Martin still prefers old Talladega days
By Mike Brudenell
Free Press Columnist
Detroit Free Press
April 29, 2005Evergreen racer Mark Martin, who refuses to go quietly, will be back at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday for the 39th time in his NASCAR Cup career.
Martin, who started in Cup racing in 1981, driving his own car, is sixth in Nextel Cup points, 263 behind leader Jimmie Johnson. He says this is his last full season in Cup, although he'll probably run selected races in the future as well as a Craftsman Truck schedule.
Martin, 46, will compete in the Aaron's 499 this weekend on the giant 2.6-mile trioval at Talladega. He also will drive in the fall race, the Talladega 500, on Oct. 2. That would make it 40 Cup races at the track and maybe his last.
"I've always liked Talladega," Martin said. "It was easier to get around than Daytona and I didn't find it nearly as intimidating.
"In the beginning, we didn't have restrictor plates, and handling mattered. Heck, I can remember people spinning out there -- on their own. It was just a big ol' racetrack that really tested your skills."
Martin, who drives the No. 6 Viagra Ford for Roush Racing, raced at Talladega for the first time in an ARCA event on Aug. 1, 1981. He won it. He has two Cup victories there, in 1995 and '97, as well as two Cup poles.
The heydays of drafting came before restrictor plates were introduced in 1988 at Talladega and Daytona, said Martin, a member of the Talladega Hall of Fame.
"Back in the day, the cool draft was the slingshot," Martin said. "You could run the cars wide open. You got a draft and a run on the guy in front of you and did the slingshot. Then the guy would slingshot you and you did it to him."
These days, cars get bunched up in packs on restrictor-plate tracks, which can often lead to a wreck involving multiple cars.
Martin liked the old style of racing better.
Now "the cars are just going too slow and they are too packed up," Martin said. "Back when they didn't get into such big packs and when handling was a big factor, it was just a lot more fun for a race car driver."
Martin, who has never won a Cup championship but has four runner-up finishes, is regarded around the NASCAR garages as a racer's racer. He is a gifted driver, at home in any car.
"Talladega used to really test your skills as a race car driver," Martin said. "Now it really tests your patience. I know I, like a lot of others, will be really anxious to get to Darlington next week, where we'll be back to what we do best -- trying to figure out how to make that car go fast through the corner."
Still, Martin has a fondness for Talladega that a restrictor plate can't take away.
"Like I've said, I always liked the track and racing there," Martin said. "I just don't like restrictor-plate racing. But the fans there are great, and we've always had great support there. I know we'll put a good show on for them Sunday."
Steroid-free zone: Are people using steroids in NASCAR? Not according to Tim Goad, former NFL player with the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens.
Goad is now pit crew chief coach for the No. 49 Schwan's Home Service Dodge team of Nextel Cup veteran Ken Schrader. He once completed a paper on use of steroids while attending the University of North Carolina, where he played football.
"I don't think there are steroids in NASCAR, and I'd be surprised if there ever was," Goad said. "Steroids alone don't make you stronger. They just let you work out longer and help your recovery time so you can work out more often."
Goad doubts steroids would be of any use in the garage or pits in a race.
"When you look around the garage, there are a limited number of places where you would even think that they could help," Goad said. "Maybe the jackman or catch can man. Then again, it's not a help there. Jacking a car is more technique than it is strength. A lot of muscle buildup would slow you down, and when it did, that would become a hindrance."
Goad said he never has used steroids.
Favorite track: While Martin has some reservations about Talladega these days, Dale Earnhardt Jr. loves the place. He and his late father, Dale Earnhardt, practically own the place, having won 15 races between them.
Junior finished second to Jeff Gordon in the Aaron's 499 last April. This season hasn't been all roses for him, but he's slowly working up to speed, finishing fourth at Bristol (April 3), 13th at Martinsville (April 10), ninth at Texas (April 17) and fourth last Saturday at Phoenix.
Earnhardt, 12th in Cup points, won four consecutive races at Talladega in 2001-03, also winning the EA Sports 500 at the track in the October race last year.
"I love Talladega, love coming here, love racing here, love winning here," said Earnhardt, whose dad won 10 races there, a track record. "If I never win another race here, just winning five will be something that when I'm old, I'll bore my grandkids to death telling them about it."
Martin Enjoys Up and Down Love Affair with Talladega
Veteran will run the 2.6-mile track for the 39th and most likely next to the last time this SundayCONCORD, N.C. (April 27, 2005) – Mark Martin remembers his first trip to Talladega Superspeedway as a competitor rather fondly. He made his debut on the high-banks of the 2.66-mile lightning fast superspeedway on August 1, 1981, qualifying second, turning laps of over 200 mph and moving on to a four second victory in the ARCA 200.
“I’ve always liked Talladega,” said Martin. “It was easier to get around than Daytona and I just didn’t find it nearly as intimidating. In the beginning we didn’t have restrictor plates and handling mattered. Heck, I remember people spinning out there - on their own. It was just a ‘big ole’ race track that really tested your skills.
“In fact I always had a good relationship with the track,” added Martin with a pause. “Before the restrictor plates were added. Eventually it got to where the wrecking was just ridiculous and now you are just so bunched up that you just hope that you can avoid all the trouble.”
In an effort to limit the speed of the cars for safety purposes, restrictor plates were added to the cars in 1988 at both Daytona and Talladega forever changing the dynamics of both places. Still, Martin remembers a different time at the track, when drafting was a lot different.
“Back in the day the cool draft was the slingshot,” smiled Martin. “Back before you could run the cars wide open, you got a draft and a run on the guy in front of you and you did the slingshot and you could make a pass on him. Then the guy would slingshot you and you did him and he did you etc. That all ended with the restrictor plate. It was already phasing out with the way the cars were changing but the final straw was the restrictor plate.
“The only thing I don’t like about it now is that the cars are just going too slow and they are too packed up,” explained Martin. “Back when they didn’t get in such big packs and when handling was a big factor it was just a lot more fun for the race car driver.
“The frustrating part about it is that your cars means more than you do,” said Martin. “No matter how hard you try you can’t help the team make the car very much better. That’s not the case at unrestricted race tracks. The car doesn’t mean more to you and you can help the team make the car better. So it can be frustrating. It’s just not about helping your team make the car go faster through the corners.”
That’s not to say that Martin hasn’t enjoyed his share of accomplishments running with the restrictor plate. In fact Martin’s 34 top-10 finishes at restrictor-plate tracks are more than anyone else, with 19 of those coming at restrictor-plate races at Talladega.
Martin has clearly had his moments at Talladega over the years as well. He swept the poles there in 1989 and he set track race records in both the Busch and the Cup races there in the spring of 1997. Martin has two Cup wins, two poles, 10 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes at Talladega. For his efforts he was named to the Talladega Hall-of-Fame in 2002. All-in-all Martin has won in three different series at Talladega, Nextel Cup, Busch and IROC. He’ll make his 39th Nextel Cup start there this Sunday.
“It’s just a different race now,” said Martin. “Now it’s all about the draft and making the right move, which actually all just depends on what the people around you do. Some guy will make a move and everyone calls it brilliant, but to be honest it’s only brilliant if the people around you do the right thing. That can be tough.
“Talladega used to really test your skills as a race car driver,” added Martin. “Now it really just tests your patience. I’m not saying that it doesn’t take a lot of skill with the draft – it does, but it’s just a different type of skill. You can definitely tell the ones who are really good at that, but if you hang your hat on that type of racing it can be tough. I know I, like a lot of others, will be really anxious to get to Darlington next week where we’ll be back to what we do best – trying to figure out how to make that car go fast through that corner.
“But like I said, I always liked the track and racing there,” said Martin. “I just don’t like restrictor- plate racing. But the fans there are great and we’ve always had great support there. They love their racing and they come to have a good time. I know that we’ll put a good show on for them next Sunday and that’s important.
“And hey, don’t think I won’t be the first person tuned in to the TV this time next year,” added Martin. “It’s a great show and I can’t wait to watch it for myself. I just can’t say that I won’t be a little glad not to have to be a part of it.”
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich.-based Roush Industries that operates ten motorsports teams: five in NASCAR Nextel Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards; three in the Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth and Edwards; and two in the Craftsman Truck Series with drivers Ricky Craven and Todd Kluever.
2005 Mark Martin Track Notes - Talladega - May 1, 2005
Aaron's 499 - Talladega Superspeedway
#6 Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Ford Taurus
April 27, 2005DRIVER: Mark Martin
TEAM: No. (6) Viagra® Ford Taurus
OWNER: Jack Roush
CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson
2004 EVENT WINNER: Jeff Gordon
MARK MARTIN - LAST YEAR AT TALLADEGA
APRIL 25, 2004 – Talladega Superspeedway
AARON’S 499 – Started 6th, Finished 6thMartin was exactly where he wanted to be as the final laps of the race rolled around, right in the middle of things. In one of the wildest restrictor-plate races ever, Martin maneuvered his way in and out of the draft for much of the day, and the veteran - making his 575th Cup start - found himself right in the thick of things, with the Viagra Ford Taurus strongly in the hunt for the victory late in the race. Martin masterfully worked his way through the draft, moving into second place on lap 165 behind the lead car of Dale Earnhardt Jr. After the day’s eighth caution on lap 166, Martin became part of a four-car pack that started to pull away from the rest of the field. With only 11 laps to go it looked like Martin and the other three cars would race for the victory, but the ninth caution of the day was called on lap 177. The race went green on lap 280 with only eight laps remaining and Martin was forced to battle a ‘train’ of drafting cars high. Martin was soon shuffled back to sixth, but had worked his way back into fifth, when the No. 25 car of Brian Vickers spun out behind him with only four laps to go. The race would never go green again. NASCAR determined that the No. 31 car just narrowly passed Martin before the yellow flag was waved, giving Martin a sixth-place finish.
