Leader of the Pack - Tryson Excited about Upcoming Season
Q and A with Viagra Racing Team Crew Chief Pat Tryson
Roush RacingCONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 27, 2003) - Viagra (sildenafil citrate) Racing Team crew chief Pat Tryson will embark on his first full season calling the shots for the No. 6 team when the 2004 season gets under way in just a couple of weeks in Daytona. Tryson's plate has been full over the last couple of months with assembling his team, a busy testing schedule and the preparations of numerous racecars. Tryson is excited about the task at hand and looks forward to helping Mark Martin and the No. 6 team move up front.
GETTING READY FOR 2004
"It's been really busy. We've done a lot of testing and there's been a lot of preparation. We've tested at Daytona and Lakeland. We are going to Vegas and then after that it's hard to believe but it's already time for Daytona again. So it never really ends.
"On top of all that, we've assembled a team and put it together, while continuing to build cars at the same time. So it's been busy; busy, but exciting. We are all really looking forward to racing in February. Personally, I'm very excited about this season. This team is excited and Mark is excited. It will be here soon, and I'm confident we'll be ready."
ON THE STATE OF THE TEAM
"We had a good Daytona test. We weren't the fastest car there, but we felt really good about the stuff that we did and the stuff that we learned, and we were really happy with the car in race trim.
"The guys are all really working together towards a common goal and that goal is to win races. The road crew is working together to get there and the shop team has done a tremendous job. We went down to Lakeland a couple of weeks ago for a testing session and tried a bunch of stuff just to help get familiar with Mark and the kind of stuff he likes and doesn't like. We ran through a bunch of different things and tried to get a better basis for the Vegas test coming up. We have some really good ideas on what to try. Hopefully we can make some big gains in the next few weeks."
WHAT'S GOING ON IN 2004
"There's still a little bit of an adjustment going on with the consolidation of the No. 6, 16 and 99 shops. The guys are figuring out where everyone fits in and what everyone's role is. Still, it's going to be a really good deal before it's all said and done and we are excited about that.
"The new nose and tail on the Ford Taurus will probably make a bigger difference at the Superspeedways than the downforce tracks, but I think it's going to be a little better for us everywhere, and that with the new motor package is going to be a big plus for us in 2004."
ON COMING TOGETHER AS A TEAM
"We spent half of a day with Mark on the first day at Daytona and went and visited his shop. On the last day we all went over and watched Matt (Martin) run his truck. Everyone is just getting familiar with everyone else, so it's good to have those moments to bond. They are all starting to joke around and bond a little bit. If you are going to be together all the time, you might as well have a little fun and have as much of a relaxed atmosphere as possible. We want to win races, and we want this deal to be fun at the same time."
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich., based Roush Industries that operates nine motorsports teams; five in NASCAR Winston 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.
Martin to Make Busch Series Return at Daytona
All-time victory leader Martin is scheduled to run three Busch races in 2004
Roush RacingCONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 27, 2003) - Roush Racing's Mark Martin made a name for himself in the Busch series, taking a series record 45 checkered-flags from 1987 until he retired from the series in 2000. All in all Martin ran 199 races during that span, collecting 126 top 10 and 96 top-five finishes. During that period Martin one 23 percent of all the Busch races he entered and finished inside the top 10 sixty-four percent of the time.
Martin is set to make his return to the series at Daytona, when he makes his 201st Busch Series start at the Hershey's Kisses 300 at Daytona International Speedway at the helm of the No. 9 Pennzoil Ford Taurus. Martin's return is part of a nine-race package that will feature Martin as well as Roush teammates Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth. In addition to Daytona, Martin will drive the No. 9 Pennzoil car in the Busch races at Michigan in August and at Richmond's fall race, while Burton will be behind the wheel at Texas, Chicago and Phoenix. In addition Kenseth will power the car at Las Vegas, Kansas City and the fall Darlington race. Tony Liberati will serve as the crew chief for the team.
"I'm excited about returning to the series," said Martin. "I'm excited about getting the honor of doing the maiden voyage in the No. 9 Pennzoil car for Roush and Pennzoil in the Busch series. The car looks great, the colors look great on the car and I think it's going to be something that the fans are really going to enjoy.
"We had a great test at Daytona in the car," added Martin. "We really have a good race team there and a good car for the race. We had some real competitive times down there (at Daytona) and hopefully between now and then we can improve on some of our pieces and parts and hardware and go down there and be even better.
