NASCAR's Mark Martin
2005 Season Articles - March

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Martin to Run Four Special Throw-Back Retro Paint Schemes in 2005
Eighty-one, '89, '90 and '93 schemes to be revisited as part of Salute celebration

CONCORD, N.C. (March 30, 2005) – As a part of the Mark Martin’s ‘Salute to You’ program in 2005, his No. 6 Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Ford will feature four retro paint schemes during the course of the celebration season.

The program will highlight Martin’s first Cup paint scheme that ran on his car during his first Winston Cup race in 1981. It will also highlight his first paint scheme in a Roush car, the Retro ’89 scheme ran in 1888 and 1989 and was the paint scheme on Martin’s car during his first Winston Cup win at Rockingham in 1989. The Retro '90 scheme ran in ’90 and ’91 and saw a fierce battle between Martin and the late Dale Earnhardt for the 1990 Cup Championship. The Retro ’93 car represents one of the strongest eras in Martin’s career, a time when he won 13 races and 11 poles in a four-year span.

“These cars really span the majority of my career and they bring back a whole lot of memories,” said Martin. “We’ve had a lot of success and been through a lot of battles over the years and it will be pretty fun to revisit that with these paint schemes this year.

“We think it will be lot of fun for us and the fans and a big part of the ‘Salute’ Tour. Each week when we run those cars it will be not only a ‘Salute’ to the fans who’ve supported us throughout the years, but a tribute to all of the guys on the teams who worked on those cars to help make the No. 6 car such a success over the past 20 years.

“I know I’m really looking forward to seeing how those cars look and hopefully we can take a couple of them to victory lane with us,” added Martin.

Each of the four cars will still be sponsored by Viagra®, but will feature the four different schemes.

RETRO ’81 PAINT SCHEME – WILL RUN AT HOMESTEAD (11/20/05)
Races – 5
Highlights – Martin’s first ever Winston Cup paint scheme…Won the poles (Martin’s career first) at both Nashville (6/11/81) and Richmond (9/13/81)...Scored Martin’s first career top-10 with a seventh-place finish at Richmond on Sept. 13, 1981 and his first top-five with a third-place run at Martinsville on Sept. 7, 1981.

RETRO ’89 – WILL RUN AT TEXAS (4/17/05)
Races – Two seasons
Highlights – Martin’s first cup paint scheme with Roush Racing...Ran on the car 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.

RETRO ’90 – WILL RUN AT THE BRICKYARD 500 (8/7/05)
Races – Two season
Highlights – Ran on the car in 1990 and 91...Finished second in the points in ’90...Scored 30 top-top five and 40 top-10 finishes, eight poles and four wins in that two year span...Won at Richmond on 2/25/90...Won at Michigan on 8/19/90...Won at North Wilkesboro on 9/30/90…Won at Atlanta on 11/17/91.

RETRO ’93 - WILL RUN AT THE NEXTEL ALL-STAR CHALLENGE (5/21/05)
Seasons – 1992-95
Highlights – Ran for four seasons...Finished top-six in the points all four year including three top-five finishes and a second place in 1994...Garnered 50 top-five and 78 top-10 finishes...Had 11 poles and won 13 times...Won at Martinsville (5/26/92), Charlotte (10/11/92), Watkins Glen (8/8/93), Michigan (8/15/93), Bristol (8/28/93), Darlington (11/5/93), Phoenix (10/31/93), Watkins Glen (8/14/94), Atlanta (11/13/94), Talladega (5/30/95), Watkins Glen (8/13/95), North Wilkesboro (10/1/95) and Charlotte (10/8/95).

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.

Pages: Book review
OregonLive.com
March 29, 2005

NASCAR FOR DUMMIES By Mark Martin with Beth Tuschak Wiley Publishing, $21.99

Grade: B

They tell us our country is torn in two and that the culture war is spilling into our homes. It would be foolish not to attempt to understand people on the other end of the spectrum, right?

You can learn about people through what they consider fun, so there's a reason why effete ball-and-stick sports watchers might want to learn why those other folks would pay to sit in grandstands in the hot sun to see adrenaline freaks circle tricked-out cars around paved ovals all day long.

Enter NASCAR for Dummies. Like other titles in the series, the book has a concise style and uses handy graphics. It covers NASCAR's history, culture and rules, as well as car technology and driving strategy. It seems to mention everything a fan needs to know, down to if you should eat the glowing pink hot dogs at Martinsville (only if you have a strong stomach) or if you should see a race in an oxford shirt and khakis (no, nerd, wear a T-shirt and cap with a team's logo).

Can this book turn a low-octane blue-stater-with-the-driving-chops-of-a-nonagenarian into a no-nonsense, pedal-stomping gearhead?

Not a chance. But it'll tell you, among other things, that Watkins Glen and Infineon are NASCAR's only road courses, and that you can answer "Richard Petty" to practically any question about any big NASCAR record. And it'll show you the basics of a sport that commands the attention and consumer dollars of about 75 million U.S. fans. If you're not one of 'em already. -- James K. Yu

2005 Mark Martin Bristol Track Notes - April 3, 2005
#6 Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Ford Taurus
Food City 500 / Bristol Motor Speedway
March 29, 2005

DRIVER: Mark Martin

TEAM: No. (6) Viagra® Ford Taurus

OWNER: Jack Roush

CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson

MARTIN, NO. 6 TEAM ROLL INTO BRISTOL

Fresh off a fourth-place finish in Atlanta, Martin and the Viagra Racing Team take the "Salute To You" Tour to Bristol, Tennessee for the first short track race of the season. Martin, who has three top-10 finishes in four races this season, will be looking for his first top-10 at Bristol in almost five seasons.