MARTIN LOOKS TO GET IT DONE AT TALLADEGA
Martin and the No. 6 Viagra Team head to the 'World's Fastest Speedway' hungry for a strong finish. Martin finished 16th last week at Phoenix and will look to rebound with a top-10 finish at Talladega in the second restrictor-plate race of the season.
THE CAR
Chassis Number: (RK-286) - The team will run RK-286 this weekend at Talladega. RK-286 is the same car that Martin used in an eighth- place finish earlier this season in the Bud Shootout.
WORTHY NOTE
Martin's 34 top-10 finishes in restrictor-plate races are the most ever.
MARTIN AT TALLADEGA
This will be Martin's 39th race at Talladega Superspeedway, where he has won twice and finished inside the top 10 twenty-one times. Martin finished 12th in his first race at Talladega in 1982. He's finished inside the top 10 in six of the last 12 there, but last fall's sixth place finish was Martin's only top-10 there in the previous six races.
Starts: 38 (19)
Wins: 2 (2)
Top 5's: 10 (6)
Top 10's: 21 (10)
Poles: 2 (1)
Highest finish: 1st (twice)
First time: 5/2/82 (10th)
Last time: 10/3/04 (15th)
4/25/04 (6th)MARK MARTIN FAST FACTS - TALLADEGA
- Martin's pace in the 1997 Winston 500 at Talladega set an all-time NASCAR Cup record for the fastest race ever run, as Martin won the caution-free event with an average speed a 188.354 mph. He covered the 500-mile distance in two hours, 38 minuntes and 18 seconds.
- Martin has two victories at Talladega, with both coming in the spring race (1995 and 1997).
- Martin has scored top-10 finishes in six of his last 12 races at Talladega.
- Martin has finished in the top 10 in 49 percent of his 69 restrictor -late races.
- Martin's 34 top-10 finishes in restrictor plate races are the most ever.
- Martin is one of six drivers to have completed in all 69 restrictor-plate races.
UNRESTRICTED
HALL OF FAMER
For his accomplishments at Talladega, which include two wins and 21 top-10 finishes, Martin was inducted into the Talladega Hall of Fame in 2002.
Mark Martin will make his final run at the Nextel Cup title in 2005. Martin has dubbed 2005 as his "Salute to You" tour, a year in which he hopes to take the time to thank each and everyone that he feels played a role in his success, including team members, fans, NASCAR and the media.
QUOTING MARK MARTIN AND CREW CHIEF PAT TRYSON ON TALLADEGA
Mark Martin on Talladega:
"For a fan there might not be anything more exciting than a restrictor-plate race at Talladega. For a competitor it isn't quite the same and I can't exactly say that I'm looking forward to another one. I can't wait to sit and watch it next year, but for the guys racing it's pretty tough. It's a lot like riding around on the interstate with the cruise set on 70 and 42 cars all around you driving the same speed and you are just waiting for someone to mess up and see what happens. I don't like that because it takes so much out of the hands of the drivers. We'll be hoping to go there and stay out of trouble and hopefully get out with a good finish before we head to Darlington where it's a handling track with a great deal of the result determined by the driver.
"We had a tough week in Phoenix. I think at times we showed that we had a pretty good car, but we took gas only late and the gamble ended up really hurting us and probably costing us a top 10. We've already put that in the past and are focusing our attention to Talladega."
Pat Tryson on Talladega:
"You just have to cross your fingers half the time at Talladega and Daytona and hope that you don't get caught up in the 'big one' that's bound to happen. Beyond that you just have to hope your car is not only good enough, but in the right place at the right time when it all goes down."
Martin and Hamilton Jr. complete first of two test sessions at Richmond International Raceway
April 26, 2005NASCAR drivers Mark Martin and Bobby Hamilton Jr. recorded some extra laps with a day of testing today at Richmond International Raceway. Martin was setting up his #9 Pennzoil NASCAR Busch Series car while Hamilton Jr. turned laps in his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series #32 Tide Chevrolet.
Martin has run 22 NASCAR Busch Series races at Richmond International Raceway and plans to run his 23rd on May 13 in the FUNAI 250. Martin has five NASCAR Busch Series wins at "America's Premier Short Track," as well as 13 top-five finishes and 17 top-10s.
"Richmond is a nice place to race," said Martin, who will run double duty at Richmond International Raceway May 13-14. "It's a great racetrack and the fans have always been great here since 1981-the first time I came."
Martin turned in a best lap time of 21.45 seconds on Tuesday, his first of two consecutive days of testing at Richmond International Raceway.
"The track has weathered well and I think as we get more racing on it throughout race weekend it will get better and better," said Martin. "It's a nice racetrack, nice shape, nice pavement and layout. It makes for good racing."
Martin is just one of many NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series regulars who plan to compete "under the lights" in the NASCAR Busch Series FUNAI 250. Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Michael Waltrip, Kevin Harvick, Elliott Sadler, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards and Jamie McMurray are also scheduled to battle it out with NASCAR Busch Series regulars Matin Truex Jr., Reed Sorenson, Clint Bowyer and Kenny Wallace, along with Virginia drivers Denny Hamlin, Jon Wood, Ashton Lewis and Stacy Compton.
Hamilton Jr. will compete in his third NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race "under the lights" May 14 in the Chevy American Revolution 400. Hamilton Jr. turned in a best lap time of 21.40 seconds after his first of two testing sessions.
Although the May 14 Chevy American Revolution 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event is sold out, tickets are still available for the NASCAR Busch Series FUNAI 250 "under the lights" at Richmond International Raceway Friday, May 13. Reserved seats are only $45 and general admission tickets are $35. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general admission sections with a ticketed adult. For more information, please call the ticket office at 1-866-455-RACE or visit Richmond International Raceway.
NASCAR drivers Mark Martin and Bobby Hamilton Jr. recorded some extra laps with a day of testing today at Richmond International Raceway. Martin was setting up his #9 Pennzoil NASCAR Busch Series car while Hamilton Jr. turned laps in his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series #32 Tide Chevrolet.
Martin has run 22 NASCAR Busch Series races at Richmond International Raceway and plans to run his 23rd on May 13 in the FUNAI 250. Martin has five NASCAR Busch Series wins at "America's Premier Short Track," as well as 13 top-five finishes and 17 top-10s.
"Richmond is a nice place to race," said Martin, who will run double duty at Richmond International Raceway May 13-14. "It's a great racetrack and the fans have always been great here since 1981-the first time I came."
Martin turned in a best lap time of 21.45 seconds on Tuesday, his first of two consecutive days of testing at Richmond International Raceway.
"The track has weathered well and I think as we get more racing on it throughout race weekend it will get better and better," said Martin. "It's a nice racetrack, nice shape, nice pavement and layout. It makes for good racing."
Martin is just one of many NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series regulars who plan to compete "under the lights" in the NASCAR Busch Series FUNAI 250. Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Michael Waltrip, Kevin Harvick, Elliott Sadler, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards and Jamie McMurray are also scheduled to battle it out with NASCAR Busch Series regulars Matin Truex Jr., Reed Sorenson, Clint Bowyer and Kenny Wallace, along with Virginia drivers Denny Hamlin, Jon Wood, Ashton Lewis and Stacy Compton.
Hamilton Jr. will compete in his third NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race "under the lights" May 14 in the Chevy American Revolution 400. Hamilton Jr. turned in a best lap time of 21.40 seconds after his first of two testing sessions.
Although the May 14 Chevy American Revolution 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event is sold out, tickets are still available for the NASCAR Busch Series FUNAI 250 "under the lights" at Richmond International Raceway Friday, May 13. Reserved seats are only $45 and general admission tickets are $35. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general admission sections with a ticketed adult. For more information, please call the ticket office at 1-866-455-RACE or visit Richmond International Raceway.
On The Right Track: Retirement not a word for Martin
By Jeff Gluck, Rocky Mount Telegram
Wednesday, April 27, 2005RICHMOND, Va. — Memo to Dale Jarrett, Ricky Rudd and any other driver with an impending retirement from NASCAR Nextel Cup racing: Don't do the farewell tour, the big goodbye.
Just look what Mark Martin is going through. Since Martin announced last year that the 2005 season will be his last on the Nextel Cup circuit, he's had to answer the same questions every day.
It doesn't matter how many press conferences he holds or how many appearances he makes. It's the same stuff, every day, every hour, every minute.
A media session Tuesday at Richmond International Raceway was no different. Martin finished testing his No. 9 Busch Series car, then walked over to greet reporters.
The questions began immediately.
Why are you retiring now?
What made you want to retire?
What's it like to look back on your career?
It doesn't vary from city to city, track to track. When every question has the word “retire” in it, getting old means more than just age.
“I'm not thinking about that right now,” Martin said. “I'm focused on going out at or near the top of my game. I haven't thought much about anything else.”
At first, Martin patiently answered various forms of the same question, and tried to stay calm while the TV reporters queried him Tuesday. But after awhile, he simply ran out of things to say about his “Salute to You” tour.
“Why do you want to get out now?” inquired a local TV cameraman, looking for a soundbite for the 6 o'clock news.