"There is no doubt that with the aero-package they have in the Busch Series that drafting is going to be pretty easy. The cars are going to make a big hole, it will make for a big draft and it will make the drafting easier and better. That will be a good thing and I'm really looking forward to getting back in a Busch race.
"We had a lot of success in that series before and hopefully we can pick up right were we left off. I'm looking forward to going back to Speedweeks for a lot of reasons and getting a chance to compete in the Busch race with the Pennzoil Team is one of the reasons."
Martin has raced in 11 Busch races at Daytona, taking home six top 10's and three top-five finishes. Martin's last race in the Busch Series came on Nov. 11 of 2000, a second-place finish at Homestead. Martin finished 39th in his last Busch race at Daytona in 1999, after getting involved in an early accident, but he finished third there the in 1998.
Q&A With Mark Martin
fordracing.comMARK MARTIN - No. 6 Viagra Taurus
DO YOU THINK THE FINAL 10 RACES SHOULD HAVE ALL KINDS OF RACING REPRESENTED?
"I don't think that's important really. I really don't. I think it's more important to create a stir and an atmosphere. I think it's more about entertainment than it is whether or not you need to have a road race or a restrictor plate race. To me, that's not at the top of the list. NASCAR is trying to make it more exciting and dramatic for the fans and I don't think it matters what size or shape the race tracks are nearly as much as if they can create that excitement."
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT RACE AT RICHMOND WILL BE LIKE?
"I think Richmond will be a little bit different, but I don't think it will have to do with it being the deciding race. That's one of a multitude of races. You can't say one race makes or breaks anything. It doesn't. In the old days, they wanted to act like the last race was everything. The last race was nothing. The last race could have been the first race as far as the results go. It didn't matter in that way. The change in Richmond will be that it's new pavement. Yes, it will probably be a different race, but it won't be based on the point standings or setup."
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE POINTS CHANGE?
"I haven't changed the way I feel about it, I just realize that it doesn't matter how I feel. What's important is to go and race the system and try to take advantage of it. It's a waste of time for us to concern ourselves about what we do or don't like about it. What we need to do is figure out how we can win."
DO YOU HAVE OPTIMISM FOR THIS SEASON?
"We have a lot to look forward to with the Viagra team. We have better cars, a new Taurus and the Ford power is gonna be awesome. Everything seems really good right now with Pat Tryson and my crew. They're fresh and excited and we have a lot to look forward to. There are no guarantees on these results, so we'll have to see how that all plays out."
MATT WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP. DOES THAT GIVE YOU GUYS A LIFT THAT IT CAN HAPPEN?
"I don't think so. I'm happy for Robbie Reiser and Matt Kenseth and especially happy for Jack Roush, but that doesn't score points for us. We have to go and get the job done and it comes down to how potent our race team can be, how good the stuff that I drive is and how much luck we have on the race track."
THIS IS ONE RACE YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET ISN'T IT?
"Obviously, yeah but all races are that way. I have never really put this race above any other race. You try to win them all and if you don't, you're a fool. We put every effort into this one and as soon as this one is over, we'll put every effort we have into the next one. That's how we do it week in and week out. I'd love to win this thing. It's a big trophy and a big check. It's something you could remember forever, but if you don't, you did your best and there's no use in crying about it."
WHAT DO YOU DO TO GET READY FOR THE SEASON?
"I don't know what the other guys do. I do the same thing I do every year all through the season. I train physically the same as I do when I'm racing and we work all the time. Getting ready to take care of our sponsors and take care of our team and getting all the pieces of the puzzle in order. That's what we do every year."
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO GET TIME IN THE CAR DURING THE OFF SEASON?
"That's not important at all. What's important is when you climb in that car how good is it? So therefore, it is sometimes important to get some track time to find out how things are working that you've been working on for the last eight weeks. Sometimes you work on stuff that really produces great results and sometimes you work on things that don't produce such great results and you need to find that out in January. But practice, I need no practice. I need a fast race car. Give me a fast race car and no practice and we'll have no problem. Give me all the practice in the world and a slow car and we've got problems."
HOW LITTLE CAN THE CHANGE BE TO TURN THINGS AROUND?
