUOTING MARK MARTIN AND CREW CHIEF PAT TRYSON
Mark Martin on Bristol:
"Well, Bristol is an intense race track to say the least. Forty-three cars is a lot for a track that size, and driving around that place is like trying to fly a jet fighter airplane around the inside of a basketball arena, so it's get really wild when you have 42 other guys trying to do the same thing. You just have to hope that you have a good car and that you can stay out of all the trouble and sometimes that's hoping for a lot. We haven't been able to stay out of trouble very well there the last several times we've been there and we've wrecked a bunch of cars. We were really strong there last year in the night race and we ended up getting wrecked, so maybe we'll have a little better luck this time. I know Pat (Tryson) and Wally (Brown) and the guys will all give me a great race car, so hopefully we can take it to the front and stay there."
Pat Tryson on Bristol:
"One of the keys to Bristol is to qualify well, or it's really easy to lose a lap early. You also want to be as close to the front as possible to try and stay out of a lot of the trouble that goes on back there. Hopefully we can give Mark another good car and we can have a solid day and stay out of trouble. If we do that I think we can have a good run. We tested there a couple of weeks ago, and we liked what we saw. We just can't wait to get back out there and hopefully make a run for the victory."
Martin Powers 'Batmobile' to Strong Second Place Finish at Michigan
Mark Martin and the #6 Viagra® Racing Team
Michigan International Speedway/August 22, 2004
Roush RacingBrooklyn, Mich. – Mark Martin clearly had the fastest car in Sunday’s GFS Marketplace 400, leading 46 laps and battling back from a penalty in the pits to score a solid second-place finish. Martin’s No. 6 Ford sported a Pfizer/Batman paint scheme for Sunday’s race and Martin exhibited super power driving skills in route to his second straight top-three finish. The finish was the Viagra® Racing Team’s fifth top-five of the season and it’s third in the last four races.
"It's just such a privilege to drive for this team and work for these guys,” said Martin. “They put me in a race car that could contend to win and the car made me look good today. I'm very grateful for that.
I'm just incredibly grateful that I get to work with this team and that I get to drive stuff that will run like that,” added Martin. “I've just dreamed of having an engine like that. Man, it was unbelievable and the car handled, too.
Martin took the lead for the fifth time, passing teammate Greg Biffle on lap 112, and it looked like he may never relinquish it. The team came down pit road under caution on lap 131 still in the lead. After a quick stop it looked as if the No. 6 Team had held the lead, but in a controversial call the NASCAR official deemed that the team had failed to place on all of the lug nuts on the left rear tire and Martin was ordered to come back down pit road. Despite the adamant protest of crew chief Pat Tryson and his crew, Martin returned to the field in 28th place when the field went green on lap 134 with 66 laps remaining.
“I couldn’t worry about all of that,” said Martin. “My job is to drive the car to the front and that is what I had to concentrate on doing, no matter what happened. We simply had to come back and we did. We had a fast car and I knew we could get back to the front, so I just put the other behind me and started concentrating on the job at hand. We had an incredible car. We came from the back of the pack with no cautions to run second and I applaud Pat Tryson and this team.
“I’m not even sure what happened in the pits, but we had some type of problem,” said Martin. “That kind of stuff happens, but you just have to keep fighting. We did that today and I’m really proud of that. I said I've got the best race team in the business right now and I mean it."
Martin went to work, picking up seven positions on the next three laps. By lap 144 Martin had moved all the way up to 14th place. By lap 155 he was running inside the top 10 in ninth position. The veteran used the next 10 laps to move up to sixth place, before breaking back into the top 10 on lap 169. Martin was closing in on the field, but the leader –Biffle – had a solid eight-second lead on the No. 6.
Needing to pit one more time, the team opted to cut into Biffle’s lead with a two-tire stop under green on lap 175. The move worked as Martin came out in second place just behind Biffle. However, the challenge to overcome Biffle’s No. 16 Ford, who had taken four fresh tires, proved to be too much to overcome. Martin was able to move away from the remainder of the field and drive to the strong-second place finish.
“Hey, we went for it, what can you say,” said Martin. “We knew we would come out neck-and-neck with him and we were praying for a miracle. The car didn't run as good on two as it would have on four, so it wasn't good enough, but we rolled the dice and took a chance. We figured we were going to run second either way, so I'm proud of Pat for making the call to go for the win."
Martin started the race in 13th place after Friday’s qualifying session was cancelled due to rain. The car was too loose early on and Martin quickly dropped to 18th position by the second lap. The car started to settle in and Martin – running in 15th place – radioed the crew that he was about to “start wearing the boys out in a minute.”
By lap 15 Martin radioed the crew that the car was ‘perfect.’ Running the fastest lap times on the track, Martin broke into the top 10 on lap 20, proclaiming, “We can win with this car.” By lap 43 Martin was running in the top five, where he would run for the next 90 laps before the incident on pit road.
The team took right-side tires only under caution on lap 45, and Martin returned to the field in third place when green-flag racing resumed on lap 49. One lap later Martin moved by Biffle, taking the lead for the first time of the day. Martin was still leading the field when the day’s fifth caution was issued on lap 69. The team came into the pits for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment. Martin returned to the field in seventh place, as different cars were on various pit cycles, when the field went green on lap 74.
Martin quickly maneuvered in and out of the traffic around him, moving up to third by lap 77 and reclaiming the lead on lap 81. However the car was very loose and Martin was having trouble hanging on and quickly dropped back to second place. Once the car settled back in, Martin regained the lead on lap 86 and was running in first place when caution was issued on lap 91.
The team came into the pits for four tires and fuel and came out in fifth place, as other cars were again on different pitting cycles. The field went green on lap 94 and Martin had moved to third place by lap 101. After battling through lapped traffic Martin again took over the lead from Biffle on lap 112 and led the next 18 laps before the incident in the pits dropped him back to 28th.
Biffle went on to win the race just ahead of Martin, as all five Roush Racing Teams placed finishes inside the top 10 for the first time since March of 1998.