2004 BRISTOL EVENT WINNER: Kurt Busch

MARK MARTIN - 2004 BRISTOL EVENT

Bristol Motor Speedway - Food City 500 - Started 21st, Finished 23rd

The No. 6 team was just never able to get a firm grasp of the car over the weekend, qualifying 21st on Friday, despite having one of the fastest cars in practice on Friday. In the end track position and a ‘tight’ handling car would put an early end to Martin’s bid for a third victory at Bristol. Martin had his hands full just securing the finish, after engine problems struck his car late. Martin never dropped below 25th place during the race, but he never ran any better than 18th either. The location of the team’s pit would also hurt the team’s effort as Martin – despite a solid effort on the pit stops – struggled getting on and off pit road all day. The car started off the race ‘tight.’ By lap 139 Martin felt the leaders bearing down on his bumper. He was able to hold the leaders at bay, racing his way through lapped traffic to stay on the lead lap. Running in 19th place on lap 362 the team came in for its fifth stop of the day and the day’s only green flag stop. The day’s sixth caution was called a few moments later on lap 380, and Martin was caught a lap down. The team was never able to get the lap back, as Martin began to experience engine problems late in the race.

THE CAR

Chassis Number: (RK-241) - The team will run RK-241 this week in Bristol. RK-241 is best known for its win last season in the June race at Dover. This is the car's first run of the season.

AT BRISTOL (Spring record in parentheses)

Starts: 36 (18)
Wins: 2 (0)
Top 5's: 15 (6)
Top 10's: 20 (10)
Poles: 7 (4)
Highest finish: 1st twice
First time: 3/14/82 (14th)
Last time: 8/28/04 (13th)
3/28/04 (23rd)

WORTHY NOTE

Martin's seven poles tie for the most ever at Bristol. Martin has started in the top five in 16 of 36 races at Bristol.

IN THE POINTS

Martin's fourth place finish at Atlanta moved him up to fifth place in the Nextel Cup point standings, 141 points outside of first and only 38 points behind third. Martin has now been inside the Nextel Cup Top-10 for 16 weeks dating back to September of last season.

MARTIN AT BRISTOL

Martin's trek at Bristol is a tale of streaks. In 36 races at Bristol, Martin has finished top 10 on 20 occasions and inside the top five 15 times. From 1995-2000 Martin has a total of 10 straight top-10 finishes at Bristol. He won four straight poles in 1995 and 1996. However, Martin has not finished inside the top 10 at Bristol in the past nine races, five of which he was involved in accidents that put an end to his chances. Martin finished 23rd last spring at Bristol and 13th in the fall there.

MARK MARTIN FAST FACTS - BRISTOL

LOOKING TO BREAK THE DRY SPELL

Despite running up front on several occasions, Martin will be looking for first his top 10 at Bristol this weekend since a third place finish on August 26, 2000.

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 Bristol:

"Bristol can be crazy. I've always said it is like flying a jet fighter around the inside of a basketball arena, and try that with 42 other jets doing it at the same time. It can get really intense and it takes a great deal of patience by everyone. You just have to hope that you run well and that you can stay out of all the trouble, which isn't always easy to do.

"Over the years Bristol has been the source of some real highs and lows for me. I've had some of the most memorable races I can remember there and some pretty tough times there as well, but it's always good racing and I'm looking forward to going there this weekend. Pat (Tryson) and the guys have been working really hard and we're excited about getting back out on the track."

Pat Tryson on Bristol:

"We are ready to get back out on the track and we want to get off to a good start. You need to qualify well at Bristol, or it's really easy to go a lap down there. We were pretty good there last fall and not so good there in the spring, so hopefully we have it figured out and we can give Mark the car he needs to do what he does best - win the race. We know we have the driver to get it done, it's just up to us to give him the right equipment."

Racing results from fifteen years ago
Bristol Herald Courier
Mar 27, 2005

Winner: Davey Allison

Winner’s Share: $50,100

Last Place’s Share: $7,300

Attendance: 57,800

Top 10: Allison, Mark Martin, Ricky Rudd, Terry Labonte, Rick Wilson, Ken Schrader, Sterling Marlin, Morgan Shepherd, Darrell Waltrip, Kyle Petty

Recap: Davey Allison edged Mark Martin at the finish line by just six inches. It was the closest race in the 30-year history of what was then known as Bristol International Raceway. The margin was so close that NASCAR officials reviewed a tape several times before officially declaring Allison the winner. Allison started 19th but took control of the race late. With 25 laps to go, Martin began to make his move on Allison but couldn’t find an opening. Passing was nearly impossible on the one-groove track. The win was Allison’s first at Bristol.

Quote of the Race: "Boy we got close. We did all we could, but there just wasn’t enough track to quite get by Davey." – Mark Martin.

Fans flock to 'Mark Martin Days'
Associated Press
March 27, 2005

BATESVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- More than 10,000 NASCAR fans descended on star driver Mark Martin's hometown this weekend as he hosted defending Nextel Cup champ Kurt Busch and circuit veteran Rusty Wallace at Martin's new Ford dealership.

The fans lined up clutching pieces of Martin's No. 6 memorabilia hoping for a signature. When he saw the size of the crowd -- some fans came from as far as California, Louisiana and Wisconsin -- Martin said he was a bit apprehensive. He called the Friday and Saturday event Mark Martin Days.

"I really want to make sure everybody gets what they came for," Martin said. "This is the biggest crowd I've seen at an appearance."

Martin, who drives for the Roush Racing team, has 34 Nextel Cup victories. Both he and Wallace are in their final full seasons in the race for the Nextel Cup.

"We've given them [fans] something to get excited about with the performance from the team on the race track," Martin said. "Hopefully, we can keep it going, I really hope we can. It's a dream-come-true start, and it could very well be a fairy-tale ending."

Next season Martin said he will join the Craftsman Truck Series for a full schedule along with spending more time in Batesville.

"I think that's the most important thing, that people realize just how hard I work for the success," Martin said. "It hasn't come easy and I've had a lot of competition. I've had to work harder than most to be there."

Racing buddies fly in for Martin’s party
By Steve Rogers
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
March 25, 2005

NASCAR star Mark Martin is humble, sometimes fiercely so. In interviews, he usually attributes his success more to hard work than his own skills.

Others in his sport don’t see it that way.

Two of NASCAR’s biggest stars will be in Martin’s hometown this weekend as a sign of admiration for one of the most respected drivers in stock car racing.

Defending Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch and 1989 champion Rusty Wallace will participate in autograph sessions at Mark Martin Ford in Batesville today and Saturday in conjunction with Martin’s Salute to You celebration. Martin will retire from full-time Cup racing after this season.