Martin, who just answered that same question 30 seconds before, stared into the camera, slightly shaking his head, searching for the same tired words. How many times can you talk about one thing over and over again?
Finally, after one of the more awkward silences in the history of awkward silences, Martin just shrugged his shoulders.
“I really don't know what you're after,” he said.
Since Martin doesn't feel like reflecting on his career now, I asked him when that day might come.
Unfortunately, the ‘r'-word slipped out during my question.
“Look, you've got to realize — I'm not retiring,” he said, referring to his plans to continue racing in the Craftsman Truck Series. “That just doesn't exist in my world right now. I've never cared a lot about the past anyway.”
Martin certainly agreed to a retirement tour, but it probably wasn't his idea. Business-savvy drivers are well aware of how sponsors need attention, and there's nothing like a 36-race farewell party to bring in some extra cash.
“Mark Martin Salute to You” T-shirts are the No. 1 featured item on NASCAR.com, costing $21.99 a pop. There are hats, diecast cars and even souvenir buckets. Think anyone makes a profit off that stuff?
Martin and Rusty Wallace's “Last Call” might be nice for merchandisers, but it doesn't help the drivers and crews in their cause to make the Chase for the Nextel Cup.
We can do without a “Dale's UPS Send-off” or whatever gimmick the marketers come up with for Jarrett's retirement tour.
If fans really care about their drivers, they'll realize that winning is more important than a cheesy farewell tour. Martin is sixth in the season standings, and Wallace is 10th.
But you get the feeling that after an entire summer of retirement questions, there might not be enough gas left in these veterans' tanks for what's most important: winning the Nextel Cup.
Martin Finishes 16th at Phoenix
Mark Martin and the #6 Viagra® Racing Team
Phoenix International Raceway/April 23, 2005PHOENIX, Ariz. (April 23, 2005) – Mark Martin and the No. 6 Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Racing Team ran to a 16th-place finish in Saturday night’s Subway 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Martin ran as high as sixth on the day, but a late-race gamble in pit strategy backfired, and Martin fell back to as far as 22nd before recovering for the 16th-place finish. The finish was good enough to advance Martin up one place to sixth on the Nextel Cup points race.
“The team did a great job all night and we had a better car than that,” said Martin. “We gambled and took gas only there late in the race and it ended up costing us a lot of positions. It seemed like the right move at the time but it backfired and put us behind and we had to spend the rest of the race catching up.”
Martin started the day 22nd based on Friday’s qualifying effort, and he struggled early with a tight handling car, falling as far back as 26th before the day’s first caution was called on lap 14. The team used the caution to take four tires and fuel in a quick stop of 13.72. Some teams stayed out or took two tires and Martin restarted in 26th position on lap 16. He quickly fell back to 28th by lap 19, waiting for the car to ‘come in.’ The car soon settled into the run and by lap 36 Martin had moved his way up to 21st.
By lap 50 Martin had marched his way to 17th place and his white Viagra® Ford was turning the fastest times on the track. By lap 84 Martin had moved into 12th place where he would run for the next 49 laps until caution was called on lap 132. The team used the caution to come into the pits for four tires and fuel and a stop of 14.18 seconds sent Martin back out inside the top 10 for the first time of the day.
Martin had advanced to eighth place when the day’s sixth caution was called on lap 190. The Viagra® Team opted to stay out and Martin restarted in seventh place on lap 194. Five laps later he moved into sixth place, where he was running when caution was again called on lap 205 after a multi-car accident. The team came into the pits for the fifth time of the day, turning in its best effort, a 13.483-second stop for four tires and fuel. Some teams stayed out, while other took two tires and Martin restarted in 11th place.
Martin’s tires had settled in nicely and he was happy with the car’s handling when caution number eight was called on lap 220, with Martin still in 11th place. Happy with what they had, the team opted for a gas-only stop that would give them enough gas to go the distance on lap 222. However the strategy backfired, as the majority of the field took fresh tires. Martin would be unable to run with the cars on new tires and his No. 6 Ford fell all the way back to 22nd when caution was called on lap 237.
The team promptly came in for four tires, but the damage was done as Martin would have to restart in 22nd and fight his way back up the field. He would spend the remainder of the race maneuvering through lapped traffic and chasing down the cars in front of him, en route to the 16th place finish.
The finish moved Martin up in the points one spot to sixth. After eight races he is currently 12 points out of fifth and 263 behind first place. The team returns to action next week at Talladega for the second superspeedway race of the season.
2005 Mark Martin Track Notes - Phoenix - April 23, 2005
Subway Fresh 500 / Phoenix International Raceway
#6 Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Ford Taurus
April 20, 2005DRIVER: Mark Martin
TEAM: No. (6) Viagra® Ford Taurus
OWNER: Jack Roush
CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson
MARTIN, NO. 6 VIAGRA® TEAM MOVE ON TO PHOENIX
Martin and the Viagra® Team are coming off a tough finish in Texas, where Martin finished 20th, despite running as high as fourth late in the race. The team will look to rebound at a track where Martin has finishedf in the top 10 in 76 percent of his races.
MARK MARTIN - LAST YEAR AT PHOENIX
NOVEMBER 7, 2004 – Phoenix International Raceway
Checker Auto Parts 500k – Started 22nd, Finished 15th“It was just one of those days where not a lot went right,” is how Martin described the Phoenix race, his 600th career Nextel Cup start. The car struggled on restarts all day. Martin was running in 16th position when the day’s ninth caution was issued on lap 282. Despite light rainfall and looming darkness the No. 6 team opted to come in for four fresh tires and fuel. The gamble paid off when the field resumed racing on lap 293 with Martin running in 18th place. Martin had moved to 17th when the day’s 10th caution was called on lap 298. The team opted to stay out and Martin remained in 17th when green-flag racing resumed with only 10 laps to go on lap 302. The day’s 11th and final caution was issued on lap 306 forcing a green-white-checkered finish. Martin restarted the three-lap shootout in 15th place and was able to hold position and bring home the top-15 finish, his 24th top-15 finish in 33 races this season.
THE CAR
Chassis Number: (RK-274) - The team will run RK-247 this weekend at Texas. RK-247 is a new car that will be making its first run. The team will run RK-274 this weekend at Phoenix. RK-247 is the same car Martin finished third with at Martinsville two weeks ago.
WORTHY NOTE
Martin won in Phoenix on Halloween of 1993 and has finishes second or better in six of 17 races at Phoenix.
MARTIN AT PHOENIX
Martin has posted top-10 finishes in 13 of his 17 Cup races at Phoenix. Martin won there in 1993 and has finished inside the top 10 in 11 of his last 13 starts there. In addition he boasts eight top-five finishes, including five second-place runs.
AT PHOENIX
Starts: 17
Wins: 1
Top 5's: 8
Top 10's: 13
Poles: 0
Highest finish: 1st (93)
First time: 11/6/88 (36th)
Last time: 11/6/04 (15th)THE RETURN OF WHITE LIGHTNING
For the first time of the "Salute Tour," Martin and the Viagra® Team will run the special 'reverse' night scheme this weekend at Phoenix, in this year's first night race of the season.
MIXING THINGS UP
This will be Martin's 18th Cup race at Phoenix, but it's the first Spring Nextel Cup race at Phoenix. Phoenix International Raceway was awarded a second race for the first time this season. The series will return to Phoenix later this year in November.
MARK MARTIN - FAST FACTS - PHOENIX
- Mark Martin has finished inside the top 10 in 76 percent (13) of his Cup races at Phoenix.
- Martin won at Phoenix on Oct. 31, 1993.
- Martin's finished inside the top 10 in 11 of the last 13 races at Phoenix.
- Martin has finished second or better in six of 17 races at Phoenix.
QUOTING MARK MARTIN AND CREW CHIEF PAT TRYSON ON PHOENIX
Mark Martin on Phoenix:
"Phoenix is a great race track. It's set up a little different on each end, but ultimately the key is getting through those corners faster than everyone else. We've had pretty good success there over the years and we are looking forward to getting back out there and hopefully competing for the win. We had a tough run last week at Texas and we are itching to get back out there and get that one out of our systems. The guys were great in the pits last week and if we can keep that kind of performance up, then we should be really competitive in a lot of races this season.
"It's always good to get back out west. They have very loyal fans out there and they always seem to enjoy having us out there, so hopefully we can take the "Salute Tour" out there and give those guys something to cheer about."
Pat Tryson on Phoenix:
"We are excited about going out to Phoenix. We ran okay there last fall, but not as good as we would have liked. Hopefully we've learned a little and we can go back out there this year and be a contender to win the race. Last week didn't go the way we had planned, but hopefully we'll rebound with a strong run this weekend."
Late Turn of Events Drops Martin to 20th-place Finish at Texas
Mark Martin and the #6 Viagra® Racing Team
Texas Motor Speedway/April 17, 2005FT. WORTH, TX (April 17, 2005) – Mark Martin and the No. 6 Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Racing Team waged an up and down battle for much of Sunday’s Samsung/Radio Shack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, but in the end they found themselves victims of an ill-handling car as Martin left Texas with a 20th-place finish.
Martin ran a special Retro ’89 paint scheme on his Viagra® Ford, and things looked promising for the team down the stretch. A quick 13.40 second stop sent Martin back out in fourth place after the day’s eighth caution on lap 245. The car struggled all day on restarts, and its handling rapidly declined after the stop. With the car handling ‘really loose’, the veteran dropped back to 12th place by lap 257.