The finish moved Martin into 12th place in the Nextel Cup point standings – only 33 points out of 10th and only 73 points out of eighth place. Martin, who trailed 10th by 92 points two weeks ago, has picked up 59 points on 10th in the last two races. There are three races to go in the chase for the top 10.
"We have a top-five race team and if I wind up being a spectator at the banquet, so be it,” said Martin. “I have to look at things from a positive standpoint and say, 'Golly, at least we didn't run 14th every week and make it in.' I'd much rather not make the cut and run like I ran today and at Indy and at Pocono and at the Glen. That's real special to me. I've always said that that is the glue that keeps a winning team together.
“But don’t get me wrong,” added Martin. “We plan to go down swinging.”
The finish was Martin’s second straight runner-up finish in two days at Michigan, as Martin finished second in Saturday’s Busch race as well.
The team returns to action next Saturday night at Bristol, where Martin has two wins and 20 top 10 finishes in 35 races.
Martin Races to Second-Place Finish in Return to Busch Series
Mark Martin and the #9 Pennzoil Racing Team
Michigan International Speedway/August 21, 2004
Roush RacingBrooklyn, Mich. – In a return four years in the making, Mark Martin picked up right where he left off in the Busch Series, running up front. Martin, who is the series’ all time win leader with 45, started Saturday’s Cabela’s 250 in last place, but wasted no time moving his Pennzoil/Batman Ford Taurus through the field in route to a second-place finish in his first Busch race since 2000.
“That was a great run for this team,” Martin said after the race. “We really had the ‘Batmobile’ going today. We didn’t have a lot of practice time and we had to come all the way from the back of the field, but Tony (Liberati) and the guys gave me a good car and we were able to move through the field.
“We really didn’t have anything for the No. 5 car, but I’m really pleased that we were able to beat all those guys behind us. I was a little afraid coming in that we wouldn’t be able to hold up the tradition that we set before in this series, but I’m really happy with the run that we had today and I’m looking forward to coming back tomorrow and doing it again in the Cup car.”
Friday’s qualifying session and final practice were rained out and Martin narrowly made the field of 43 in the final spot. The team would start the race with only one practice session under its belt, but Martin wasted no time making his way through the pack. By the race’s fourth lap caution, the veteran had already passed 12 cars. By lap nine, Martin had passed 20 cars.
He had made his way into the field’s top-15 when caution was called again on lap 20. The team pitted and took fuel only and Martin returned to the race in second place when the field went green on lap 25. The cars behind Martin were on fresh tires and the No. 9 Ford had dropped to ninth place when caution was called for the third time of the day on lap 42. The No. 9 Pennzoil team came into the pits and put four fresh tires on the car and Martin went back out in 12th place.
On fresh tires, Martin continued his move to the front. By lap 59 he was running back inside the top five. The veteran had moved all the way to third place when the team came into the pits for the third and final time of the day on lap 87. Martin took four tires and fuel and came out of the pits in 10th place. All of the cars in front of Martin - except the No. 5 of Kyle Busch - were on a different pit strategy and stood little chance against the Batman Ford.
By lap 96 Martin had moved up to fourth place. On lap 97 Martin pulled down low, charging by both the No. 1 and No. 55 cars to move into second place where he would run the remainder of the race. In the end, Martin was the second fastest car of the race, but just did not have quite enough to run with the No. 5 car that went on to win the race.
“I’m really proud of these guys on this Pennzoil Team,” said Martin. “We didn’t have quite enough for Kyle Busch, but when you consider we’ve had no testing, hardly any practice and I’ve never driven the car before Friday, that says a lot about how good of a job this team did today. They should be real proud of the effort they gave today. It was a great showing and hopefully we’ll get us a win before the year’s over.”
“It was great getting back out there,” added Martin. “We have a few more Busch races coming up, so hopefully we’ll be able to pick up where we left off today and see if we can’t get back to victory lane.”
The run marked Martin’s 94th top-five and 127th top-10 finish in 201 races in the Busch series. It was his fifth top-five finish in eight Busch races at Michigan.
Martin was joined in the top 10 by Roush Racing teammate Greg Biffle who finished eighth. Martin will return to Busch Series action on Sept. 10 at Richmond.
Martin:Future of racing in good hands with Busch, others
By Mike Pryson, Staff Writer
2004 Jackson Citizen Patriot
Sunday, August 22, 2004Mark Martin got one of those up close and personal looks at the very near future of the Nextel Cup Series.
And, boy, does he like what he sees.
Martin, the all-time leader in the NASCAR Busch Series with 45 career wins, made his first start in the series since 2000 and finished second Saturday in the Cabela's 250 at Michigan International Speedway.
Martin started 43rd -- last -- in the field after qualifying was rained out Friday and the field was set by owner points and season qualifying attempts. He spent the afternoon Saturday slicing and dicing his way to the front before hitting a brick wall in the form of race winner Kyle Busch.
Along the way, Martin raced with many of the drivers who will make up the next wave of young stars coming into Nextel Cup. There was Busch Series points leader Martin Truex Jr. on one side of him, Jason Leffler on another, and young stars such as Casey Mears and Greg Biffle seemingly everywhere he looked.
And almost always there was Busch in the front.
"You know, back in 2001, when I was telling everyone about all these young drivers and all this young talent that was coming," Martin said, "some of you thought something was wrong with me. Now, everybody is on the bandwagon.
"It's awesome, man. I'm a race fan."
The 19-year-old Busch, who won his fifth race of his rookie season Saturday, raced like he is ready to run with the big boys right now. Martin was not surprised that Busch looked as if he was anything but one year removed from the ARCA series and a seven-race cup of coffee in the Busch Series last year.
"Kyle Busch has done incredible this year," Martin said. "But I knew he would, because I know Kurt Busch (Kyle's brother). Somehow or another it runs in the family there.
"But you know what? There's more coming. These aren't the last guys to come along that are incredible. There's more. The sport is in good hands, and we're going to see some incredible racing in the future."