Busch, Martin’s teammate at Roush Raciing, said before the Daytona 500 in February that he wanted to see Martin win the sport’s greatest race. "Pushing Mark Martin across the finish line to win the Daytona 500 would be better than winning it myself," Busch said. "I don’t think I’m the only one in this garage area that thinks the same way. Mark has done so much for this sport and so much for Roush Racing. He deserves all of the accolades that he can get."

The kudos have rained down from all points in Martin’s final Cup season. But Martin has taken it all in with his typical humility. "The respect everyone has for you, it makes you feel good," Martin said. "I’ve had a good career and I’ve always treated people the way I wanted to be treated. It has served me well."

"[Racing in Nextel Cup] is not unlike going to high school. You’re with everyone all of the time. There’s people you like and there’s people you don’t like as much. You tolerate the people you don’t like. You hang out with the ones you do."

The season has gotten off to a good start for Martin and his teammates. Roush Racing drivers hold four of the top five spots in the Nextel Cup standings: Greg Biffle (second), Carl Edwards (third), Busch (fourth) and Martin (fifth). Edwards claimed his first series victory Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway heading into this off weekend. "We’ve got things working right now, for sure," said Martin, who finished fourth in series points last season and has four runner-up finishes. "The way the competition is in this business, the performance curve has high and low points. Right now, we’re at the top of the curve."

Martin’s dealership is at 2850 E. Harrison St. in Batesville. A new dealership and an adjoining museum that will include cars and memorabilia from throughout his racing career is under construction and scheduled to open in spring 2006. "It [the museum] is a huge undertaking," Martin said. "I get a little scared when I think about it. There’s so much stuff that’s going to be included. For the fans, I really want to do it right, and it can get overwhelming." Salute to You celebration WHAT Autograph sessions involving Mark Martin (noon-2:45 p.m. today; 2:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday), Kurt Busch (3-5 p.m. today); Rusty Wallace (noon-2 p.m. Saturday) WHERE Mark Martin Ford, Batesville FESTIVITIES The celebration wil include the Ford Technology Tour, which will feature several types of race cars on display, including John Force’s NHRA Funny Car, the Indy car of Michel Jourdain Jr. and the FIA World Rally car driven by Colin McRae.

Modified specials hit state's tracks tonight
By Steve Rogers
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
March 25, 2005

Batesville Speedway in Locust Grove and North Central Arkansas Speedway near Flippin will host two-day modified events beginning tonight. The opening round of the Salute 2 Six Modified Series will begin tonight in Batesville. The series is in honor of Batesville native and NASCAR star Mark Martin, who is entering semiretirement after this season and is calling his final year the Salute to You Tour. Martin drives the No. 6 Ford in Nextel Cup. The series will feature six races, each paying $6,000 to win and $600 to start. A points championship also will pay $6,000 to the winner. There also will be a six-race Salute 2 Six Series for hobby stocks, which begin May 6-7 and pay $1,600 to win. Heat races will be held tonight, with last-chance qualifiers and the 60-lap finale Saturday night. Adult grandstand admission is $10 each night. Children 11 and younger get in free.

North Central Arkansas Speedway will hold its rescheduled Coca-Cola Nationals after it was rained out last fall. The highlight will be Saturday night’s Coca-Cola 60 for modifieds, which will pay $6,000 to win and $1,000 to start.

Heats and a preliminary feature were held Thursday night, with the same planned for tonight and Saturday night. The finale is also slated for Saturday night.

There also will be a ministock special paying $3,000 to win and $300 to start and a hobby stock feature paying $1,200 to win. There also will be added money in the pure stock/cruiser class.

Martin forecast teammate Edwards' success
By Mike Harris
The Associated Press
March 24, 2005

It was Mark Martin who first alerted anyone who cared to listen about the talented youngster Jack Roush had just signed to drive in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series.

Martin told the world that Carl Edwards was already anointed as the driver who would step into the No. 6 Ford when the longtime Roush Racing star retired. Roush said he agreed, although he didn't want to put undue pressure on the young driver.

He needn't have worried. The kid appears up to the task.

When Jeff Burton's No. 99 car foundered in 2004, Roush decided not to wait for Martin's departure, moving the precocious Edwards, then 24, into the Nextel Cup Series ahead of schedule. He drove 13 races last season in Cup and is racing full-time in both Cup and the Busch Series this year, getting all the seat time and experience he can.

Martin is delighted. Now the veteran gets to race against Edwards as he goes through his final full season in Cup.

Last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Martin watched Edwards do something no other NASCAR driver has ever done: win his first race in both Busch and Cup on the same weekend.

"Carl Edwards is a great race car driver and a great person,' Martin said. "I sat in the media center after the Busch race at Las Vegas and I told everyone that I felt he would win a Cup race this season and I guess he made me look pretty good.'

Martin was particularly proud of the way Edwards bounced back from the disappointment of two weeks earlier in Las Vegas when he was well on his way to his first Busch win before a blown tire with 15 laps remaining sent him spinning off the track. Martin wound up winning the race.

"I realize and can identify with what Carl was able to accomplish last weekend,' Martin said. "He got the biggest win of his career through grit and determination on Saturday, after suffering a disappointment the week before in the Busch race. I can sure identify with all of that.

"There's no doubt that type of weekend is a once-in-a-lifetime thing,' Martin said. "And to have him come back and win surely on grit and a ton of determination on Sunday, with such an exciting finish, it's just amazing.'

Martin, the sentimental favorite to win the 2005 Cup championship, isn't doing too badly himself.

After bouncing back from a 30th-place finish in the Vegas Cup race with a fourth-place run in Atlanta, Martin, a four-time series runner-up, now has three top 10s in the first four races and is fifth in the points standings.

"We know what the No. 6 team is capable of and we're running very well,' Martin said. "Hopefully, we can keep it going all year.'

Edwards got almost as much attention for his post-victory backflips off the window ledge of his cars as he did for winning the Busch and Cup races last weekend.

After winning the Busch race, Edwards did an almost perfect flip, landing solidly on his feet. Sunday, a pooped Edwards nearly didn't make it, having to lean forward and stop himself from falling with both hands.