After another stop to fix the car’s handling under caution on lap 297, Martin moved his Ford back up to 11th and was gaining when caution was again called on lap 303. The team stayed out and Martin restarted in 11th position. However the car’s handling issue would again rear its ugly head. By lap 310 Martin had dropped to 14th place. He quickly regrouped and moved back up to 12th on lap 316. However moments later a brush with the wall would effectively put an end to Martin’s bid at a top-10 finish. With the car wounded and not handling well, all Martin could do was hang on for the top-20 finish.
“I’ll take the blame for today,” said a disappointed Martin after the race. “I was just trying too much to get us a top-10 finish and I messed up. The guys on this team worked really hard this week and they were just awesome today on pit road. We had problems early, but it looked like we were going to overcome that and post a good finish. I just hate to take away anything from the effort the Viagra® Racing Team displayed today. We’ll just have to regroup now and go try to win Phoenix.”
Martin started 16th, but struggled with the car’s handling from the start. Martin had dropped to 19th by lap three, where he just narrowly avoided the spinning car of Dave Blaney on the day’s first caution. He regrouped and had driven his No. 6 Ford back to 16th place when the day’s third caution afforded the team the chance to come down pit road for four tires, fuel and additional adjustments. A 14.23-second stop sent the Viagra Ford back out in 14th place when green-flag racing resumed. As would become typical on the day, Martin’s car struggled on the restart and he found himself back as far as 24th-place by lap 50.
However the long run afforded Martin the chance to regroup, and move back through the field. He was running back in 17th place when caution number five was called on lap 78. The team came down pit road for four tires and fuel. The Viagra® Team’s best effort of the day, a 13.12-second stop moved Martin up four positions to 13th where he started when green-flag racing resumed. Martin again struggled with his Ford on the restart and quickly dropped to 16th place, before regrouping and calmly powering the car back to 12th, where he was running when caution was again issued on lap 122. Once again the Viagra® team delivered, posting a 13.56-second stop that put Martin back out in striking distance of the top-10 for the first time of the day in 11th place.
Martin broke inside the field’s top 10 on lap 136 and used the day’s longest green-flag run to move all the way to sixth place when the field started green-flag pit stops on lap 184. The team came into the pits on lap 188 to take four fresh tires, fuel and make a track-bar adjustment to offset the car’s handling. Another fast stop of 13.19 seconds helped move Martin into the field’s top five, where he was running when the team came into the pits on lap 212 after the day’s seventh caution was called.
Over the course of the next run the car’s handling became too tight and Martin dropped back to seventh position by the time caution number eight was called on lap 240. In yet another stellar performance the Viagra® team turned in the 13.40-second effort that put Martin back out in fourth place and looking like a race contender. However the excitement would be short lived as the handling problems soon kicked in. Martin and the team would battle for the remainder of the race, but after brushing the wall late in the race they would be forced to settle for the 20th-place finish.
Martin dropped two places to seventh in the Nextel Cup point standings, but only one point out of sixth place and just 23 points out of third. The team returns to action next week in Phoenix for the circuit’s first night race of the season. Martin has one win and 13 top-10 finishes in 17 starts at Phoenix. This will be the track’s first Nextel Cup spring event.
Ford Racing News: Ford Post Race Notes and Quotes:
MARK MARTIN - NO. 6 VIAGRA TAURUS (FINISHED 20TH)
"I messed up there at the end. I was getting a little frustrated. We had an awful good car and we got ourselves back in the pack and I got caught over-driving just a little bit and got up in the wall. That cost us about eight or 10 spots and I hate that for my team. They were so on it all day, but we had a couple of problems there late in the race and got behind. I tried to make it up too much, too fast."
Martin Sees Bid for Third Straight Busch Win Go Down Late
Mark Martin and the #9 Pennzoil Racing Team
Texas Motor Speedway/April 16, 2005FORT WORTH, TX (April 16, 2005) – Mark Martin and the No. 9 Pennzoil Platinum Team went into Saturday’s O’Reilly 300 Busch race with a mission: win three in a row to start the season. Early on it looked as if they would find their mark. Martin powered the Pennzoil Ford running the majority of the race in no worse than third place and taking the lead by lap 93. The team looked up to the challenge, but a broken pipe on the brake fan forced Martin to loose two consecutive right front tires and the team was forced to retire to the garage with only 13 laps remaining and settle for a 31st place finish.
“The Pennzoil Platinum Ford was strong today,” said Martin after the race. “I’m not sure we were good enough to win this time, but we sure had a good run going when we started cutting the tires. The team did a good job in the pits and you hate to have your day cut short like this.
“But I guess you can’t win them all,” added Martin. “But we’ll sure try to win the next one a Richmond in a few weeks.”
Martin ran the first 94 laps of the race in no worse than fifth place, while taking the lead on lap 93, just before coming into the pits the following lap. Once the stops had cycled through, Martin settled back into second place when he ran until the day’s third caution was called on lap 112. Over the course of the second half of the race the car’s handling started to tighten up and Martin fell to as low as ninth place by lap 160 of the race.
He was running in eighth place when his right-front tire went down on lap 178, forcing the team to an unscheduled green-flag stop on lap 181. Martin returned in 20th position and the first car a lap down, but the team was forced into the garage after he cut a second right-front just moments after returning to the track. A post race examination of the car revealed the broken duct to the brake fan and Martin had to settle for the disappointing finish.
Martin and the No. 9 Team return to action on May 13 at Richmond International Raceway, where Martin boasts five wins, 13 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes in 22 starts in the Busch Series.
Martin Finishes Second in IROC at Texas, Maintains Points Lead
FT. WORTH, TX (April 15, 2005) – Mark Martin started off the second International Race of Champions the same way he left off in the first one, driving his No. 6 car to the front of the field. Martin started in last place based on his leading in the point standings, but wasted no time powering his way through the field. Martin passed three cars in just the first lap and had massed half of the field by lap three when he found himself running in fifth place.
Martin was the class of the field and running in fourth when Steve Kinser made contact with his car during an attempted pass on lap six. Martin made a tremendous effort to save the car, but the No. 6 sustained severe fender damage and Martin dropped back to eighth place by lap 36 of the 57-lap event.
Due to the near accident, Martin was allowed to pit for tires under the day’s second caution on lap 36, but he still had issues with the car’s fender over the next run. After Kurt Busch blew a tire on lap 45, Martin came down pit road again and this time a fender brace was added to repair the damage sustained on lap 36.
With the repair work, Martin was again able to march towards the front, moving into second place on lap 57. He would spend the remaining 10 laps closing in on race leader Sebastien Bourdais, but his bid for a record-extending 13th win in the series would fall just short to the Frenchman champ car driver.
“I had a pretty good car today,” said Martin. “But we got banged up a little there early and got ourselves behind for we could get that fender fixed. We had a good run out there and we are still in the points lead, so we’ll take that and try to win the next one in Richmond.
''The biggest chance we had down the stretch was if he (Bourdais) would have made a mistake. It didn't look like that would happen,'' said Martin. ''He did an awesome job. He is an incredibly talented young race car driver.”
The IROC series returns to action on Sept. 8 at Richmond International Speedway and concludes on Oct. 29 in Atlanta. Martin is looking for his record-breaking fifth title in the series. He currently shares the record of four with racing legends Dale Earnhardt and Al Unser, Jr.
Bourdais wins IROC in Texas
By Stephen Hawkins
AP Sports Writer
April 15, 2005FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais became just the fourth foreign-born driver to win an IROC race, leading the final 22 laps Friday night at Texas after Kurt Busch suffered the same kind of bad luck that has plagued him in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series.
Bourdais regained the lead when Busch cut a tire and slammed hard into the outside wall in the second turn. The problem was related to a tire change after Busch avoided an earlier wreck.
IROC officials said after the race that their pit crew inadvertently reversed the right- and left-side front tires -- the ones on the car when it crashed. Busch got the tires changed after going through the grassy infield, where he ran over a drainage culvert. All the cars use the same pit crew in an IROC race.
Busch took the lead on the first lap after a restart. He led for nine laps until his crash after the 45th lap in the 67-lap race.
The ending was reminiscent of how Busch's Cup season has gone. He crashed in the last three races since starting the year with three straight top-three finishes.
With Busch out, Bourdais -- a 26-year-old Frenchman -- had to hold off NASCAR's Mark Martin, the winningest driver in 31 years of the International Race of Champions. Martin finished second after starting at the back of the 12-car field.
``The biggest chance we had was if he would have made a mistake. It didn't look like that would happen,'' said Martin, whose Daytona win in February was his 12th in IROC. ``He did an awesome job. He is an incredibly talented young race car driver.''
Based on the reverse order of finish from his IROC debut when he finished last at Daytona, Bourdais started first at Texas. After Steve Kinser of the World of Outlaws led the first six laps, Bourdais went out in front.
``When I got passed at the beginning, I was not quite sure if I could make it,'' Bourdais said. ``It was a different race. People could pass, there was a lot of action.''
The last foreign-born IROC winner was Geoff Brabham at Michigan in 1992. The last open wheel driver to win was Buddy Lazier at Chicagoland Speedway in 2002.
Defending Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice finished third in the 114th IROC race. Defending NASCAR Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr. was fourth and NASCAR truck champion Bobby Hamilton fifth.
Bourdais led when a caution flag came out for debris caused when defending Texas IROC champion and Outlaws driver Danny Lasoski brushed the wall. Busch took over the lead on the first lap after the restart and stayed there until his crash.