2004 Mark Martin Michigan Track Notes - August 22, 2004
Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Roush Racing #6 Ford Taurus
GFS Marketplace 400/Michigan International Speedway
Roush Racing & Compiled Info
August 17, 2004DRIVER: Mark Martin
TEAM: No. (6) Viagra® Ford Taurus
OWNER: Jack Roush
CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson2003 WINNER: Ryan Newman
MARK MARTIN 2003 EVENT: Started: 37th Finished: 17th:
MARTIN LOOKS TO TAKE BATMOBILE TO VICTORY
Fresh off a strong third-place finish at Watkins Glen, Martin returns to Michigan Int'l Speedway where he is a four time winner. Martin will be running a No. 6 Pfizer/Batman special paint scheme this weekend, as he looks to take the No. 6 to victory lane for a fifth time at Michigan.
THE CAR
Chassis Number: (RK-231) -The team will run RK-231 at Michigan this weekend. RK-231 is considered the team's favorite, having posted extremely strong runs at Chicago and Indy.
MARK MARTIN AT MICHIGAN
Martin's four wins at Michigan are the third most of any active driver. In addition, Martin has 24 top-10 and 13 top-five runs in 37 starts at MIS. Martin scored a disappointing 34th place finish at Michigan earlier this year, after a transmission failure on the race's first lap dropped the team down several laps. Still Martin had one of the fastest cars in the race and will look to capitalize on that this weekend.
SUPER POWERS MEET HORSEPOWER
Martin will be one of five Roush drivers taking part in the Justice League promotion this weekend. Martin will drive the Batman car, with teammates Greg Biffle (Flash), Kurt Busch (Superman) and Carl Edwards (Green Lantern) all running for the Justice League on Sunday. In addition, Maritn will power the No. 9 Pennzoil/Batman Ford along side teammate Matt Kenseth (Martian Manhunter) and Greg Biffle (Flash) in Saturday's Busch race.
HOLY ROCKETSHIP BATMAN!
Martin has long called his superfast cars the "Batmobile". This week he'll be running his favorite car RK-231, which is the same car that proved to be a rocket at both Chicago and Indy. Martin has consistently ran inside the top five in four of the last five races (Chicago, Pocono, Indy and Watkins Glen).
RETURN TO THE BUSCH SERIES
Martin is set to start his first Busch race since 2000 on Saturday. Martin, whos 45 wins are a Busch series record, has won two times in the Busch series at Michgian.
MARK MARTIN FAST FACTS - MICHIGAN
- Martin's 24 top-10 finishes at Michigan are the most of any active driver.
- Martin has four wins at Michigan in the Cup car, the third most of any active driver.
- Martin has led 20 races at Michigan for a total of 795 laps.
- Martin has posted 13 top-five finishes in 36 races t Michigan.
- Martin has finished in the top 10 in four of his last six at Michigan.
- Martin has two wins in seven races in the Busch car at Michigan.
QUOTING MARK MARTIN AND CREW CHIEF PAT TRYSON
Mark Martin on Michigan:
"We are excited about going to Michigan. Michigan is a track where if you have a good car, you can pass some people. We are taking the Indy/Chicago car and it's been really strong in those races, so we are pretty excited about seeing what we can do at Michigan this week. We were strong there last time, but had a problem on the first lap of the race and had to ride around all day several laps down. Hopefully this weekend we can get the finish we were hoping for last time. This team continue to amaze me. We've had so much go wrong, and yet they just keep coming back. I don't care what the points say, this is a top-five team we have here and we run that way every week to show it. It's silly that we are even talking about he top-10, because we should be up a lot higher than that, but well just keep fighting and see what happens. No matter what I love this team and I really appreciate their effort."
Crew Chief Pat Tryson on Michigan:
"I can't wait. We've been really strong over the last four or five races and we are taking our fastest car this weekend to Michigan. Mark loves that track and if we can get the bad luck behind us, we should come out of there with another strong finish."
Holy Downforce Batman!!!
Martin/Caped Crusader Look to Rack Up Wins at Michigan
Martin to Run Special Batman Paint Scheme in Both Busch and Cup Races at Michigan
Roush RacingCONCORD, N.C. (August 16, 2004) - Over the years Roush Racing's Mark Martin has made a name for himself thundering around NASCAR racetracks, racking up wins, poles and top 10's. Conversely the character of Batman has made a name for himself fighting crime in comic books, on the big screen and on television, most recently in Warner Brothers animated series The Justice League. The two will come together for the first time this weekend, as Martin teams up with the Caped Crusader for both the Nextel Cup and Busch races.
It is being deemed 'Superpowers meet horsepower' as Mark Martin and four of his Roush Racing teammates will team up with the Justice League in a special promotion being held over the race weekend at Michigan International Speedway. Martin will power the No. 6 Pfizer/Batman Ford in Sunday's Nextel Cup race, while hoping to take the No. 9 Pennzoil/Batman Ford to victory lane in his much awaited return to the Busch series on Saturday.
"I think it's an exciting deal," said Martin. "I was always a fan of the Batman character growing up and the funny thing is that over the years I've referred to some of my fastest race cars at "Batmobiles." Hopefully that will be the case in both races this weekend and we'll give both our fans and the Batman fans something to cheer about.
"I really like the special paint schemes," added Martin. "I think they are really cool looking cars and I think the fans will get a kick out of seeing them on the track.
Hopefully we'll be able to get some good shots of them in victory lane after the race."
Along with Martin, Roush Racing teammates Greg Biffle (Flash), Kurt Busch (Superman) and Carl Edwards (Green Lantern) will also participate in Sunday's race, along with Wood Brothers driver Ricky Rudd (Wonder Woman) and Ryan Newman (Justice League). Biffle (Flash) and Matt Kenseth (Martian Manhunter) will also take part in the Busch race with Martin on Saturday.
In addition, the characters of The Flash, who is deemed as the fastest man alive, Wonder Woman and the Green Lantern will all be on hand at the track to join in the festivities.
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich., based Roush Industries that operates nine motorsports teams; five in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, two in the NASCAR Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth and Biffle and two in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with drivers Jon Wood and Carl Edwards.