Edwards, who learned the acrobatic move from a friend while attending the University of Missouri, was evaluated this week on the backflips by Rob Drass, the school's head gymnastics coach.

"Saturday's flip was definitely a better landing,' Drass said. "It was a better start. He had good balance, he made it without putting a hand down and he had better height.'

Despite his stumble, Drass said he would give Edwards a 9.0 score for Sunday's move.

"Not too bad of a backflip after three or four hours in a car,' the coach said. Laughing, he added, "He needs to come into the gym and train on our trampoline. We'll get him ready to do doublebacks in no time."

Martin 'Salutes' Edwards On Stellar Weekend In Atlanta
March 23, 2005

CONCORD, N.C. (March 23, 2005) -- Mark Martin left last weekend's race in Atlanta with a solid fourth-place finish and a top-five position in Nextel Cup points race. So far this season Martin's "Salute" Tour is off to a great start, but make no mistake -- the story last weekend in Atlanta was Martin's Roush counterpart Carl Edwards. Edwards turned in one of the most impressive weekends in recent NASCAR history, taking the checkered flag in both Saturday's Busch race and Sunday's Cup event, and doing each in grand fashion, come-from-behind wins.

"Carl Edwards is a great race car driver and a great person," said Martin. "I sat in the media center after the Busch race at Las Vegas and I told everyone that I felt he would win a Cup race this season and I guess he made me look pretty good.

"I realize and can identify with what Carl was able to accomplish last weekend," added Martin. "He got the biggest win of his career, through grit and determination on Saturday, after suffering a disappointment the week before in the Busch race. I can sure identify with all of that.

"There's no doubt, that type of weekend is a once in a lifetime thing," added Martin. "And to have him come back and win surely on grit and a ton of determination on Sunday with such an exciting finish, it's just amazing.

"He's been giving the type of performance that it takes to get it done. I've been around this thing for a long time and I'm not always right, but usually I can see things coming and it wasn't really all that hard to predict that Carl would soon be going to victory lane. He's been driving his heart out and Bob (Osborne) and that entire No. 99 team have just done a great job."

Sunday's win was Edward's first in the Nextel Cup Series, but the 76th for Jack Roush and Roush Racing. Martin remembers win number one, when he took the No. 6 into victory lane on October 22, 1989.

"That was a great day, but it was kind of a Kasey Kahne type story, where it seemed like we ran second all of the time -- about six times I think -- before we got our first win. It was definitely a breakthrough, but it wasn't as memorable as a couple of the other ones. Really it had been coming and was so overdue. To be honest it was more a relief than a celebration. But we were able to do that and Jack has been able to get a lot of wins since then and hopefully there will be plenty more for this organization down the road."

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.

Roush Racing: Mark Martin Driver Diary
March 23, 2005

Hello everyone,

Well last weekend sure made for an exciting day of racing. First of all you have to take your hat off to Carl Edwards and the No. 99 team. Carl's a great race car driver and he's a great kid. It's funny, but I said last week in the media center after the Busch race that I felt that Carl would win a Cup race this year and it sure didn't take him long to make me look pretty good on that prediction. I have to say I enjoyed watching him after the race from pit road and it's pretty cool seeing him get his first win like that. So hats off to Bob Osborne and that entire team for doing a great job on Sunday.

As for our team the No. 6 Viagra Ford was good, but it just wasn't quite good enough there at the end to get the job done. We were great on long runs, but we couldn't get a long enough run going to get back up front. Still we got a solid fourth-place finish and we'll build on that and move on to Bristol where we were pretty good last fall.

This week we'll be busy getting ready for Bristol and testing the Busch car at Texas. I am really excited about the way both of our cars have been running and we are looking for it just to continue to get better as we go.

On another note, we are really excited about our fan days that we are going to have this weekend in Batesville. As you know, we'll be signing autographs on both Friday and Saturday. Kurt Busch will be coming in on Friday and Rusty Wallace is coming in on Saturday. It's great to be able to bring both of these champions to my hometown, so come on out to Mark Martin Ford and enjoy in the fun. We'll have our show cars and souvenir rigs there as well and hopefully everyone can come out and have a good time.

Well I guess that's all I have for now, but I want to continue to thank all of you for all the continued support.

Salute to all of You,

Mark

Martin Runs to Top-five Finish at Atlanta, Moves to Fifth in Point Standings
Mark Martin and the #6 Viagra® Racing Team
Atlanta Motor Speedway/March 20, 2005

HAMPTON, Ga. (March 20, 2005) – Mark Martin and the No. 6 Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Racing Team posted a strong fourth-place run in Sunday’s Golden Corral 500 for their first top-five of the season. The run moved Martin up four positions to fifth place in the Nextel Cup point standings.

“It was a great effort by this Viagra® Racing Team,” said Martin after the race. “We had a good car, but it just wasn’t quite good enough to win. It was top for most of the day, but we just weren’t strong enough to pull anything out there at the end.

“Still it’s a solid run and a good finish and we’ll take it and move on to the next one,” added Martin. Pat (Tyson) and the whole Viagra® Team continue to do a great job and it’s an honor to work with these guys.”

Martin started 12th and moved his Viagra® Ford inside the top 10 on lap six, where he would run the remainder of the day with the exception of pitting cycles. By lap 52 Martin broke inside the top-five and he would be a top-five contender from that point on. Martin moved around the No. 25 car to take fourth place with only 12 laps to go in the race and he would hang on from there for the finish.

Martin moved up to third place on lap 185 and he was running the fastest lap times on the track by lap 196. He was able to lead a lap on pit road, earning five bonus points, after coming into the pits on the day’s fourth caution.

‘We were awfully good on the long runs,” added Martin. “We did good to come out where we did with that short of a run at the end. Our car was really good on long runs and gave up some on the short ones and we just couldn’t get a long run to end the race.

Indeed no car was stronger on the long run than the Viagra® Taurus. Martin posted his strongest run late in the race during a 40 lap green-flag run, when he climbed up the field from seventh to third place by lap 277. Martin was catching the leaders two-tenths a lap when the day’s sixth caution occurred just one lap later on lap 278. The team came down pit road for four tires and fuel on lap 281, and a 14.24-second stop sent Martin back out in third position. However, the car struggled on the restart and he quickly fell back to fifth, where he was running when caution was again called on lap 295.