"Very small. We've only had some real small changes within our team other than Pat Tryson. I love working with him. I'm excited about it. The other small changes we've had in our team really have made big differences. I see great pit stop practice, a great feeling of how everybody is excited and charged up for the season. We have better race cars than we had last year, better engines and right now our pit stops are better. That may not be enough because everybody else may have better stuff, too. We've made gains, but we have to put it out on the race track to find out how it really stacks up."
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES THIS YEAR.
"It is a bigger change year than most and anytime there's change that means there is opportunity. There is opportunity to either do better or do worse, so I like it when there's opportunity - when there are new race tracks or changes within the rules because it's your opportunity to excel beyond the competition, but it's also an opportunity for you to fall behind, too."
Martin to Run Oscar Mayer/Team Kraft Ford Taurus in Shootout
Martin to start record 16th straight Budweiser Shootout
Roush RacingCONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 20, 2004) - For the third year in a row Roush Racing's Mark Martin will run a special Kraft Foods paint scheme in the Budweiser Shootout. Martin will make a record 16th straight start in the all-star event. For the second straight year, the Shootout is slated as a night race and will be run on the evening of Feb. 7, 2003.
"The shootout is always a fun event," said Martin. "We'll be driving the Oscar Mayer/Team Kraft car again this year and it's always fun for the fans to run different paint schemes and stuff.
"As for the race you just never know in the Shootout. Basically you go out and look to win an event like the Shootout. Last year we gambled a bit to get up front and in the end it didn't pay off. But the bottom line is that second place is no better than 17 or 18 in the Shootout, so it's not uncommon to see teams go for it all. This year we are going to go out and try and win it again like we did in '99. Hopefully we can have those type of results. You just never know in that race."
Martin, who has 41 career Nextel Cup poles, did not capture a pole in 2003, but will start his 17th Shootout on a past champions provisional via his 1999 victory in the all-star event.
Martin made his first start in the Budweiser Shootout on Jan. 2, 1982, after winning his first pole in only his third career start on July 11, 1981 at Nashville International Raceway. In fact, Martin captured two poles in 1981, despite running only five races. Martin would go on to finish eighth in the 1982 Shootout.
He would not compete in the event again until 1989, but the veteran driver has not missed the event since. Last season, Martin finished 17th in the event, after the late gamble failed to pay off for the No. 6 Kraft car. He finished 12th two years ago and eighth in 2001.
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich., based Roush Industries that operates nine motorsports teams; five in NASCAR Winston 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.
Matt Martin Wins Fastruck at Auburndale
Roush Racing
January 19, 2004While it's still technically the off-season for NASCAR drivers, Roush Racing's Mark Martin spent this past weekend in a familiar environment, the racetrack. However, this time Martin was powering his Roush Racing No. 6 Ford around an oval. Instead he was there watching his son Matt race for the first time in the Fast Kids series.
A chip off the old block, the younger Martin did not disappoint in his debut, as he swept the pole and the main event in his No. 66 Gatorade Ford F-150 at Auburndale Speedway on Saturday, Jan. 17.
Although Matt won both the pole position and the race, it wasn't as easy as it sounds.
" Matt's Ford F-150 was a rocketship in practice," said proud dad Mark Martin. "But in qualifying, he overdrove it a little bit on cold tires and got loose coming off turn four.
"He stayed in the gas though, and got into the wall a couple of times. He still stayed in the gas even after hitting the wall, and ended up winning the pole. His truck was up against the wall and had to be towed in with a wrecker. But he won that pole!"
The wall-brushing incident required some quick work by Matt's pit crew, as they straightened up the body, and replaced a lower ball joint and shock before race time.
Matt started from the pole in the 25-lap race on the fast quarter-mile oval, against a competitive field of Fast Kids drivers who are all older than him. (The 15-year-old driver on the outside pole drove in the Fastruck series last year -- competing against adults, and even posted a win against them.)
"Matt got beat going into the first corner and ran the first 15 laps in second place," said Mark Martin. "After he got comfortable in the truck, he re-passed the other driver and took the lead back."
Matt led the rest of the way in the race, and even held off the competition during a crucial restart with four laps to go.
But even after the race was over, the fireworks weren't. When Matt drove to the finish line for winner's circle photos, a grease fire broke out in the right-front wheel well. (The brakes had gotten hot during the race, and grease on the hub started the fire.) It was quickly extinguished though, and the celebration continued.
"I'm really proud of Matt," Mark said. "It was an unbelievable debut in the truck, against some really tough competition. Matt drove a heck of a race and made a great pass to retake the lead. It was a great night at Auburndale!"