Martin Notches Third Place Finish at Watkins Glen
Mark Martin and the #6 Viagra® Racing Team
Watkins Glen International/August 15, 2004
Roush Racing
August 16, 2004Watkins Glen, N.Y. – Mark Martin showed off his mastery of road course racing, passing four cars in the final eight laps of the race to grab a third place finish in Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen International. Martin was running in 10th when the race went green for the final time with 16 laps to go. By lap 78 he had powered his way to eighth, before breaking into the top five with six to go. Martin drove his Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Ford past the No. 8 and No. 41 cars in the race’s final two laps to move up to third.
"This is sweet because the car got better as the race went on,” said Martin “We were just bound and determined to make the car good on the long run today, and those guys did it. Wally Brown and Pat Tryson and the whole team, great pit stops and a great effort today.
“Once you get up there you can run so much faster,” added Martin. “There at the end we were peeling 'em off pretty good, ripping off some good laps and getting around there pretty fast."
The finish was Martin’s 4th top-five of the season and his 9th top 10. It also marked his 12th top-five finish at Watkins Glen and his 15th top ten in 17 races. The run was a strong comeback from the cut tire in last week’s race at Indy that dropped Martin from 4th to 25th on the race’s final lap and it helped move Martin up two spots to 13th and back to within 72 points of the Nextel Cup top 10 with four races remaining in the chase for the top 10.
Fog and rain forced both practice and qualifying on Friday to be cancelled and Martin started 15th based on his ranking in the points. The team worked to get the car where they wanted during both of Saturday’s practice sessions and Martin was one of the strongest cars heading into Sunday’s race. Martin struggled with the car at the race’s start and was running in 16th position when the day’s first caution was issued on lap 15. The team opted to stay out while several other cars pitted and Martin was running in eighth position when the field went green.
Martin had moved up to seventh place by lap 28 when the team came into the pits under green for four tires, fuel, and an air pressure adjustment to offset a slightly loose car. Several of the cars were now running on different pit sequences and Martin came out of the pits in 25th place. Several of the cars pitted under caution on lap 31 and Martin moved up to 18th place when the field went green on lap 34.
By lap 40 Martin had moved his No. 6 Ford into 14th place, as he began picking off cars one by one. Caution was called for the fourth time of the day on lap 48 with Martin running just outside the top 10 in 11th position. Again on a different sequence, Pat Tryson and the No. 6 Viagra® Team opted to stay out while others pitted and Martin was running in sixth place when the field went green on lap 51.
Four laps later Martin broke into the field’s top-five for the first time of the day on lap 55. He pitted for the final time under green three laps later, taking four fresh tires and fuel. Martin came out of the pits in 21st position, as several of the car still needed to pit. By lap 62 Martin had moved back inside the top 15. He was running 11th when the day’s fifth and final caution was called on lap 72, with just 18 remaining.
Martin was in 10th place when the racing resumed on lap 74. The veteran would waste no time, meticulously passing cars each lap in route to the top-five finish. Martin moved into ninth place just three laps later on lap 77. One lap later he took over eighth place. With eight laps to go he was in seventh and honing in on a pack of four cars. Martin would use the remaining eight laps to pass the remaining cars, including a pass of the No. 41 car on the race’s final lap.
“I wish we would've started a little better, or had a little bit better fuel mileage,” added Martin. “But we overcame all those fuel-mileage guys there at the end, and it worked out real well for us. Pat Tryson is a genius.
"It was awfully tough back there where I started,” added Martin. “The guys were pretty wild and bouncing off of each other, and it took a while for us to start overtaking many of them. Then we got in reasonable shape, then the gas-mileage thing got in. We couldn't do what some of those guys could do. So, we had to go back into the middle of the pack and fight our way back. Getting that long green at the end was a really good thing. We had a car that would run really strong on the long run. We were fast. We were the fastest all day at the end, the last 20 laps, and that's where we made hay.”
“This is just a great race team,” added Martin. “I don’t care what the points say this is a top-five race team and we’ve proven that week in and week out. The thing that I am happy about is when I bolt down in my Viagra® Taurus on Sundays that thing can go. And, it's an honor and a privilege to be driving that stuff, and I'm so grateful for that. Beyond that, I can't help it. I can't keep the air in the tires, and can't keep the parts from breaking, so maybe all that stuff's behind us and we go out here and win some races.”
The team will return to action next week at Michigan International Speedway, where Martin has won on four occasions.
Martin brings expertise to Watkins Glen
fordracing.com
August 14, 2004ROAD COURSE SITE OF THREE CAREER WINS FOR FORD DRIVER
Watkins Glen, N.Y. — Mark Martin, driver of the No. 6 Viagra Taurus, has enjoyed tremendous success at Watkins Glen through the years, highlighted by three-consecutive wins from the pole in the mid-1990s (1993, '94 and '95). In 16 career starts at the 2.45-mile road course, he has 11 Top-5s, 14 Top-10s, and has been running at the finish in all 16 races. Additionally, he holds the career track record with 204 laps led. Martin heads into tomorrow's Sirius at the Glen in 15th place in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series standings, 123 points out of the Top 10.
"I've been real fortunate to have taken to road racing very, very quickly. It was very natural for me because I drove cars fast on hilly, curvy dirt roads before I had a driver's license. So, that was very natural to me. But, where I really got lucky was in the equipment that I got to drive, in the early '90s especially, which really made my road-racing career. Fantastic cars, prepared by Steve Hmiel and Robin Pemberton and my whole team. Jack Roush asking the right questions. He didn't tell us what to do to these cars to make them fast; he asked me the right questions and made me think about how the brakes were working and how they were distributed and how it worked the tires and different stuff like that. So, it was all of those things put together. The biggest thing is, though, great equipment will make a hero out of you, and poor equipment, even if you are a hero, you can't overcome poor equipment, so I've been real fortunate in that respect."
ROAD COURSES, OF COURSE, MEAN RIGHT-HAND TURNS, BUT ARE THE ELEVATION CHANGES AN ISSUE WHEN YOU RACE?
"It isn't at Sears Point, or at Watkins Glen, but we do some testing at Road Atlanta, and I get motion sickness running there because there's so much and the way it does it. I have never been there that I didn't get sick. I don't get that at these two race tracks. We go at least once a year and I get sick every time."