The team came down pit road again, this time for four tires only (no fuel) and Martin went back out in fifth place when the field resumed green-flag racing on lap 299 with 26 laps remaining. Martin moved into fourth 14 laps later where he would finish the race.

“I had to work a lot today and so did all of my Viagra® team,” added Martin. “We had this Taurus pretty hooked up, but it wasn't good enough to pull it off there at the end. It was a good run and I'm awfully proud of all these guys. We’ll go after it again in Bristol.”

The finish was Martin’s first top-five of the season and his third top-10 in four races. Martin’s teammate Carl Edwards finished first for his first career Nextel Cup victory. He joined Martin and fellow Roush driver Greg Biffle (fourth), as Roush boasted three drivers in the top 10. In addition Roush leaves Atlanta owning four of the top-five points positions in the Nextel Cup top-10.

NASCAR takes next week off, before returning to action in two weeks at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee.

Ford Racing: News: Biffle leads 151 laps for third straight top-10 Post Race:

MARK MARTIN - NO. 6 VIAGRA TAURUS (FINISHED FOURTH)

"I worked pretty hard today and so did all of my Viagra team. We had this Taurus pretty hooked up, but it wasn't good enough to pull it off there at the end. It was a good run and I'm awfully proud of all these guys. Our Roush-Yates Engines, Kraft, Pennzoil and everybody that supports us. I'm ready for some Gatorade."

ARE YOU GOING TO DO A BACKFLIP AS PART OF YOUR SALUTE TOUR?

"I'm too old."

HAPPY WITH THE RUN?

"Yeah, we didn't quite have what we needed to win. We were awfully good on the long runs. We did good to come out where we did with that short a run at the end. Our car was really good on long runs and gave up some on the short ones."

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ROUSH RACING SO STRONG AS A WHOLE BEFORE?

"I don't know. I'm just happy we are."

Mark Martin 'Salute to You' fan days planned for Batesville

CONCORD, N.C. (March 16, 2005) -- Mark Martin will hold a 'Salute To You' Fans day in his hometown of Batesville, Arkansas on March 25 and 26. The event will be held at Mark Martin Ford Mercury. Martin will sign autographs on Friday and Saturday. Martin will be joined by special guest Kurt Busch and Rusty Wallace. Busch, the reigning Nextel Cup Champion, will sign autographs on Friday, while Wallace will sign for the fans on Saturday.

The event will also feature show cars and souvenir haulers. In addition the Ford Technology Tour, including John Force's NHRA Dragster will be on hand for the event.

"We are excited about the fan day," said Martin. "It's a part of our "Salute To You" Tour and we are hoping to get out and meet a lot of fans in the course of two days. In addition I've called in some favors and we have our Nextel Cup Champion Kurt Busch coming in. Last year we had Matt Kenseth come in, so this will be the second straight year that we've had the Nextel Cup Champion come into Batesville.

"We also have my longtime racing friend and rival Rusty Wallace coming in on Saturday. Rusty and I go back a long, long way and it really means a lot to me for him to take one of his few off days of a busy season and come here and do this for me. For both of these guys to do that means the world to me and I sure hope that the fans have a really good time."

The event starts on Friday the 25th with Martin signing autographs from noon -- 2:45 p.m. (CST). Busch will sign from 3 -- 5 p.m. that same day. On Saturday Wallace will be on hand signing from noon until 2 p.m. and Martin will wrap up the autograph fest signing again from 2:30 until 4:30 p.m.

"I guess I better have my signing hand ready," added Martin. "But that's what this year is all about. We want to get out and meet as many people as we can and be able to let them all know just how much their support has meant to us. I can't think of a better way to do that or a better place to start."

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 Atlanta Track Notes - March 20, 2005
#6 Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Ford Taurus
Golden Corral 500 / Atlanta Motor Speedway
March 15, 2005

DRIVER: Mark Martin

OWNER: Jack Roush

CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson

MARTIN EXCITED ABOUT RETURN TO ATLANTA

After a disappointing 30th-place finish at Vegas, Martin and the No. 6 Team will look to get back on track at Atlanta, where Martin posted what was perhaps his most dominant run last season, leading 227 laps and finishing second.

2004 EVENT WINNER: Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

MARK MARTIN - LAST YEAR AT ATLANTA

March 14, 2004
Atlanta Motor Speedway
GOLDEN CORRAL 500 – Started 27th, Finished 14th

Martin’s car was fast right off the truck on Friday, but the car’s handling became looser and Martin had to run a more conservative lap in qualifying, settling for a 27th-place start. Martin wasted little time during the race, powering inside the top 20 by lap 17. He had moved into 15th place by lap 55, but the car’s handling became even looser and Martin went a lap down to race leader Tony Stewart on lap 104. The team came down pit road on lap 118 for its second stop of the day to take on four tires, fuel and attempt to tighten the car’s handling with a wedge adjustment. However the crew had a problem in the pits fueling the car and valuable time was lost on pit road. After the stop Martin returned to the field in 21st place and would have to fight his way back through traffic. Twice Martin would work his way to the front of his lap and into the ‘lucky dog’ position, but he wouldn’t receive the caution on either occasion. Despite being one of the fastest cars on the track for several runs, and passing several of the lead-lap cars, Martin would be unable to gain the lap back. On the day, Martin ran 122 laps in the ‘lucky dog’ position, but the team was stuck waiting for a caution that would never come, as they were forced to settle for a 14th-place finish, the first car one lap down.

AT ATLANTA

Starts: 38 (19)
Wins: 2 (0)
Top 5's: 10 (3)
Top 10's: 18 (7)
Poles: 1 (1)
Highest finish: 1st twice
First time: 3/21/82 (19th)
Last time: 10/31/04 (2nd)
3/14/04 (14th)

THE CAR

Chassis Number: (RK-118) - The team will run RK-118 at Atlanta, the same car that he led 227 laps and finished second with there last fall. It will be the car's first run since that race.

WORTHY NOTE

Martin has lead 879 laps, has two wins, 18 top 10's and 10 top fives in 38 career Cup starts at Atlanta.