Auburndale Speedway is a 1/4-mile paved track, with 12-degree banked corners. It is located between Tampa and Orlando.
The Fast Kids series is open to drivers age 12 to 16, and is part of the Fastruck program. Matt and his fellow Fastruck drivers will be competing throughout the state of Florida in 2004. The Fast Kids participants are scheduled to race at Auburndale again on Saturday, Jan. 31.
Matt's Ford F-150 Fastruck entry is sponsored by major sponsors Gatorade and Ford.
His associate sponsors are AFCO Springs & Shocks, Aero Wheels, JR's Garage, R&E Electronics and Mac Tools. A big thanks also to artist Sam Bass, for designing the paint scheme on Matt's F-150. Bass has provided the design for each of the race cars Matt has driven in his young career.
A little info on Matt Martin in the article below: Racing night belongs to Martin
By Daniel Prekopa
January 18, 2004AUBURNDALE- In his first race in a full-sized truck, 12-year-old Matt Martin saw his day start out not so well.
In his qualifying lap on Saturday at the Auburndale Speedway, Matt lost control on turn four and brushed the wall. But his truck was repaired, and with his father, NASCAR star Mark Martin spotting for him, Matt took the lead on lap 13 of 25 and never looked back to win the first Fastkids race in the ASA Fastruck Spartan Staffing and Workforce Winter Heat Series opener.
In the first Fastruck race of the series, James Wright III clearly had the fastest truck in the field as he shattered the lap record in qualifying and held a comfortable lead throughout the race.
But the night belonged to Matt Martin, who was able to build a comfortable lead over second-place finisher David Pollan until lap 21, when Dalton Zehr spun out, forcing a caution flag with just four laps left.
Matt Martin had a good restart and was able to hold off Pollan on the final four laps for the victory. Josh Crenshaw, the nephew of another NASCAR racer, Lakeland native Joe Nemechek, finished in third place.
"I was pretty nervous," Matt Martin said about going into his first truck race. "Then I got really nervous after I wrecked the truck because I didn't know if it would be able to be repaired."
Because of his competition, which included Spencer Taylor, a three-time quarter midget champion, Matt Martin said he figured he would probably place second or third in the race, so he was pleased with the victory. He said the toughest part of the race was the restart near the end of the race.
"With four laps to go, I got really nervous," Matt said.
Mark Martin said the goal for his son, who has been racing other cars since the age of 7, was really to enjoy himself. "We're just out here having fun," Mark Martin said.
The elder Martin said with the growing interest by younger drivers into the sport, he likes the fact that the Fastkids series gives them an opportunity to race full-sized vehicles that are the safest in the sport. The same head-and-neck restraints used in NASCAR are mandatory in the Fastkids series.
"A lot of kids want to get into motorsports," Mark Martin said. "They're getting the opportunity to race younger now than we did 25 years ago."
Like Matt Martin, Crenshaw said his goal is to eventually race in NASCAR, like his uncle.
"He (Nemechek) said it was good that I'm getting there and will be able to move up in a couple of years," Crenshaw said.
Crenshaw also said the Auburndale Speedway was a good choice for the series.
"It's a good learning track," Crenshaw said.
The Fastruck race turned out to be not much of a contest as Wright was able to dominate from start to finish. Even with a couple of restarts, nobody was able to get near his No. 56 truck throughout the 35 laps of the race.
On lap 32, the only major wreck of the evening occurred when Marty Zehr slipped up going into turn two and slammed Danny Glover Jr. into the wall. Both drivers escaped the wreck without injury. The race finished under the caution flag.
2001 Fastruck champion James Glover finished second, followed by Pollan, who placed in both the Fastkids and Fastruck races, in third place.
Wright said after wrecking in the first race the last two years in the Fastruck series, it felt good to be able to get a win in the first race.
"I think it sets the series off real good," Wright said.
While he did have a fast truck, Wright said one of the keys to the win on Saturday was his familiarity with the Auburndale Speedway.
"This is my home track," Wright said. "I've raced here for 12 years now, so I know my way around the track pretty good."
Next week, the Fastsprints series will open at the Speedway, along with the Speedway's regular class races. The Fastruck and Fastkids racing will return on Jan. 31.