THERE ARE ELEVATION CHANGES HERE, CORRECT?
"Oh, absolutely, but it just doesn't make me sick. And, it's fun. But, for some reason, Road America makes me feel car sick."
IS THIS A TRACK THAT LENDS ITSELF TO PASSING? DO YOU NEED TO BE AT THE FRONT, OR CAN YOU GET TO THE FRONT IF YOU HAVE A DECENT CAR?
"You've got to have more than a decent car to drive to the front. It's got to be really exceptional, because everybody has good cars now. But there's a little bit of passing zones, and you've got to be really good to make it work. And, if you're out front and you don't have a great car, then you're probably not going to be able to stay there. So, it takes everything to get it done nowadays."
WHAT ABOUT PATIENCE HERE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU MISS A PASSING OPPORTUNITY?
"You know what I do here? I do the best I can. And that's what it is every time, all the time. Every lap, every corner, I give it my best. I try to think about what I'm doing, and try to maximize my prospects just like I do everywhere else."
Martin, No.6 Viagra® Racing Team Ready for Shot at Watkins Glen
Road course veteran Martin ready another shot at The Glen
Roush RacingCONCORD, N.C. (August 11, 2004) - Mark Martin and the Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Racing Team will be looking for their second victory of 2004 when the NASCAR circuit pays visit to Watkins Glen International for the second and final road course race of the season.
"I love road racing," said Martin. "I grew up learning how to drive and race on the winding, curvy dirt roads of Arkansas and road racing is a lot like that. The only difference is the roads are paved, the cars are a lot faster and the competition is a whole lot steeper. It kind of takes you back to your roots in racing and it's a good test of a driver," added Martin.
"We are taking the same car that we ran at Sonoma (8th place) and Watkins Glen last year (10th)," said Martin. "The car's been really fast in practice and qualifying, but we've struggled with it getting too tight during the race. We tested with the car at Road Atlanta a couple of weeks ago and hopefully we won't make the same mistake we made the last two times."
Martin has finished inside the top 10 in 14 of his 16 races at Watkins Glen - the most of any driver. In addition his 11 top-five finishes are the most of any driver. Martin has won three times at Watkins Glen ('93, '94, '95), with all three wins coming from the pole. The three wins are the second most in track history, and the 204 laps led at Watkins Glen by Martin are the most ever. In 16 races at The Glen, Martin has a 6.375 average finish, the highest of any driver.
In addition, Martin's 13 top-ten finishes at Sonoma, the series other road course, are the most of any driver. Over all Martin has 28 top-10 finishes in Cup road races, which is also the most of any active driver. His four wins on road courses are the ninth most and his four poles tie for the eighth most.
" I just enjoy the road courses," said Martin. "We've had a lot of success on those type of tracks. They are fun to race on and a lot is in the hand of the driver, so it's always a challenge."
"This team has been through a lot this year - including what happened last week with the tire on the last lap - but we are going to keep moving forward and fighting our way to the finish," said Martin. "We still have a lot of good runs left in us and perhaps another win or two. Nothing would be better than getting one this weekend at The Glen."
2004 Mark Martin Watkins Glen Track Notes - August 15, 2004
Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Roush Racing #6 Ford Taurus
Sirius at the Glen/Waltkins Glen International
Roush Racing
August 10, 2004DRIVER: Mark Martin
TEAM: No. (6) Viagra® Ford Taurus
OWNER: Jack Roush
CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson2003 WINNER: Robby Gordon
MARK MARTIN 200 EVENT: Started: 3rd Finished: 10th
The poor luck continued for Martin, but this time the No. 6 team was able to battle back for their second straight top-10 finish. An untimely caution on lap 52 allowed several cars to gain track position while dropping Martin all the way back to 30th place. However the veteran driver would fight to the end, breaking into the top-10 on the final lap, in a mad dash to the finish. Martin had one of, if not the fastest car all weekend at The Glen. His car was sixth fastest off the truck, he qualified third on Friday and by Saturday’s final practice Martin’s car was the strongest on the track. With nine laps to go Martin was running in 13th position. He moved into to 12th place on lap 83 and passed the No. 15 car for 11th place with just four laps to go, while continuing to battle for position. Martin would continue to fight for position, breaking back inside the top-10 on the race’s final lap.
MARTIN TAKES TO THE ROAD COURSE AT THE GLEN
Martin and the Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Team had one of the dominant cars in last week's Brickyard 400, only to fall victim to a flat tire on the last lap of the race. This week Martin and the team look to rebound with a strong run at Watkins Glen, in the season's second and final road course race.
THE CAR
Chassis Number: (RK-204) The team will run RK-204 at Watkins Glen this weekend. RK-204 is the same car that Martin ran earlier this year at Sonoma where it finished eighth. The car finished 10th last year at Watkins Glen and fared well earlier this month at test sessions at Road Atlanta.
DOMINANT AT THE GLEN
Martin is one of the most successful drivers in Watkins Glen history, having won three times from 1993-95. All three of Martin's wins at Watkins Glen came from the pole. All-in-all Martin has finished inside the top 10 in 14 of his 16 races at Watkins Glen and inside the top five 11 times.
ROAD COURSE MASTER MARTIN
Martin is one of the most accomplished road course racers on the Nextel Circuit. Martin's four wins at road courses are the ninth most all time and his four poles are the eighth most. Martin's 29 top-10 finishes on road courses are the most of any active driver.
MARK MARTIN FAST FACTS - WATKINS GLEN
- Martin has finished in the top 10 in 14 of his 16 races at The Glen, the most of any active driver.
- Martin has finished in the top-five or better in 11 of his 16 races at The Glen, the most of any driver.
- Martin's three poles are the most of any active driver at Watkins Glen. Martin is one of only three drivers with multiple poles at the Glen.
- Martin won from the pole three straight races at the Glen from '93 to '95.
- Martin's three wins at the Glen are the second most in the track's history.
- Martin has led 204 laps at Watkins Glen more than any other driver.