IN THE POINTS

Martin is currently 10th in the Nextel Cup point standings, 151 points behind first. Martin has currently been inside the top-10 for 15 straight weeks, dating back to September of last season.

MARTIN AT ATLANTA

This will be Martin's 39th-career Cup start at Atlanta, where the veteran has posted 18 top-10 finishes, 10 top fives and two wins. Martin ran his first career Cup race at Atlanta just one day shy of 23 years to the date of this Sunday's race on March 21, 1982, finishing second. He returned there that spring and drove to a top 10. He finished second at AMS last fall, his first top-10 finish at the track since back-to-back top-10's there in 2002.

THREE TRACKS EQUALS THREE WINS ON THE 'SALUTE' TOUR

Martin has already notched three wins on the "Salute Tour" with all three having had significance in the record books. Martin's 12th career win in the IROC race at Daytona set a record for wins in the series. Both of his Busch wins this season have extended his record for wins in that series, which now stands at 47.

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 Atlanta:

"We sure are excited about going back to Atlanta. Boy you talk about having fun, now we are talking about going to Atlanta. That's a real race track with real racing. It's a big, fast race track. The pavement has gotten a little older and it has finally given up and made it a really fun place to race. From top-to-bottom, it's one of the best places that we go to race. It usually makes for a great show and a great race.

"We had a great race there in the fall. We led a lot of laps and really let a win get away there, so we are excited about going there this weekend."

Pat Tryson on Atlanta:

"We can't wait to get down there. It's one of Mark's best tracks and we really had the place figured out last fall. Hopefully we can go back there have another strong run and this time seal the deal with a win. We have two wins in the Busch car, but we want really bad to put that No. 6 Viagra Ford into victory lane and I can't think of a better place to do that than Atlanta on this Sunday."

MARK MARTIN - FAST FACTS - ATLANTA

Luck Runs Out on Martin's Vegas Run
Mechanical problems end Martin's run at a top-five finish, No. 6 Team fights back for 30th- place finish
Mark Martin and the #6 Viagra® Racing Team
Las Vegas Motor Speedway/March 13, 2005

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - Mark Martin and the No. 6 Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Racing Team saw their Vegas luck run out midway through Sunday's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400. Martin came down the pits under caution on lap 87 to take on four tires, fuel and make a track-bar adjustment, but his No. 6 Ford dropped a cylinder while on pit road, forcing the team to take the car behind the wall to work on the problem. The result would see Martin return to the race 24 laps down, in 35 position and running on only seven cylinders.

Still Pat Tryson and his Viagra® Team charged on, racing strong to the end, while picking up six valuable positions to finish 30th. The finish was good enough to keep Martin in the Nextel Cup Top 10 in the point standings.

"The guys on the Viagra® Team did a great job today getting us back out on the track," said Martin. "You never want to have to race that way, but every position matters and we were able to do what we had to do and get everything we could get out of it. The car was starting to come around some and I think we would have been okay, but we'll just take this and move on to Atlanta where we are very excited about racing next week."

Martin qualified 19th on Friday, but after working with the car throughout both practice sessions on Saturday, the team had Martin in third place on the speed charts after Happy Hour. Martin struggled with a loose car and heavy traffic early and fell back to as far as 24th. The team continued to make adjustments and Martin was optimistically confident - having begun to turn lap times competitive with the leaders - when the team came down pit road on lap 87 running in 19th position.

"Okay guys, let's put together a good stop and make a run for it here," Martin radioed his crew just moments before loosing the cylinder. Martin's optimism turned sour just moments after the crew's stop when he informed crew chief Pat Tryson that he had dropped down to seven cylinders. The team came down pit road to look at the engine and opted to go behind the wall to fix the problem and attempt to finish the race. The move paid off as Martin was able to pick up six more positions and move on to a 30th place finish when the checkered flag fell.

Martin and the team will look to rebound next week in Atlanta, where Martin led 227 laps and finished second last fall. Martin is currently 10th in the Nextel Cup point standings, 151 points behind first place.

Martin was honored by Las Vegas Motor Speedway before the race, where he has been one of the track's most successful competitors. Martin won the inaugural event at Vegas in 1998 and has posted six top-10 finishes, including four top-fives, in eight Nextel Cup starts there. In addition Martin won two Busch races at Vegas, including Saturday's Sam's Town 300, his record-extending 47th win in the Busch Series.

Las Vegas: Ford teams race quotes - Nextel

DOUG YATES, Engine Builder - Roush-Yates Engines

WHAT HAPPENED TO MARK'S ENGINE?

"Something happened to the number four cylinder intake, but we're not sure. We'll have to get home and see, but I don't think it dropped a valve because it kept running. We came in and disconnected that cylinder and went back out, but I don't know. We'll just have to see when we get home."

Ford Racing: News: Ford Nextel Cup Qualifying Notes and Quotes:

MARK MARTIN - NO. 6 VIAGRA TAURUS (QUALIFIED 19TH)

"I'm disappointed in myself. I should have told these guys and should have identified this thing in January. We'll do a great job with it in Sunday and get us a top-10 and go to Atlanta with both barrels blazing, but this car is just not got the potential that some of our cars do and that we should. We'll struggle along with this thing here on Sunday and get us a top-10."

Martin looks to close book on Vegas in same fashion he opened it – with a trip to victory lane
Roush Racing
March 10, 2005

CONCORD, N.C. -- Mark Martin is simply not the type of guy to revel in the moment. For the majority of his distinguished racing career, Martin has taken very little time to bask in any moment, much less realize any occasion or milestone. Instead he always chose to point his attention to the next task at hand, as seldom did more than a week separate Martin from an win and the next track on the schedule. It is most likely for that reason that very little stands out in Martin’s mind when quizzed about his 34 Nextel Cup victories.

“I just never really had time to celebrate,” said Martin. “Because there was always something else that it was building towards, be it another race, another season, you name it. You basically take your pictures and move on to the next track.”

Martin will however admit a few do stand out a little more than others and perhaps none stand out more than victory No. 22 - a win in the inaugural Las Vegas 400 in 1998.

Martin headed into Vegas in 1998 with a completely new team and a revitalized outlook. The win would be the first of a career-high eight for Martin in 1998 and the first for a driver in the manufactured Ford Taurus.