A little info on Matt Martin in the article below: ASA FastTruck event comes to A'dale Saturday
By Daniel Prekopa
polkonline.com
January 16, 2004AUBURNDALE- A new era of racing kicks off at the Auburndale Speedway on Saturday night with the ASA FastTruck Spartan Staffing and Workforce Winter Heat Series opener.
The opener features FastTrucks and FastKids races, along with all the regular class races at the Speedway.
The grandstands will open at 2 p.m. and the races will start at 4 p.m. Tickets for adults are $15, $13 for seniors and $5 for kids 7-12 years of age. Children under 7 are admitted for free.
The Winter Heat Series is endorsed by the American Speed Association (ASA) which is the second-largest stock car association.
The highlight of the evening will be the FastKids race, which features 12-16 year olds racing in full-sized Craftsman trucks.
Promoter Bob Deal said the FastKids race is filled with potential stars for racing's future and this is a unique chance to be able to see them at their star.
"Promoting to the next level is our motto," Deal said.
Among the drivers who will compete in the FastKids race are Matt Martin, son of NASCAR star Mark Martin who will be in attendance at the Speedway on Saturday, and John Crenshaw, son of George Crenshaw and nephew of NASCAR driver and Lakeland native Joe Nemechek.
Other kids drivers include Dalton Zehr and Amanda Gogal from Daytona and Spencer Taylor, who is a 3-time quarter midget champion. David Pollan, who is 15 years old will compete in both the FastKids and FastTruck races on Saturday night.
Among the racers competing in the truck race will be James Wright III, Jimmy Gill, Paul and Paulie Grywicz, James Glover and Danny Glover Jr. and Marty Zehr.
Another name to watch out for is Jimmy Gill, who set the FastTruck lap record at 15.11 seconds.
Deal said the FastTruck series is good for beginners because it is one of the safest forms of racing in the industry.
"If kids want to get in a safe, full-sized vehicle, FastTrucks is the place to start," Deal said.
Deal also said the Auburndale Speedway is the ideal place to have the races because of how tough and competitive the track is.
"Auburndale is the toughest short track in Florida," Deal said.
On the next Saturday, the series will premiere the FastSprints race, with 25-30 sprint cars competing in the race. The FastTrucks and FastKids races will return on Jan. 31. The big truck race in the Winter Heat Series will take place on March 27.
Also at the Speedway on Saturday night will be its regular class races including the sportsmans, street stocks, modified mini-stocks, regular mini-stocks and beginner scramblers.
Deal is encouraging race fans to come out and see some of the rising stars in racing.
"It will be worthwhile to catch the first one to happen, and these are the stars of tomorrow," Deal said.
Watching Over Things
Roush RacingShock Specialist Eddie Pardue set to take over spotting duties for No. 6 Viagra Racing Team
CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 13, 2004) - Radio transmissions will have a slightly different sound this season for the No. 6 Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Racing Team, as Eddie Pardue will take over the duty of helping guide veteran driver Mark Martin around the track on race days. Pardue, who is no stranger to the No. 6 team, will serve as Martin's spotter on race days, starting with Feb. 7th's Bud Shootout.
Pardue will be pulling double-duty at the track, as he also serves as the team's shock specialist, a position that he held last year as well.
"I'm really looking forward to it," said Pardue. "It's going to be a lot of fun and it's another way that I can help this team and that is what I'm here for. For me it's a chance to stay a lot more involved on race days and it's another way that I can contribute in addition to my duties with the shocks.
"This way, instead of just having a little to do on race day, I really get to stay involved with every lap."
Pardue is no stranger to the spotter's stand. In fact, he served as Chad Little's spotter in 2000 and spotted for Kurt Busch during the first 10 Winston Cup races of his career.
Pardue, a veteran of the racing circuit, got bitten by the racing bug at an early age and instantly became committed to making it his life's work.
"Really racing is all that I've ever done," said Pardue. "It seems like I've always been in racing. I started working at this little short track where I'm from in Virginia. A couple of years out of high school I was helping a guy take care of his late model stock cars. That was my full time job and I was his only paid employee. I worked with him for three years, before moving to Charlotte.
"I made the move here11 years ago to take that job and here I am. I stayed with Elton Sawyer for five years and then I got on with Roush for a couple of years. I went back to the Busch Series with Chad Little for a couple of years and then I came back to Roush with the No. 6 team last year."