- Martin set a track record in the '95 win at the Glen, running 220.5 miles on the 2.4-mile track in 2 hours, 11 minutes and 54 seconds (100.303 mph).
- Martin has a 6.375 average finish in 16 career races at The Glen, the best of all drivers with three or more races there.
- Martin's 28 modern era top-10 finishes in road course races leads all active drivers.
- Martin's four win at road courses tie for the ninth most in NASCAR history and his four poles tie for the eighth most.
MARK MARTIN AND CREW CHIEF PAT TRYSON QUOTES ON WATKINS GLEN
Mark Martin:
"I grew up racing on the dirt roads of Arkansas, and I've always enjoyed road course racing because it's a lot like that. It's a challenge for a driver and it's a lot different from what we do the rest of the year, but it can be a lot of fun as well. We've had a lot of success on the road courses, especially Watkins Glen and I always look forward to going back there each year. We tried to test at Watkins Glen but were rained out, but we were able to get a test at Road Atlanta a couple of weeks ago, and we are excited about what we have going into this weekend. We had a tough blow to us last week with the tire going down on the last lap, but all we can do is rebound and keep moving forward. We'll have that chance this week at Watkins Glen."
Crew Chief Pat Tryson:
"We are taking the same car that we used at Sonoma and we are hoping that we can get another strong run at Watkins Glen this weekend. Mark's an excellent road course racer and if we can give him a good enough car, there is no doubt he can take it to victory lane. We've been through a lot this year, but this race team has a lot of racing left in it."
Martin, No.6 Viagra Team Suffer Brickyard Heartbreak
Mark Martin and the #6 Viagra® Racing Team
Indianapolis Motor Speedway/August 8, 2004
Roush Racing
August 9, 2004Indianapolis, Indiana – Mark Martin and the Viagra® Team (sildenafil citrate) suffered yet another dose of heartbreak when the left front tire of Martin’s Viagra® Ford blew out going into turn one of the last lap in Sunday’s Brickyard 400. The blown tire put an end to what moments before had looked to be a sure top-five finish and relegated Martin, who had been one of the fastest cars in the race, to a 25th-place finish.
Martin had battled his way through the field on two separate occasions, first when he hit the wall during the race’s early laps and again after a blown tire under caution 30 laps into the race. Martin had run in the field’s top six for the previous 68 laps of the race, before blowing the tire on the final lap of NASCAR’s newly instituted green-white-checkered rule.
"The left-front went flat,” said Martin. “Evidently, that was sort of a tire problem today. A number of people had that and that was our second one.
"We ran good today, but, unfortunately, things set us back,” added Martin. “I'm awfully proud of this team and it's an honor to drive for all these guys. They put their hearts in this stuff and they give me some great racecars, especially today and last week - every week. We just had a little bad luck."
The weekend had been an up and down affair from the start. The team was fast in Friday’s practice session, but Martin got sideways going into turn one of his qualifying lap and had to settle for a 16th-place starting slot. The team was confident heading into the race, with Martin turning some of the fastest times in both of Saturday’s practice session.
However, the car’s handling was off to start the race and Martin brushed the wall causing light damage to the right side. With Martin unable to get a handle on the car, he quickly fell to 27th place where he was running when the day’s first caution was called on lap four. In a series of three stops, the team came into the pits for four new tires and to repair the damage to the car’s side.
Martin returned to the field in 40th place, but the new set of tires cured what was ailing the car, and the No. 6 Viagra® Ford was a rocket when the returned to the field. Martin had moved all the way to 23rd position when the day’s second caution was called on lap 23. In an effort to gain back much needed track position, the team used the opportunity to take two tires and fuel and Martin was running in fifth place when the field went green on lap 26.
Caution was called again for the third time just four laps later. While riding around under caution, Martin’s left front tire went flat, and he was forced to bring the Viagra® Ford down pit road just as the field was going green on lap 32. The flat tire would again drop Martin back to 40th place, running half of a lap down.
The day’s fourth caution on lap 42 allowed Martin to catch up with the field. The team came into the pits for four tires and fuel with a quick stop of 13.389 seconds, which helped move Martin up to 32nd place when the field went green on lap 48.
Martin wasted little time powering his way through the field and by lap 66 he had moved his Ford back inside the top 20 in 19th position. The team took four tires under caution on lap 67 and returned to the field in 22nd place. By lap 85 Martin had made his way into 12th place where he was running when the day’s sixth caution was called on lap 87. The team again opted for two tires only and the strategy moved Martin up to sixth place when the field went green on lap 92. Martin would not run outside of the field’s top-six again until the final lap of the race when he lost his second left front tire of the race.
A 13.63-second stop to take on four tires and fuel under caution on lap 125 moved Martin back inside the top five to fourth place. Martin struggled on the restart and lost three positions back to seventh, before regrouping. By lap 141 he had moved into fifth place. After another caution on lap 143, Martin was running in fourth place when the field went green on lap 148.
Martin was reeling in the second and third place cars and gaining valuable time on race leader Jeff Gordon when the day’s ninth caution was issued on lap 152 with only eight laps remaining. The late caution prompted the first use of NASCAR’s green-white-checkered rule, as the field went green in a three-lap shootout. Martin quickly pulled out to a two-car lead on fifth place and looked poised to score his second straight top-five run, when he began to lose the tire going into turn one. He was able to get the car around the track, but would finish as the last car on the lead lap and in 25th place position.
“I just wanted to have a chance and we did,” said Martin. “It was a great effort by the Viagra team and we ran awfully good. Things just didn't go our way today."
The finish dropped Martin to 15th in the Nextel Cup point standings, 123 points out of 10th place.
The team will return to action next week at Watkins Glen for the second and final road course race of the season.
Rejuvinated Martin ready to take shot at Brickyard
The Motor Sports Forum
August 3, 2004Fresh off a second-place finish at Pocono, the Viagra (sildenafil citrate) Racing Team is in striking distance of 10th place and zoned in on the next challenge, Indianapolis.