"The win there in '98 is probably the most memorable win I have," said Martin. "We went there, it was a brand new track and we had a brand new team looking to see what we could do.

"Once the race was all over with and we took care of all the Victory Lane stuff and all the media, we were leaving in the helicopter and I looked down at the track and it dawned on me what we had accomplished."

Martin admits that despite years of success on the track, it was in the moments after that race that he first realized just what he and his team had accomplished.

"It was pretty overwhelming. I've had a lot of success in racing, but I never really paid much attention," said Martin. "I was always so busy looking ahead to the next one, but when I flew out of there and saw that track, it dawned on me that it wasn't just some quarter-mile dirt track in Arkansas and it dawned on me just what we had done."

Martin, who is scheduled to run his last Cup race this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, will look to close out at Vegas the same way he came in – by hitting the jackpot.

In a town where nothing is a sure bet, Martin's consistency in Vegas may be as close as it gets.

In addition to capturing the checkered flag in 1998, Martin has finished in the top 10 in six of his seven Nextel Cup races at the track. He has brought home four top-five finishes; the victory in 1998, a third place finish in 2000, a third-place run in 2002 and a fifth place run last season.

In fact, Martin completed all 1,216 laps of the first five Nextel Cup races at Las Vegas, before engine problems ended his run in 2003. He has completed every lap there in six of seven races, and he has led 186 laps there in the process.

Furthermore, Martin has an average finish of 10.1 on the 1.5-mile track and he has brought home over 1 million dollars in prize earnings from Las Vegas. Martin also has one victory and two poles in three Busch races at LVMS. In addition to his Nextel Cup duties, he will drive the No. 9 Pennzoil Ford in the Busch Series race on Saturday.

"It's been a race track where we have run well," said Martin. "We haven’t been back to victory lane (in the Cup car) since the first year, but we sure have run well and we’ve had some really strong finishes. It suits my driving style. It's a race that is orientated towards handling and in the past we have excelled in that area."

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.

NASCAR 2005: Changing Lanes
No rocking chair: Retirement means a switch to trucks
By Brian Hilderbrand
LAS VEGAS SUN March 10, 2005

Driving a racecar at 200 mph doesn't faze Mark Martin, but that doesn't mean he is fearless.

Martin's fear of hanging around the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series too long -- past the time when he can win races and challenge for championships -- led him to announce that this season would be his last in NASCAR's premier series.

Martin, 46, will join Rusty Wallace, 48, in calling the 2005 season his last on the Nextel Cup circuit. Terry Labonte, 48, is running a limited schedule this year and next.

Like Labonte, Martin is not quitting NASCAR racing cold turkey. He said he plans to race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series next season, perhaps for current team owner Jack Roush.

"I'm not going to quit racing -- I can't," Martin said. "I can't because I might short-circuit. There's no doubt that that void has to be filled in my life and that I have to transition."

Martin, a native of Batesville, Ark., won three consecutive American Speed Association championships from 1978-1980 before moving up the NASCAR in 1981. He ran five races in what was then called the Winston Cup Series in 1981 as an owner/driver and won two poles and posted a pair of top-10 finishes.

"(I'm retiring) because I'm in great shape, I was fourth in the points (and) I have a great team," Martin said. "It's very important to me to get out with my dignity and not hang on to something that I can't hang on to."

And although racing has been his passion for the past 30 years, Martin said he doesn't necessarily love being a racecar driver.

"I don't love racing," Martin has said in the past, "I love winning races."

The demand of being one of the top drivers in the most visible form of American auto racing has taken its toll on Martin.

"I have other things that are important to me, (things) that I have put off for 30 years, but it is time for me to develop some personal relationships, to spend more time with my family, to be more accessible to my extended family, to be under less pressure, to have some Sundays to do what I choose."

And just what would Martin do on a Sunday if he weren't racing?

"Watch the race on TV, I guess," he said. "Go to a family reunion. I haven't ever been to a Martin family reunion in my life. I didn't go to my granddad's funeral; I haven't done anything (but race). I'm interested in reclaiming a life.

"If you've got a day off and it's Monday, and your kids are in school and everybody you know is working, what good is it? It's not the same as a Sunday, when you can go and have dinner with your family. Sunday is a totally different day than a Monday, it just really is and it's something that when you haven't had any for 30 years, it's a different day."

When Martin steps out of his Roush Racing Ford at the end of this season, he will leave a legacy in the sport that will be hard for future drivers to match. In addition to his success on the racetrack, Martin has been the model of humility and class both on and off the track.

When he earned his 23rd career Cup victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 1998, Martin said the win was special because "it's real hard to win these races and we may win 20 or 30 more in my career but we may not win any more and I realize that."

Martin went on to win 11 more races and has been a contender in each of the first two races this season. Martin finished sixth in the season-opening Daytona 500 and was seventh two weekends ago at California Speedway. Coming into Sunday's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Martin is third in points and trails series leader and Roush Racing teammate Kurt Busch by 39 points.

If he were given a gold watch for his retirement, Martin was asked what would be an appropriate inscription. Always humble, Martin replied, "thinspace." There was a guy who tried really, really hard and always did what he thought was right.' That's just the first thing that came to mind."

For his millions of fans, that doesn't even begin to define his legacy.

Mark Martin's career highlights:

1978 -- Won first of four ASA championships ('78, '79, '80, '86)

1981 -- Made NASCAR Winston Cup debut at North Wilkesboro Speedway

1988 -- Returned to NASCAR Winston Cup full time driving for team owner Jack Roush

1989 -- Earned first NASCAR Winston Cup victory (Rockingham Motor Speedway)

1990 -- Runner-up to Dale Earnhardt for NASCAR Winston Cup championship

1993 -- Became sixth modern-era driver to win four Cup races in a row; won seven NASCAR Busch Series events

1994 -- Runner-up to Dale Earnhardt for NASCAR Winston Cup championship; won first of four IROC championships ('94, '96, '97, '98)

1997 -- Became all-time leader in NASCAR Busch Series wins with 33rd career victory

1998 -- Runner-up to Jeff Gordon for NASCAR Winston Cup championship with career-high seven wins; won inaugural Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

2000 -- Won five NASCAR Busch Series races to push record total to 45

2002 -- Runner-up to Tony Stewart for NASCAR Winston Cup championship

2004 -- Earned 34th career Cup victory (Dover International Speedway)

2005 -- Became all-time leader in IROC series wins with 12th career victory; won 46th career NASCAR Busch Series race (California Speedway).