Pardue will have his hands full at the track, not only lending a watchful eye from above on Sunday, but with his duties as shock specialist during the rest of the week. As shock specialist, Pardue works closely with crew chief Pat Tryson and team engineer Wally Brown as the three pool their advanced racing knowledge to help achieve the maximum blend of speed and handling on the track.
"I take care of the team's shocks," said Pardue. "There is a lot that goes into what shocks you use and how you build them, etc. Some tracks are rougher than others and that may require different pistons or something else.
"For a typical weekend I will have about 15 sets of shocks and they will all differ in various ways. You might try different compression and rebound rates. Some will have different pistons. You use different things for different situations. You don't always use everything for every weekend. You'll pretty much start with what you used in the past with a basic set up and go from there. We have spares built around what we think will work. I'll also have different sets where we might try different rebound or something.
"You want to have a lot of different stuff for all the different types of situations. I usually have enough sets built that we can try all kinds of things. It might be something that I think will work. A lot of times Wally (Brown - team engineer) will have input on some sets and Pat (Tryson) has input on almost all of that, but he may have me build a set that he we wants to try.
"In the end it's all about the same thing," added Pardue. "Trying to go out and win races. I'm happy for the opportunity to go out and help in any way that I can. As a team we are committed to being competitive on the track and winning races. If I can help that effort in my role as shock specialist then that's great. If I can help from the spotters stand then that is great too, but in the end it's all a team effort and it's all about every guy on this team doing what they can to help put us in the winner's circle. It's very competitive out there in Winston Cup and that's what it takes to be in the front."
This is also Pardue's second go-around with No. 6 crew chief Pat Tryson, who took over last season with only two races remaining, and Pardue has high praise for what Tryson brings to the team.
"It's working out really well having Pat here," said Pardue. "I've worked with Pat before for a short time on Johnny Benson's team, so this is my second time with Pat - it's like the old days. Pat's been around a long time and he knows the right things to do. He's a veteran and that is what he brings to the table - experience and there is no substitute for experience."
And speaking of experience, Pardue also sings high praises for veteran driver Mark Martin, who is set to make his 600th career Nextel Cup start in 2004.
"I really enjoy working with Mark," said Pardue. "He's possesses a great deal of knowledge. He's been around this for a very long time and he knows about a lot of things. He knows a lot about shocks and he's very good with the feel of a race car. He may say that he's not good with the feel of a racecar, but he's actually very good. He brings so much to the table because he knows so much about working with shocks and springs. To be honest he's really easy to work with and I enjoy every minute of it."
The No. 6 team has had a few changes in 2004, but Pardue said that he believes the changes are all positive and that he and the team are looking forward to getting started with the season.
"We have definitely had some changes, but from what I can tell from the first couple of tests, I think that the changes are going to be positive and everything is going to work out really well.
"The Daytona test went well," added Pardue. "We learned a lot. We didn't run as fast as we would have liked to, but we learned a lot down there and we'll keep working towards where we need to be."
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich., based Roush Industries that operates nine motorsports teams; five in NASCAR Winston 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.
Martin, No. 6 Team Optimistic After Test
Roush RacingDaytona Test just the first in a series for Martin, Viagra Racing Team in January
CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 9, 2004) - While most people spent the week settling into a new year, Mark Martin and a revamped No. 6 Viagra® Racing team - along with several other racing teams - spent the week at Daytona International Speedway, searching for the right blend of speed and power necessary to propel them to the front of the pack in next month's Daytona 500.
Martin and the team left the three-day session happy with what they had accomplished, but fully understanding there is plenty of work remaining before the 46th running of the historic Daytona 500 on Feb. 15. For Martin it will mark his 20th run at the Daytona 500, dating back to 1982.
"I guess I'm satisfied with the test," said Martin. "We have to make all of the runs we needed to test the configurations that we planned on testing and the car seems fine in the draft," he added. Martin moved up to the 10th overall speed as the afternoon session closed for the drafting session on the final day.
Martin ended the three-day session 13th overall with a top lap of 48.562, the second fastest lap posted by a Ford and the best among Roush drivers that included Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch.
"You have to get back into the rhythm," said Martin. "We started a little earlier this year and there is an adjustment there, but I'm excited to get started back. We have a lot of the same crew back this year, but we have some changes as well and I'm excited about that too.
"I can't wait to work with Pat (Tryson) for an entire season and see what we can do," added Martin. "We have a lot to do, but we have a lot of potential as well. There are some things to work out, but the sky is the limit on what this race team can accomplish, it's just up to us to make it happen. We have great opportunity, we just have to come together and make the most of the chances we have.