Concord, N.C. (August 3, 2004) - Mark Martin and the Viagra (sildenafil citrate) Racing team were in the process of closing out one of their strongest runs in recent memory as the laps wound down at Chicagoland Speedway last month. Driving one of his fastest cars in recent memory Martin had made his way through the field with ease on a couple of occasions and the veteran was closing in on second place with hopes of chasing down the leader with only three laps remaining when the No. 6 Ford lost its engine. Martin was forced to settle for a disappointing 24th place finish.
"Chicago was a real heartbreaker," said Martin. "We ran so well and the car just couldn't have been much better. We had a couple of mistakes that put us in the back, but we were able to just move through the field with ease. It hurt not to get the finish we were looking for, but you just have to move on. I thought, you know what forget the points thing, we just need to go win the Brickyard."
So Martin and the team replaced the sting with ambition.
"After Chicago I just told these guys, 'don't worry about it. No sweat. Let's just go win the Brickyard and that will make our reason. We've visited the garage about seven times this year during the races and all with disastrous finishes. We have a fast car and a fast race team. It's happened way to many times this year. Our heart was broken in Chicago, but we are over it now and we are all geared up to go and get them this week at Indy."
Martin knows his is a lofty goal and one that will not come easy.
"I never wish for something that is slightly out of reach, but with the car I ran so well with a Chicago, it's a realistic goal. It's the biggest trophy, the biggest check and hopefully the biggest thumbs up from our sponsor that might be disappointed with our bad luck this year.
"I know there are no guarantees, but I want to hand everyone a great effort, because we've had that this year. It's been a spectacular effort from our team this year. Now there have been a lot of days that we didn't get the kind of results that I feel like this team has earned, but we can't do anything about that now. All we can do is attack the future. The problems we've had have not been foreseeable and it wasn't things where we shot ourselves in the foot, we've just had bad luck. But still, we've ran up front in a lot of races and nothing can take that away from Pat (Tryson) and Wally (Brown) and all the guys on this Viagra Team."
Martin and the team tested at Indianapolis the day after the Chicago race, using the same car, RK-231, that was so successful at Chicago.
"We didn't dominate the test, but we were in the top three or four there," said Martin. "You can win from there. Now there was another test so even if there was another five good cars not there, that still puts us in the top eight or so. I think we have a top-eight car going into Indy. It's just up to what we do and circumstance, but we have a shot and that's all I've ever asked for in racing. I know that we will not go there and dominate, but we didn't dominate at Dover either, but nobody could run with us at the end. We'll just go there and see what happens, but no matter what it's exciting for this team to be able to talk about running up front and being competitive week-in and week-out."
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich. based Roush Industries that operates nine motor sports teams; five in NASCAR Nextel Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle, two in the Busch Series with Martin, Burton, Kenseth and Biffle and two in the Craftsman Truck Series with drivers Jon Wood and Carl Edwards.
2004 Mark Martin Brickyard Track Notes - August 8, 2004
Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Roush Racing #6 Ford Taurus
Brickyard 400 / Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Roush Racing
August 3, 2004DRIVER: Mark Martin
TEAM: No. (6) Viagra® Ford Taurus
OWNER: Jack Roush
CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson2003 WINNER: Kevin Harvick
MARK MARTIN 2003 EVENT: Started: 25th Finished: 9th:
Martin steadily worked his way through the field , battling to a ninth-place finish in the 10th annual running of the famed event. Martin broke into the top 10 for the final time on lap 129 and remained there for the final 31 laps of the race. The team qualified 25th on Friday, but Martin’s car was among the field’s fastest during both of Saturday’s practice sessions. The car remained among the fastest when the green flag dropped on the race and Martin had worked his way into the top 20 by lap nine. A poor qualifying draw on Saturday hurt the team’s effort, but Martin was running some of the fastest times on the track by happy hour on Saturday. The effort carried over into the race on Sunday, as Martin was the fastest car on the track at one point during the race.
THE CAR
Chassis Number: (RK-231) - The team will run RK-231 at Indy. It's the same car that rocketed through the field last month in Chicago before losing an engine with three laps to go running in third place. The car also ran fifth earlier this year at Las Vegas. It was running seventh at the June Pocono race as well, before losing an engine just past the half-way point.
MARTIN AT THE BRICKYARD
Martin finished inside the top 10 in seven of the 10 runnings of the Brickyard 400, including a ninth-place run last season. Martin's success at the Brickyard has been either hot or cold. He finished 35th after getting caught up in an accident in the inaugural running, before reeling off five straight top-six runs from '95-99. The streak ended the next year after an accident on only the 15th lap relegated Martin to a 43rd place finish. Martin finished 22nd the following year after getting caught up in yet another accident. He led the 2002 Brickyard 400 with only 46 laps to go, before dropping a cylinder late in the race and having to settle for a 28th place finish. Martin has qualified 10th or better in five of the 10 races at Indianapolis as well.
MAKING UP GROUND
Martin and the Viagra Racing Team have compiled the seventh best performance over the past six races, despite having major failures at Chicago and Michigan. Martin has one top five and three top 10's in the past six races, that have helped him move from 205 points outside of the top 10 to 89.
MARK MARTIN FAST FACTS
- Martin has finished inside the top 10 in seven of the 10 races at Indy and inside the top six in five of the 10.
- Martin has finished top five in four of the 10 races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
- Martin has won three IROC races at Indy ('98, 99 and 2000).
- Martin has scored top 10 finishes in three of his last five races.
QUOTING MARK MARTIN AND CREW CHIEF PAT TRYSON
Mark Martin on Indianapolis:
"We need to go and win the Brickyard. Now I don't usually say things like that, but with all the heartbreak that we've had this year and with everything we've gone through, winning the Brickyard is all that matters to me and my race team right now. If we do that, then we can talk about this points thing, but with all we've been through this year winning the Brickyard is the type of thing that could make our season. It's hard to single out one race and go after it, but you know after we had a really big heartbreak at Charlotte, the guys said 'hey, lets just go win Dover, and we did it. So after what happened at Chicago, we just kind of looked to the Brickyard and we are going to go for it this weekend. Chicago was a huge heartbreak, but we are over it and all geared up to go get them at Indy.