2005 Mark Martin Las Vegas Track Notes - March 13, 2005
#6 Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Ford Taurus
UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400/Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 7, 2005

DRIVER: Mark Martin

TEAM: No. (6) Viagra® Ford Taurus

OWNER: Jack Roush

CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson

2004 WINNER: Matt Kenseth

MARK MARTIN - 2004 AT LAS VEGAS - MARCH 7, 2004
UAW-DAIMLERCHRYSLER 400 – Started 27th, Finished 5th

Martin and the No. 6 team used a quick car and fast pit work to earn a fifth-place finish at Las Vegas. The No. 6 team posted back-to-back stops of under 14 seconds late in the race and Martin picked up two spots in the race’s final 12 laps for the strong finish. The finish was Martin’s fourth top-five finish in seven races at Vegas.

MARTIN SET TO TAKE 'SALUTE' TO VEGAS

After starting the season with back-to-back top-10 finishes at Daytona and Fontana, Martin and the team will be looking for their first Nextel Cup win of the "Salute" season when they roll into Las Vegas.

A 'SALUTE' TO WINNING IN RECORD FASHION

Martin has already notched two wins on the "Salute Tour", and both have had significance in the record books. Martin's 12th career win in the IROC race at Daytona set a record for wins in the series, while his Busch win a week ago at Fontana was a record-extending 46th for Martin in that series. Martin will look for his first Cup win of the season this weekend in Las Vegas.

THE SALUTE TO YOU TOUR HEADS TO VEGAS

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.

THE CAR

Chassis Number: (RK-231) - The team will run RK-231 at Vegas. RK-231 finished seventh at Fontana two weeks ago. It was the star of the stable in 2004, with top-five runs at Dover 2, California 2, Michigan 2 and Las Vegas. The car also had strong runs at Charlotte 2, Pocono 1, Indy and Chicago.

MARK MARTIN - ALL-TIME AT VEGAS

Starts: 7
Wins: 1
Top 5's: 4
Top 10's: 6
Poles: 0
Highest finish: 1st (3/1/98)
First time: 3/1/98 (1st)
Last time: 3/7/04 (5th)

WORTHY NOTES

Martin's six top 10 finishes at Las Vegas are the most of any driver. Martin won the inaugural race at Vegas in '98

IN THE POINTS

Martin moved up four places to third in the Nextel Cup points after Fontana. He is currently just 39 points out of first place.

MARTIN AT LAS VEGAS

Martin's career at LVMS has been stellar. He hit the jackpot there in the inagurual race in 1998 and followed that up with four straight top-10 runs. Martin finished fifth there a year ago. Martin's only finish outside the top 10 at Vegas came in 2003, when he suffered an engine failure on lap 114. With the excepton of 2003, Martin has finished every lap run at Las Vegas in a Cup event.

QUOTING MARK MARTIN AND CREW CHIEF PAT TRYSON

Mark Martin on Vegas:

"Las Vegas is a very special race track for me. We won the first race there in 1998 and that win really stands out in my memory. It's not really often over the years that I ever took a moment to let something soak in, but for some reason that win in 1998 really stood out. I realized that it wasn't just a win on some dirt track in Arkansas, but that we had just done something special.

"We are off to a good start in 2005 and I know that Pat and the guys are looking forward to going out to Vegas to race. This track is one of my favorites and we've run really well there over the years. Hopefully we can go back to victory lane there in the Viagra car this weekend and finish up there like we started."

Pat Tryson on Vegas:

"Mark has always run really well at Las Vegas and hopefully we can maintain that tradition this year. We had a good test at Vegas back in February and we are confident that we can go there and make some noise this weekend. It's one of the 1.5-mile tracks on the circuit that really suits the way Mark likes to race. It's a driver's-type track and we have the best driver in the business."

MARK MARTIN - FAST FACTS - LAS VEGAS - NEXTEL CUP

2005 Mark Martin Las Vegas Busch Track Notes - March 12, 2005
Pennzoil Roush Racing #9 Ford Taurus
Sam's Town 300/Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 7, 2005

DRIVER: Mark Martin

TEAM: Pennzoil Roush Racing #9 Ford Taurus

OWNER: Jack Roush

CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson

2004 WINNER: Kevin Harvick

MARTIN LOOKS TO CONTINUE WINNING WAYS AT VEGAS

Martin will look for a strong follow-up to his record extending 46th Busch series win two weeks ago at Fontana. This will be Martin's fourth appearance in the Busch race at LVMS, where he has two poles and a victory in three previous attempts. This will be the second of eight scheduled Busch races for Martin this season.

THE CAR

Chassis Number: (RK-292) - The team will run RK-292 this weekend at Las Vegas. RK-292 is the same car Martin won two weeks ago with at Fontana.

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. All in all Martin has run 206 Busch races, collecting 131 top-10 and 95 top-five finishes. 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 WINS 46th CAREER BUSCH RACE AT FONTANA

Martin's first career Busch Series race at Fontana was a memorable one, as he captured his record extending 47th career win in the series. Martin dominated in the win, leading 102 of 150 laps.

MARK MARTIN AT VEGAS

This will be Martin's third career Busch race at Las Vegas. He won from the pole in his second Busch race there in 1999. The following year he finished second in a race he was leading with three laps to go before a late accident cost him the lead.

RECORD 46 CAREER VICTORIES

Martin will be going for his record-extending 47th 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 two weeks ago at Fontana in his first Busch race 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 ON THE BUSCH RACE AT LAS VEGAS

"We sure had a lot of fun in the Pennzoil car at Fontana and hopefully we can go out and do it again at Las Vegas. We've had a lot of success at Vegas in both the Cup and the Busch cars and it's one of my favorite tracks on the circuit to go race. Pat (Tryson) and the team have done an outstanding job with the Busch cars and hopefully we can get that No. 9 back in victory lane at Vegas."

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