"I know that a lot has been made of the 'new' body and the new cylinder head for the Fords, but those changes are not going to be drastic enough to make that big of a difference. The real difference has to come from this team and the effort and what we are willing to put into it, in order to achieve the results that I believe we are capable of achieving. We have a lot of tools to work with, but it's just up to us to us those tools in the right way and I'm excited about that chance."
"I think it was a solid start," added crew chief Pat Tryson, who enters his first full season at the helm of the No. 6 team. "We came in looking to do some things and I think that we were able to get a lot accomplished. We still have a lot to do, but we are testing Lakeland next week and Vegas at the end of the month. Our plate is pretty full right now, but we are all willing to put in the type of effort that it takes to be a winning race team. We just can't wait to get back down to Daytona and do it for real."
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich., based Roush Industries that operates 10 motorsports teams; five in NASCAR Winston Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle, three in the Busch Series with Martin, Burton, Kenseth and Biffle and two in the Craftsman Truck Series with drivers Jon Wood and Carl Edwards.
With New Crew Chief, Martin Ready For '04
fordracing.com
January 6, 2004Daytona Beach, Fla. — Mark Martin, driver of the No. 6 Viagra Taurus, will be entering his 17th NASCAR Nextel Cup season with car owner Jack Roush and Roush Racing. During that time, he has finished in the Top 10 of the final point standings 13 times and has won 33 races. Martin spoke about the season during the first day of testing for next month's Daytona 500.
MARK MARTIN
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE BACK AT IT?
"It feels too soon, but it is a little earlier in the month than we usually start testing. Usually we're about a week later than this and it doesn't feel like the team had a lot of time to get ready. We're here testing, but you can get a lot done in a week especially the first week of January because the holidays are kind of slow. So it feels like, 'Wow, I can't believe we're here at the track again.' But I have a lot to look forward to this year. You don't see all of that the first day of Daytona testing, but I'm pretty excited about my team. We've had very little change here and have had some slight modifications that I'm really, really excited about. That should tune things up a little bit. I love [Crew Chief] Pat Tryson and I think the team does, too. I'm really optimistic about having Pat with us for the whole year."
YOU ONLY HAD THE LAST TWO RACES OF '03 WITH PAT AS YOUR CREW CHIEF. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU LIKE ABOUT HIM OR HIS STYLE?
"I liked Pat before, but I was a little apprehensive about making the move because you never know for sure. He's very assertive and I liked the way the races went last year. I especially liked Homestead and the way things went there, but I've liked the way he's handled the shop and the team over the winter even more. That's what has really been the key for our enthusiasm coming into the year. We should have stronger cars than we had last year. That's what we all work for and that's what they work so hard for, so we're looking forward to it."
THE CAR IS A BIT NEW AND THE ENGINE HAS SOME NEW CYLINDER HEADS. WILL THAT HAVE ANY IMPACT?
"In my opinion it's not really a new car because it's not a car that was developed with a clean sheet of paper. It's still the basic Taurus shape with some improvements in the front and the back and those improvements will have a slight effect on the performance, but it's not gonna turn the world upside down. The cylinder head is gonna have a slight performance enhancement, but it won't turn the world upside down. We as a team are the ones that have the real task at hand and that is to turn the world upside down with the sharper tools that we're given to go into 2004. The real challenge is us. It's not the tools that we're getting that's gonna make us run, it's what we do with them that is gonna make us run. I feel good about it. We've done some things at Roush Racing that we think are gonna be key to making better cars. We're always working on having better cars, better engines and better pit stops."
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND EVEN TODAY ABOUT A PROPOSED NEW POINT SYSTEM. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF THE TOP 10 WERE PART OF A PLAYOFF STYLE SYSTEM OVER THE FINAL 10 RACES OF THE SEASON?
"My initial thought and reaction is that it's not good. It might be good for TV ratings or something like that, but I'm not very well educated about playoffs. I don't even know how a playoff works. Once I find out about it, maybe I'll be more sold on the program, but right now I'd hate to see it change. I will tell you this, the France family has brought this from the sand on the beach to what it is today and I'm not gonna second-guess them. I have my personal feelings and then I have the real world and the real world says they've brought the sport to this point and I'm not gonna criticize them for anything. Personally, though, I wish it wouldn't change."