"Really with all that has happened to be only 89 points out of 10th with a shot is a miricle. We've had so many major failures that have really killed us, but it’s a testimate to Pat (Tryson) and Wally (Brown) and the guys that work on the No. 6 car that we are in the position that we are in. We've been to the garage a bunch of times this year and it's been hard. Chicago was a huge heartbreak, but we are over it and all geared up to go get them at Indy."
Crew Chief Pat Tryson on Indianapolis:
“I'm excited about this weekend. This is our number one car. It ran really well at Chicago and we were very happy with it at the Indy test a few weeks ago. The team is really pumped up after the run we had last week at Pocono and we really want to continue that with a strong run at Indy this weekend. We've been through a lot this year and nothing would make me happier than a win at the Brickyard 400. We have the car that can do it, the team that can do it and we definately have the driver that can do it, so I personally can't wait to get on the track this weekend."
Martin Runs to Second-Place Finish at Pocono
Mark Martin and the #6 Viagra® Racing Team
Pocono Raceway/August 1, 2004
Roush Racing
August 2, 2004Long Pond, Pa. – Mark Martin used his sixth-career second-place finish at Pocono Raceway to move to within 89 points of tenth place in the Nextel Cup point race. Martin had one of the fastest cars all day, running in the field’s top two for the final 75 laps of the race, including 10 laps led along the way. The finish is Martin’s third top five of the season and his eighth top 10.
"That's nearly as good as a win,” said Martin. “I tell you what, this Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) team had this Taurus working today. I just couldn't run with the No. 48, but, boy, we had a time with the rest of them. I had a great power plant with Ford under the hood. It was an awesome car. Pat Tryson, Wally Brown and these guys are just incredible. I just want to thank everybody that supports us.
“I've sure got a great race team and I just appreciate their effort,” added Martin. “This is what I've wanted to do all my life is contend for these races and I feel like a kid again to be able to get out there and do it in these cars. I'm happy. I don't know about the points. I'm not worried about it. I don’t even know if we can get there, but, heck, if we can go win some races. I want to win the Brickyard next week. If we do that, maybe we'll get there. Ask me after next week and I might know a little more.”
Scattered showers and heavy fog vastly limited the team’s time on the track during the weekend, as the team’s had only one hour of practice on Friday and both practice sessions on Saturday were cancelled. Martin had an early draw in Friday’s rain-delayed qualifying that proved detrimental, as cooler temperatures later in the day allowed several cars to pick up their times and Martin was forced to settle for a 21st place starting position.
However Martin wasted little time on Sunday establishing himself as one of the fastest players in the game, powering the Viagra® Ford inside the top 10 by lap 21. By lap 30 Martin was running in seventh position and turning the fastest lap times on the track. The team came into the pits one lap later to take four tires and fuel. The Viagra® over-the-wall crew, who had a fantastic day in the pits, turned in a 13.612-second stop and once the field had cycled through Martin was running in seventh position.
The day’s first caution was issued on lap 50 and the team used the opportunity to come into the pits for four tires, fuel and a track-bar adjustment. A 14.25-second stop helped Martin gain a position and the veteran was running in sixth position when the field went green on lap 55. The car began to get ‘really’ loose during the run and when caution was issued again on lap 89, the team came down pit road for additional adjustments.
The team turned in a 13.79-second stop to take fuel, four tires and to go an additional two rounds down on the left rear track bar. Martin returned to the field inside the top five for the first time of the day as the field went back to racing on lap 87. Caution was called again just before the halfway mark, with Martin running in sixth position. In yet another lightening fast stop, the team took on four tires and fuel in 13.5-seconds, but several cars behind Martin opted for gas only, placing the Viagra? Ford in 16th place.
The Taurus did not perform as well in the heavy traffic of the mid pack and Martin struggled on the restart. However by lap 118 Martin had moved the car back inside the field’s top 10 where he was running when the day’s fifth caution was called on lap 121. In order to attain better track position, the team took two tires and fuel only in a 6.52-second stop that put Martin out in fourth place when green flag action resumed on lap 123.
Martin quickly moved his black and blue Viagra® Ford into second place before caution was called again on lap 125. Martin took the lead under caution on lap 129, earning five bonus points on the day. The field returned to green on lap 133 with Martin in the lead, followed by the No. 48 car of Jimmie Johnson, who had been the dominate car most of the day. Conserving fuel, Martin was able to hold off Johnson for several laps, before eventually surrendering the lead on lap 139.
While being close to being able to finish the race on fuel with only one more stop, Martin was able to conserve valuable fuel, while holding onto second place until the day’s seventh caution was issued on lap 160. With the pressure on, the Viagra? Racing Team held serve with its fastest stop of the day, a 13.374-second stop to take on four tires and enough fuel to make it to end of the race.
Martin was able to hold off all challengers for the remaining 20 laps of the race for the second-place finish. A late caution with just over five laps remaining would give Martin one more shot at the No. 48, but Johnson was just too fast on this day. Martin however was able to fend off the No. 9 car for the last two laps to hold onto the second-place finish, his sixth second-place finish in 36 races Pocono Raceway.
The finish marked the third time in the last three years that Martin has finished one of the Pocono races in second position. It was also Martin’s record 17th top-five finish at Pocono and his 25th top-10 at the track.
The strong run also helped move Martin back to within striking distance of the coveted Nextel Cup top-10.
In typical fashion, Martin had his mind on the next race – the famed Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway – before he even left the track at Pocono on Sunday.
“We need to go win the Brickyard,” said Martin. “You all know I don't say stuff like that very often. If we do that, then you all come and ask me if we can get to the top 10, but let's don't dwell on that right now because really all that matters to me and my team right now is winning the Brickyard.
“That would make up for all the heartbreak that we've experienced this year. That would make a season. It's very difficult to single out one race and go get it, but, you know, my guys after a heartbreak at Charlotte said, 'We've just got to go win Dover.' I thought under my breath, 'Yeah, right.' And we did.”
Martin and the No. 6 Viagra® Team will get that chance again next Sunday at Indianapolis.