Busch seemed to get a break going through the infield after five laps, when Grand American Road racer Scott Pruett was bumped from behind by Cup driver Matt Kenseth. Pruett slammed into the wall and was knocked out of the race.
It was then that Busch went in for the tire change.
Max Papis finished sixth, followed by Lasoski, Kinser, Kenseth and Helio Castroneves of the IndyCar Series.
Martin is the points leader through two of four races with 42. That's 10 more than Bourdais, who earned 29 points Friday night.
There next IROC race is Sept. 8 at Richmond, and the finale is Oct. 29 in Atlanta. The series winner gets $1 million.
CROWN ROYAL IROC RESULTS
1. (2) Sebastien Bourdais, Champ Car, 67 laps, 29 points
2. (6) Mark Martin, NASCAR Nextel Cup, 67, 18
3. (15) Buddy Rice, IndyCar Series, 67, 16
4. (8) Martin Truex Jr, NASCAR Busch Series, 67, 12
5. (4) Bobby Hamilton, NASCAR Craftsman Truck, 67, 10
6. (16) Max Papis, Grand American Road Racing, 67, 9
7. (20) Danny Lasoski, World of Outlaws, 67, 8
8. (11) Steve Kinser, World of Outlaws, 67, 9
9. (17) Matt Kenseth, NASCAR Nextel Cup, 67, 6
10. (03) Helio Castroneves, IndyCar Series, 67, 5
11. (97) Kurt Busch, NASCAR Nextel Cup, 45, 7
12. (01) Scott Pruett, Grand American Road Racing, 5, 3
RACE STATISTICS
Time of Race: 1 hour, 11 minutes, 16 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.202 seconds
Winner's Average Speed: 84.608 mph
Caution Periods: 3 (with Competition Yellow)
Lead Changes: Four among three drivers
Lap Leaders: Kinser 1-6, Bourdais 7-36, Busch 37-45, Bourdais 46-67Mark Martin, NASCAR Nextel Cup: Finished Second:
''The biggest chance we had was if he would have made a mistake. It didn't look like that would happen,'' said Martin. ''He (Bourdais) did an awesome job. He is an incredibly talented young race car driver.”
Martin to Go Retro for Texas
No. 6 Viagra® Ford will sport first of four special commemorative paint schemes at Texas
CONCORD, N.C. (April 13, 2005) – As a part of his “Salute To You” Tour Mark Martin’s No. 6 Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Ford will sport an old familiar look this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, when Martin and the team take a step back into the past with a Retro-89 paint scheme. The scheme will showcase Martin’s first Roush Racing paint scheme from the 1988 and ’89 seasons. It is also the scheme that Martin ran at his first Cup win at Rockingham in the fall of 1989.
The scheme will no doubt bring back memories for the veteran, who is running his last full-time Cup season this year.
“That car will likely bring back a lot of memories,” said Martin. “It’s going to be pretty cool to revisit that time. We were young and kind of raw and had a lot of success in front of us in those years. We ran second something like six times before we finally broke through and got that first win at Rockingham. I remember it being as much of a relief as a celebration, because we had finally done it.”
The scheme, along with its block style numbering, ran two seasons for Martin, who posted 17 top-fives, 28 top 10’s and his first Winston Cup win during that span. In addition Martin finished third in the point standings in 1989, the final year of the scheme.
“It’s going to be great to incorporate that car with the Viagra® car,” added Martin. “It’s kind of like bringing together the old and the new. It’s also a chance to pay tribute to all of the guys who’ve worked on these cars over the years, including the people who helped Jack and I get this thing rolling. It’s also a tribute to all of the fans who have been with us for all of these years since we first ran that scheme.
“I’m excited about it,” added Martin. “We were only able to take that scheme to victory lane once back then. Hopefully we can make it twice this weekend.”
A first look at the Retro-89 commemorative paint scheme that Mark Martin
will run this weekend in the Samsung/Radio Shack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.RETRO ’89 STATS
Races – Two seasons
Highlights – Martin’s first cup paint scheme with Roush Racing…Ran the scheme in 1988 and ‘89 ... Registered 17 top-five and 28 top-10’s ... Was on the car for Martin’s first career Winston Cup win on Oct. 22, 1989 at Rockingham ... Finished third in the points in 1989.Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich.-based Roush Industries that operates ten motorsports teams: five in NASCAR Nextel Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards; three in the Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth and Edwards; and two in the Craftsman Truck Series with drivers Ricky Craven and Todd Kluever.
2005 Mark Martin Track Notes - Texas - April 17, 2005
Samsung/Radio Shack 500 - Texas Motor Speedway
#6 Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Ford Taurus
April 14, 2005DRIVER: Mark Martin
TEAM: No. (6) Viagra® Ford Taurus
OWNER: Jack Roush
CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson
2004 EVENT WINNER: Elliott Sadler
MARK MARTIN - LAST YEAR AT TEXAS
APRIL 4, 2004 – Texas Motor Speedway
SAMSUNG/RADIO SHACK 500 – Started 28th, Finished 17thThe Viagra Racing Team had the fastest car on the racetrack as the laps were winding down at Texas Motor Speedway, but their hands were tied. The team had overcome a slow start, working their way up the field, only to be setback by an untimely caution mid-way through the race. The caution caused three-fourths of the field to go a lap down, and saw Martin’s shot at a fourth straight top-10 finish at Texas come to halt. After a slow start, crew chief Pat Tryson opted for right side tires only for the team’s first pit stop of the day. The gamble paid off and Martin returned to the track in 18th position when the field resumed green-flag racing. The car would remain loose and eventually Martin would drop a lap down to the leader. The team eventually got a handle on the car. The car began to run its best time of the day and Martin moved through the field to the front of his lap.The No. 6 Viagra Ford had adjusted into one of the fastest cars in the race, and for the next 30 laps Martin would run at the front of his lap, just one caution away from the ‘free pass’ that would put the team back on the lead lap, in good position and ready to make a run at the top 10. That break would never come, and instead the team was hit with a dose of horrible luck. Running in 14th place the team came into the pits for a green-flag stop on lap 261. Only about half of the field had pitted when the No. 0 car of Ward Burton smacked the wall on lap 261, causing the day’s fourth caution and killing the team’s chances of a top-place finish. As a result of the caution, Martin was caught two-laps down, as only 10 cars remained on the lead lap. He would have to spend the rest of the day fighting lapped traffic for all he could get, as Martin battled to the end, taking over 17th position on the final lap.
MARTIN, NO. 6 VIAGRA TEAM GO WITH RETRO LOOK AT TEXAS
Martin and the team posted their strongest performance of the early season with a third-place run at Martinsville last weekend. The team will look to maintain that momentum as they take to Texas where Martin has one win and four top-10 finishes in eight career runs.
THE CAR
Chassis Number: (RK-247) - The team will run RK-247 this weekend at Texas. RK-247 is a new car that will be making its first run.
WORTHY NOTES
Martin won the second Cup race at Texas in 1998.
A LOOK BACK - MARTIN TO RUN FIRST OF FOUR RETRO PAINT SCHEMES AT TEXAS
The No. 6 Viagra Ford will boast an old but familiar look this weekend at Texas. As part of his "Salute to You" Tour, Martin will run at Retro-89 paint scheme that will have the same look as his first Roush Racing Cup car. Martin ran the 'dark' blue scheme in each of his first two years at Roush (1988 and '89). It is the scheme that Martin ran in his first Cup victory at Rockingham in 1989. Martin will also run retro schemes at the Nextel All-Star, the Brickyard 400 and the season finale at Homestead.
MARTIN AT TEXAS
Martin has posted four top-10 finishes in eight starts at Texas. In addition he has one victory and three top fives. Martin finished 38th at the inaugural race at Texas in 1997 after mechanical issues, but returned the next year to post a victory there. He won the inaugural Busch race there in 1997.
TRIPLE THREAT
Martin will be looking for the triple crown this weekend at Texas, running in the IROC, Busch and Nextel Cup races. Martin won in the IROC series in the first race of the season at Daytona and he'll be looking for his record extending 13th win in an IROC car. In addtion, Martin wil run Saturday's Busch race where he'll be looking for his third straight victory and record extending 48th series win. All in all Martin has boasted four wins at Texas, winning once in the Cup car and three in the Busch Series.
Mark Martin will make his final run at the Nextel Cup title in 2005. Martin has dubbed 2005 as his "Salute to You" tour, a year in which he hopes to take the time to thank each and everyone that he feels played a role in his success, including team members, fans, NASCAR and the media.
QUOTING MARK MARTIN AND CREW PAT TRYSON - TEXAS
Mark Martin on Texas:
"Texas is a great race track. It's the type of place that suits my driving style. I've always done pretty well on the 1.5-mile tracks and Texas has been pretty good for us in that mix. We won the second race there and we've been pretty good there ever since. Hopefully we can go back there and get us another win this weekend. We'll be racing in the IROC, Busch and Cup races, maybe we can get us a couple of wins in there.
"The team did a great job last week at Martinsville. That's not my favorite track by any means and to get out of there with a third-place finish and a chance to win, well that's almost even more than we can ask for. Pat and the team have really been on their game this year and I just can't wait to get back out on the track at Texas."
Pat Tryson on Texas:
"We are looking forward to this weekend. After two weeks of short track racing, it will be great to get back to a 1.5-mile track where Mark really excels at racing. We had a good week last week in Martinsville and a chance to win late in the race. Hopefully we can do that again this weekend and seal the deal for our first cup win of the season."
MARK MARTIN - FAST FACTS - TEXAS
- Martin posted a Cup win at Texas in the second race there in 1998.
- Martin has four top fives and three top 10's in eight Cup starts at Texas.
- Martin will be looking for three wins at Texas in the IROC, Busch and Cup races.
- Martin has won three times in the Busch Series at Texas in only four races.
Martin Looks for Three in a Row This Weekend at Texas
All-time Busch Series win leader will look to make it three-for-three in '05 with a Busch Series win at Texas.
CONCORD, N.C. (April 13, 2005) – Roush Racing’s Mark Martin will look to keep his 2005 Busch record perfect this week when he starts his third Busch Series race of the season at Texas Motor Speedway this Saturday in the O’Reilly’ 300. So far Martin is a perfect two-for-two in Busch races during his ‘Salute Tour,’with wins in both of his previous starts at Fontana and Las Vegas. In addition Martin will look to extend his series record 47 wins at a track where he has won his last two Busch races and boasts victories in three of his four Busch attempts there.
“We are excited about Texas,” said Martin, who will race the same car this weekend that posted both his wins this season. “We’ve won both races this season in the Pennzoil Platinum Ford and we hope to keep that going. Texas is a great track for us and we’ve been pretty successful there over the years in both the Cup and the Busch car and we are hoping that we can maintain that as well.
“Pat Tryson and the guys on this team have done an outstanding job this year with the cars,” added Martin. “And it has just been a solid program. We have Pennzoil on board as the sponsor and they have been great this year and we are hoping that we can just go out there and get another ‘W’ this Saturday.”
This will be the third of eight scheduled Busch races for Martin this season, and the third of seven for Martin behind the wheel of the No. 9 Pennzoil Platinum Ultimate Protection Ford. It will be Martin’s fifth start at Texas in a Busch car. Martin won the inaugural Busch race at Texas in 1997 and he’s posted wins in three of his four starts there, including the last two in 1999 and 2000.
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; three in the Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth and Edwards; and two in the Craftsman Truck Series with drivers Ricky Craven and Todd Kluever.
2005 Mark Martin Track Notes - Texas - April 16, 2005
O'Reilly 300 - Texas Motor Speedway
#9 Pennzoil Ford Taurus
April 14, 2005DRIVER: Mark Martin
TEAM: No. (9) Pennzoil Ford Taurus
OWNER: Jack Roush
CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson
2004 EVENT WINNER: Matt Kenseth
MARTIN LOOKS TO GO THREE-FOR-THREE AT TEXAS
Martin will be looking for his third win in three Busch races this season in the O'Reilly 300 at Texas Motor Speedway, and there could not be a better track for it. Martin has three wins in only four Busch races there. He won his last two Busch races at Texas in '99 and 2000 and he'll be looking for his record extending 48th series win.
IN THE BUSCH SERIES
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. Martin has posted an additional two wins this year, boosting his record total to 47. All in all Martin has run 207 Busch races, collecting 132 top 10 and 96 top-five's. Martin has won 22 percent of all the Busch races he's entered and finished inside the top 10 sixty-four percent of the time. Martin has led 5,185 laps in the series.
MARTIN KEEPS ADDING TO TOTAL
Martin won his record extending 47th Busch Series race at Las Vegas in March. It marked the second time in as many runs that Martin has driven his Pennzoil Platinium Ford to victory lane. Martin dominated in his first win at Fontana as well.
AT TEXAS
RECORD 47 CAREER VICTORIES
Martin will be going for his record-extending 48th win in the Busch Series. Martin's first win in the Busch Series came on May 30, 1987 at Dover. His last win in a Busch car came four weeks ago at Las Vegas. It was Martin's second Busch win of the season. Despite running a limited schedule of 15 races or less, Martin won at least two Busch races each year from 1993-2000, including six-win seasons in '92, '96, '97 and '99.
PENNZOIL AND ROUSH
Pennzoil first sponsored Jack Roush in the 1960's, when the former Ford Motor Company engineer was a driver himself. This season Pennzoil is proud to once again team up with Jack Roush as sponsor of all five 2005 Roush Racing Nextel Cup teams as well as the NASCAR Busch Series Pennzoil No. 9 Team. Martin will run seven races this season in the No. 9 Pennzoil Platinum Ultimate Protection Ford, with Matt Kenseth running two (Charlotte 2, Texas 2).
QUOTING MARK MARTIN ON THE BUSCH RACE AT TEXAS
"Texas is a great race track. We've run really well there over the years and especially in the Busch races. We'd like nothing else than to go in there and put the Pennzoil Platinium Ford back into victory lane for the third time in a row. Pat and the guys have done an outstanding job with the Busch program this year and we are looking forward to putting that No. 9 back out on the track."
MARK MARTIN - FAST FACTS - TEXAS - BUSCH SERIES
- Martin has won three of the four Busch races he's ran at Texas.
- Martin has won his last two Busch races at Texas.
- Martin won the inaugural Busch race at Texas in 1997.
- Martin wil be looking for his third win in three starts in the Busch Series this season.
- Martin will be going for a record-extending 48th Busch win at Texas.
Martin looks to go three-for-three at Texas garage
NASCAR.comDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 13, 2005) -- Following the first off-week of the season, the entry of Mark Martin (No. 9 Pennzoil Platinum Ford) in Saturday's NASCAR Busch Series race is the last thing his competition wants to see.
The career leader in NASCAR Busch Series wins -- 47 in 207 starts -- will be back on the track at Texas Motor Speedway for what he hopes will be his third series start of the season. All Martin has done in his previous two starts this year is win in back-to-back fashion at California and Las Vegas.
Then there's Martin's NASCAR Busch Series record at Texas. In four races at the 1.5-mile track, he's won three times, the most of any NASCAR Busch Series driver. Texas is one of seven active series tracks where he is the all-time winner or tied for the lead in all-time victories.
"Texas is a track I do well at because it fits my driving style and I love racing there," Martin said. "I've always done well at the 1.5-mile tracks and a lot of that is just my driving style really fits in for that kind of racing and that type of track."
Last season was the first in Martin's NASCAR Busch Series career that he did not win a race after starting more than once. He competed in five events in 2004, his first appearance in the series since his "retirement" in 2000.
In typical Martin fashion, he credits his crew chief, Pat Tryson, who also leads his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup team, for his resurgence in the NASCAR Busch Series.
"Pat and the guys have done an outstanding job with the NASCAR Busch Series program this year," he said. "It takes a good car to be able to win those races. Last year we ran some races in the NASCAR Busch Series and weren't really close to winning, so it depends on your team and the cars you have."
Martin's 2005 NASCAR Busch Series schedule has five races remaining following Texas -- both events at Richmond, at Chicagoland, Kansas and Homestead-Miami. Martin has five wins at Richmond, but has yet to find Victory Lane in six tries at Homestead. He will be making his first NASCAR Busch Series appearances at Chicago and Kansas, and is batting 1.000 this season in that category following his win at California in February in his first series race there. Set to retire from NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competition after this season, Martin is as focused as ever on his racing. "I do not race for fun yet," he said. "I'm hoping to do that in the future, when I switch gears at the end of this year. I like winning races and that's why we race in any race."
Martin's well earned salute
fordracing.com
April 11, 2005BY TEAM FORD RACING CORRESPONDENT
Martinsville, Va. — Mark Martin really doesn't need to say much in public anymore. He's analyzed himself in interviews so much through the years that he could as well done many of them while reclining on a couch. He's gone to the limits at times in trying to explain what makes him tick. As in anything he does, he does it the best he knows how.
Martin's theme this year—his last at NASCAR's top level—seems to be gratitude. This most common of common men in racing somehow never has felt he deserved the success and rewards that came his way; he always has believed that all he gained he would have to earn. After six races in his final NEXTEL Cup season, the Salute to You caption he has put on his final trip down the pike appears to be appropriate—a blend of thanks, deference, and respect for all those around him.
Sunday, he racked up his best result of 2005 with a third-place finish in the Advance Auto Parts 500 at cozy Martinsville Speedway, the ancient half-mile in the southern Virginia foothills. Martin has won twice at Martinsville, in 1992 and 2000, both times in the spring race.
Spring has been slow to bloom in Virginia, with what seems like a six-week extension of February. Martin's start to his farewell tour likewise has shown elements of good and evil. His finish Sunday at Martinsville was his fourth top-10 of the year, with a commendable sixth in the Daytona 500 and a fourth at Atlanta. Trouble out of his control dropped him into the 30s as Las Vegas and Bristol.
Third place? Martin climbed from his car as the warm afternoon faded to evening and pronounced, "Man, I just want to thank Pat [crew chief Tryson] and everybody here on this Viagra team." As usual, he meant it.
"I thought I had a chance to win it there with 50 to go. We gave it everything we had, but Jeff [Gordon] was just too strong for us. We burned up the front brakes trying to beat Jeff. We were so close to winning the thing, but I'm just thrilled to run third."
And then the keynote: "It's such a privilege to drive for these guys in my last year of Cup racing," he enthused. "It's really a privilege and an honor."
There is not space here to tell the whole Mark Martin story, which, perhaps more than with any other driver, frames what amounted Sunday in the context of a lifetime. You know that Martin has finished second in the NASCAR championship four times. He has run 608 Cup races, winning 34 of them.
You probably also have heard that, in talk with all the other drivers in the paddock, the one driver each would rather see (other than himself) win the championship this year is Mark Martin. A man who seems to set himself up for heartbreak, and many times has felt it broken, Martin has lived by a personal code of racing honor, under rules he expects no one other than himself to abide.
Stat of the week: Martin has run more than 220,300 miles in his Cup career.
Sunday's result vaulted Martin six places, from 10th to fourth in the Cup standings. A safe top-five would put Mark comfortably in the fall playoff standings, which amount to what owner Jack Roush calls a jump ball. Riding the strong start by Roush Racing, and with team concerns all in order so far, Martin has as good a chance at a championship this year as he has had in any of his 18 full-time seasons.
Martin has led just six laps all season, including a courtesy lap given him by teammate and then-leader Kurt Busch late in the Martinsville race. He was second to fading Sterling Marlin with 40 laps to go, but Gordon, three laps down early in the race, passed him for second place on Lap 463 (of 500), and Martin realized he did not on that day have the winning hand.
He returned to theme in the press room, saluting all who made it possible—Jack Roush, Ford, sponsor Pfizer, Pat Tryson, his crew, the fans, everyone. He insisted he had a better car Sunday than he had had in his two victories, "the best car I ever had here," he claimed.
"I feel honored and blessed to have a sponsor for the last six years that has been so fantastic and to drive for Pat Tryson and these guys in my last year," he continued. "That means more to me than I can ever tell you. To go out with 20 or 25 laps to go and have a legitimate shot to win the race at Martinsville, which is not my strong suit, bodes well for what's coming up this year for us."
Martinsville: Mark Martin Post-Race Interview
fordracing.com
April 10, 2005Martinsville, Va. — Mark Martin made his fourth top-10 finish in the season’s first five NEXTEL Cup races today at Martinsville Speedway with a third-place finish.
In the closing laps, Martin battled with top-five runners Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace. A yellow flag caution period came out with eight laps to go after Travis Kvapil’s engine blew up. That caused a green-white-checkered finish and a two-lap shootout. Although Martin made a charge at Kahne and Gordon, it wasn’t enough to advance past them. Gordon won, followed by Kahne in second.
Martin gained six points in the driver standings and now sits fourth, 198 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson.
MARK MARTIN - No. 6 Viagra Taurus (Finished 3rd)
WHAT WAS THAT RACE LIKE?
"We had such a great race car. I know we've won here twice, but that is the best race car I've ever had here. Unfortunately, Jeff Gordon and those guys were a little bit better there at the end and I used my car up trying to stay ahead of him. By the time he got by me I was about out of brakes and I didn't have anything left to race Kasey with. But with 50 to go I think it was a legitimate shot to win the race and I'm honored to be driving for such a great race team in my salute tour year. It's really special."
DID THE SECOND GROOVE EVER COME IN?
"The second groove today, probably because I had the best race car I've ever had here, it wasn't bad. It wasn't great. I would give it an average grade. I'd say it was about average for all race tracks, so that's not bad. I know my car was really good. On the restarts I could pass the lapped cars on the outside. You couldn't really do a competitive pass for the lead or something, I don't think, around the outside. But, all in all, I thought the track was pretty good today. It balled up some rubber on the race track and got a little bit tough to negotiate, but that was the same for everybody. I feel like the track did pretty good today."
WHEN YOU PASSED THE 40 AND THE 40 AND 9 GOT IN THE BACK OF YOU, DID THAT COST YOU SECOND PLACE AND MIGHT IT HAVE COST YOU ONE LAST SHOT AT JEFF?
"I think Jeff was a little too strong for us. What we had done there trying to hold Jeff back, I knew that was the race - between Jeff and I at the time. Before the caution came out I actually pulled away from Jeff a little bit, so I thought I might be able to beat him. At that point, I really thought I had a good shot to win the race and I just hammered the heck out of the brakes and really about used them up. It was pretty tight quarters when the three of us got into turn one down there. That was racin'. I'm glad I straightened it out. I feel honored and blessed to have a sponsor for the last six years that has been so fantastic and to drive for Pat Tryson and these guys in my last year. That means more to me than I can ever tell you. To go out with 20-25 laps to go and have a legitimate shot to win the race at Martinsville, which is not my strong suit, bodes well for what's coming up this year for us."
DID YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN BUSCH AND GORDON?
Martin Runs Third-Place Finish at Martinsville
Mark Martin and the #6 Viagra® Racing Team
Martinsville Speedway/April 10, 2005MARTINSVILLE, Va. (April 10, 2005) – Mark Martin and the No. 6 Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Racing Team rolled to a third-place finish in Sunday’s Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville Speedway. The finish is Martin’s second top-five in the last three races and his fourth top-10 finish in six races this season. The team used a fast car and its best pit work all season to put together Martin’s strongest run to date of 2005.
Martin was in contention to win the race late, restarting third after the day’s 13 caution with 54 laps to go. Martin’s tires were 45 laps fresher than the two cars in front of him and he quickly moved to second place on lap 460. Martin spent the next four laps in a heated battle for second place with Jeff Gordon. Gordon would prove to have the fastest car in the race and eventually overcame Martin on lap 464, before going on to take first place and eventually the victory. Still the third place finish was a solid performance for Martin and the Viagra® Team at one of the most difficult tracks on the circuit.
“This was the best car I’ve ever had at Martinsville,” said Martin after the race. “I just love working with Pat Tryson and this entire Viagra® Team. They give me great cars every week and that is what it takes to win out here. We had a chance to win there down the stretch and that’s about all you can ask for.
“I really thought we had a chance to win it there with about 50 (laps) to go,” added Martin. “But the No. 24 was just really good and I used up about all I had fighting him off for those few laps. Jeff (Gordon) was just too strong for us. We fought hard. We burned up the front brakes trying to beat him there. We were so close to winning the thing, but I'm just thrilled to run third. What an awesome day. It is such a privilege to drive for these guys in my last year of Cup racing. It's really a privilege and an honor."
Martin qualified 22nd on Friday, but by Saturday’s last practice session Pat Tryson and company boasted one of the fastest cars on the race track. Martin drove the car inside the top-15 by just the fourth lap of the race. He had powered the Viagra® Ford to 11th position by the time the day’s third caution was called on lap 57. The team used what would be the first of several outstanding stops of the day (13.98 seconds) to put Martin back out inside the top-10 for the first time in the race in ninth place.
The team used another fast stop under caution on lap 183 to move Martin from seventh place and into the top five with a 13.69-second effort. Martin dropped back to sixth place on lap 240, but the veteran would never run worse than sixth for the remaining 260 laps of the race. A 13.76- second stop under caution on lap 323 put Martin back in fifth place and there would be no looking back for the Viagra® Team.
Martin put the nose of his Ford just in front of teammate Kurt Busch at the start-finish line to earn five bonus points for leading the race on lap 416, before settling back into second place where he was running when caution number 13 was called on lap 433. Three cars stayed out and Martin retuned to the field in sixth place. Martin quickly broke back into the top five and passed Busch for third on lap 446. Moments later Gordon made contact with Busch going into the corner. The contact sent Busch into the wall bringing out the caution with just over 40 laps remaining.
Martin restarted in third and was first of the cars on fresh tires. He quickly moved into second place and had his eyes on the leader Sterling Marlin and the No. 40 car. However, he would not be able to hold off Gordon, and dropped back to third with just 37 laps to go. Martin spent the next several laps chasing down Marlin. He was able to get by the No. 40 car with 25 laps remaining, but lost a position to the No. 9 car in the process. The veteran would be able to hang on to third position for his 11th top-five career finish at Martinsville.
The strong finish moved Martin up six places to fourth in the Nextel Cup point standings. Martin and the team return to action next weekend at Texas Motor Speedway where Martin has one win and boasts 4 top-10 finishes in eight starts.
Martin Retiring, But Not Quitting Racing
By Joe Byrd/Sports Writer
Source: The Greeneville Sun
04-01-2005BRISTOL — Mark Martin’s exit from Nextel Cup racing at the end of the year isn’t really a retirement.
The veteran of more than two decades in NASCAR’s top series will exit his familiar No. 6 Ford when the checkered flag waves on the 2005 season and begin anew in 2006 in Craftsman Truck Series.
He said it’s a move that will hopefully make racing fun again without all the added demands away from the track.
“That’s the hope,” Martin said Thursday at Bristol Motor Speedway as he prepares for this weekend’s sold out Food City 500. “Everybody I talk to that runs that series really loves it, Cup drivers and all. I desperately have to cut back on my responsibilities and commitments. I have no intention of quitting racing. Not only am I too young to quit driving race cars, but I’m also in great physical condition. I have no desire to quit racing, but I am excited about opening a new chapter in my life.”
That chapter will undoubtedly be a fitting conclusion to a storied career.
Martin has 34 career Nextel Cup victories. He has a record 47 career Busch Series wins. Martin has claimed a record-tying four IROC championships and a record 12 series victories.
The only thing that has eluded Martin is a Nextel Cup championship. He has been close, finishing second four times.
Martin made his first career start almost exactly 24 years ago. Martin’s first start came at North Wilkesboro on April 5, 1981. He entered five races that season in his own car, earning a third place finish and two poles at Nashville and the old Richmond Fairgrounds track.
Nashville and the old Richmond track have, as Martin soon will, fade into a memory of races and racers from an era past. Martin said it’s amazing how much the sport has grown from the days of racing at the old bull rings to where they are today at shiny palaces of speed.
Although Martin doesn’t give himself credit, Martin can certainly take pride in knowing he was a part of making the sport what it is.
“I don’t feel like I had any part in it,” Martin said. “This thing is so much bigger than me. I just look at it and feel like I was lucky to be a part of it. It certainly would still be where it is today had I never been involved. I was just lucky to be along for the ride.”
Martin has been a fan favorite for years. He has had many memorable moments in his career, some of the more notable coming right here at Bristol Motor Speedway. He has two Cup series wins at the track, but one of the most memorable finishes here is from a race he didn’t win in the Busch Series.
Martin was leading when he took the white flag, but pulled off the track and headed to victory lane in turn four before taking the checkers.
Oops.
“I try not to think about it very much,” Martin said. “It is a little bit comical. I certainly am glad I have so many wins. It would really want to make you crawl under a rock if that is the only opportunity you had and you blew it. I wish that was the only mistake I’ve made in my career. I’ve made many others, just none quite as noticeable as that one.”
Martin already has two Busch Series victories this year and hopes to add more. He also wants to add more Cup victories to his list during his “Salute To You” Tour.
Although this is Martin’s final year in Cup, he still has the desire to win a bunch of races. He hopes to do just that in the Truck Series.
“I think running the full truck series will satisfy my appetite for racing and still allow me to pursue some things I haven’t been able to,” Martin said. “This Cup thing has grown more and more every year, and it takes more and more every year to compete on a championship level. This year I had to reach deeper than ever before. I was able to do that knowing that this would be the last time I will have to make those sacrifices.”
Martin has made many sacrifices over the years to become one of the best and best liked drivers in the history of NASCAR. The one thing he isn’t willing to sacrifice is that reputation by hanging on too long in a sport that is becoming dominated by younger men.
“There is too much racing left,” Martin said. “I’m not retiring. I’m just getting out of the Cup Series level. I’ve done this for a long time. It’s a choice I’ve made. I certainly haven’t been forced out. I didn’t want to stay and get squeezed out of this business. It’s very important for me to get out with respect and dignity. Yes, I’m getting out too soon in a lot of respects, but I’m getting out on my terms.”
2005 Mark Martin Track Notes - Martinsville
Advance Auto Parts 500 / Martinsville Speedway
#6 Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Ford Taurus
April 5, 2005DRIVER: Mark Martin
TEAM: No. (6) Viagra® Ford Taurus
OWNER: Jack Roush
CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson
LAST YEAR AT MARTINSVILLE...
APRIL 18, 2004 – MartinsvilleSpeedway
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS 500 – Started 19th, Finished 34thThe race was a tale of different stories for Martin and the team. For the first 380 laps of the race, Martin had one of the cars to beat. After starting 19th, Martin quickly moved his way up the field with one of the race’s fastest cars. By lap 79 the veteran had moved his way inside the field’s top 10, where he would run for the next 300 laps before a failed fuel line would halt the team’s inevitable march to the front. In the strangest twist of the day the race was red-flagged for over an hour midway through the race to repair part of the asphalt that had been damaged, leaving a hole in the racing surface.
NO. 6 VIAGRA TEAM LOOKS TO HIT MARK IN MARTINSVILLE
Martin and the No. 6 Viagra (sildenafil citrate) Team will look to rebound from a disappointed weekend after literally running into trouble at Bristol. Martin will look for his first top-10 finish at Martinsivlle since the 2002 season.
THE CAR
Chassis Number: (RK-274) - The team will run RK-274 this week in Martinsville. RK-274 is a brand new car that will make its first run.
WORTHY NOTE
Both of Martin's wins and 11 of his 19 top-10 finishes at Martinsville came in the spring race.
IN THE POINTS
After getting caught up in the accident, Martin dropped to 10th in the Nextel Cup standings. Martin is currently just two points behind eighth and 221 points out of first. He has now been inside the Nextel Cup Top-10 for 17 weeks dating back to September of last season.
MARTIN AT MARTINSVILLE
Though not a favorite of his, Martin has experienced success at Martinsville where he has won twice and boasts 19 top-10 finishes and three poles. Martin finished inside the top 10 in both races there in 2002, but has been unable to post a top 10 there since. Martin looked to be a solid contender to win last spring at Martinsville, before a defective oil line sent him behind the wall and dropped the team to a 34th-place finish.
AT MARTINSVILLE
Starts: 38 (19)
Wins: 2 (2)
Top 5's: 10 (6)
Top 10's: 11 (19)
Poles: 3 (1)
Highest finish: 1st twice
First time: 9/27/81 (3rd)
Last time: 10/24/04 (12th)
4/18/04 (34th)MARK MARTIN - FAST FACTS - MARTINSVILLE
- Martin has two victories at Martinsville (spring '92 and spring 2000).
- Martin has 19 top-10 and 10 top-five finishes in 38 starts at Martinsville.
- Martin posted both of his wins and 10 of his 19 top-10 finishes at Martinsville in the spring.
- Martin has three poles at Martinsville.
- Martin finished third in his first ever attempt at Martinsville on 9/29/81. He started the race fifth.
SPRING FLING
Both of Martin's wins, six of his top-five and 10 of his 19 top-10 finishes at Martinsville have come in the spring race there. Martin won at Martinsville in the springs of both 1992 and 2000.
FIRST TIME'S A CHARM
Martin was strong at Martinsville off the bat, qualifying fifth and posting a third place finish in his first race there on September 27, 1981.
Mark Martin will make his final run at the Nextel Cup title in 2005. Martin has dubbed 2005 as his "Salute to You" tour, a year in which he hopes to take the time to thank each and everyone that he feels played a role in his success, including team members, fans, NASCAR and the media.
QUOTING MARK MARTIN AND CREW CHIEF PAT TRYSON
Mark Martin on Martinsville:
"Martinsville is a place that I've always hated with a passion, but we've won two or three times there. I"ve always loved Pocono, but I've never won there, so what does that tell you. It's always been a thorn in my side as far as short tracks. The people have always told me how well I run there, but it sure never feels that way. It can be physically demanding. Sometimes you leave there worn down, sometimes you feel fine. It's been a real challenge for me, because it really just doesn't fit my driving style.
"We had a tough week in Bristol and despite what I may or may not like, Martinsville is our next opportunity to go out and win a race and that is what we'll try to do this weekend."
Pat Tryson on Martinsville:
"Martinsville can be a tough place to race and we all know that it's not one of our favorite places to race. However we ran okay there both times last year and we had a really good race car there last spring, so we know that Mark can get it done if we give him the right tools to work with. We aren't happy with last weekend's results and so we are pretty anxious to get back out on the track and go to work on getting that first win for the No. 6 team. Hopefully that'll come this weekend."
No. 6 Viagra® Team Runs Into Trouble at Bristol
Mark Martin and the #6 Viagra® Racing Team
Bristol Motor Speedway/April 3, 2005BRISTOL, Tenn. (April 3, 2005) – Mark Martin and the No. 6 Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Racing Team went into Sunday’s Food City 500 knowing they had their work cut out for them, but they were ready for the challenge. Despite struggling with the car for most of the day on Friday and turning a disappointing qualifying lap, Martin and crew chief Pat Tryson worked with the car for much of the race before finding the handle and mounting a solid march for the top 10, before being taken out of contention by a multi-car accident on lap 330.
“I don’t really know what happened,” said Martin just moments after exiting his mangled No. 6 Ford Taurus. “All I really know is that they started crashing in front of me and I hit them and then they started crashing behind me. It seemed like a pretty big wreck to me.”
Martin started back in 34th and patiently fought his way up the field. The team stayed out after the day’s ninth caution on lap 324 and looked to be in its best position of the day after restarting in 11th position. Just seconds later optimism turned to disappointment as Martin had nowhere to go when the No. 32 car of Bobby Hamilton Jr. got into the back of the No. 49 car. The contact caused a chain reaction that would see 14 cars caught up in its wrath.
“I just had nowhere to go,” said Martin. “We were completely blocked in and trapped with cars all around us.”
True to form the team refused to give up, working feverishly to repair Martin severely damaged Ford. The effort allowed Martin to go back out on the track, where he ran the final 70 laps without the benefit of power steering. The effort paid off, resulting in Martin gaining three valuable positions up to 31st place – 94 laps down.
“The guys just did a great job getting the car back in good enough shape to go back out on the track,” said Martin. “Every point counts in these things and this team always refuses to give up. It was a tough day, but again a great effort by everyone on this Viagra® Racing Team.”
Martin started the day in 34th place. He broke into the top 20 after staying out during the day’s third caution on lap 48. The team stayed out again under caution 16 laps later and Martin moved up to second place – his top position of the day – when the field restarted on lap 74. Martin was quickly hung out on the top-side of the track, as a freight train of cars were able to pass him on the bottom, dropping the No. 6 Viagra® Ford to 24th position by lap 24.
Martin had moved back up to 20th place when the team came into pit on lap 185, under the seventh caution of the day. A solid 13.75-second stop to take on tour tires and fuel put Martin back out in 17th position when the field resumed green-flag racing on lap 191. By the half-way mark on lap 250, Martin had positioned himself solidly in 15th place.
Another solid pit stop under caution on lap 301 positioned Martin in 14th place and allowed him to stay out on the next caution and move up to 11th, before getting caught up in the accident on lap 332.
Despite the finish, Martin remains in the Nextel Cup top 10, in tenth place only two points out of eighth place and 230 out of first. The ‘Salute’ Tour heads to another short track next weekend, as Martin and the team return to action at Martinsville where Martin boasts two career victories.
