Mark Martin Press Conference Transcript
MARK MARTIN, NO. 5 GODADDY.COM CHEVROLET met with members of the media at Phoenix International Raceway and discussed racing at Phoenix, the Daytona 500 champions and other topics.
DO YOU LOVE RACING AT PHOENIX?
"I do love it and it’s really good to be here. Excited about the weekend and just getting to work. Can’t wait to get out on the race track and start working with my team and get back in the swing of things. Looking forward to it."
HOW DIFFERENT IS IT TO COME TO PHOENIX AFTER LEAVING DAYTONA?
"Well, it’s cool coming here. It’s cool going to California too, but this feels normal. It feels a little different, but it’s a good place to start the season off with a restrictor plate race behind you. We have 34 events in front of us that all relate somewhat to this and only three more events this year that relate to what we just did last week. This is the beginning of the meat of the season. This is a great race track for racing. I remember from the first time that we came out here to race in ’88, it’s always been met with such great enthusiasm from the fans and it has through the years just always been a good race track to race on. A great facility and met with a lot of enthusiasm from the fans here."
DO YOU VIEW GETTING OUT OF DAYTONA WITH A TOP-10 AS DODGING A BULLET AND HOW COMFORTABLE ARE YOU WITH LANCE MCGREW?
"We dodged a bullet at Daytona for sure because I was in that first wreck and damaged the car and got three laps down. To get a top-10 is pretty incredible. We were eighth with the next to the last restart and we didn’t get very far and they had another restart and we were in fourth. We had come from three down and thought anything can happen here and it did. But it didn’t happen for the good, we lost some spots there on that last restart. We still felt like it was a great day even though we got teased with a chance there at the end. We still view it as a great day. Great recovery, great team effort, incredible display of team effort. I feel comfortable with Lance (McGrew, crew chief). We will learn more and more as we go forward, but I’m comfortable and excited. The enthusiasm within the team is really high. It feels good to walk into my garage and be around my guys. That’s half of it right there. I’m anxious to get into the meat of the season here."
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON ‘TREVORMANIA’ THIS WEEK?
"I think it’s great. I’m one of his bigger fans. I think it’s really great, but for me, it is overshadowed by how great it is for the Wood Brothers. To me, it’s much greater for the Wood Brothers than it is Trevor Bayne. Trevor is a really fine young man and I am so proud for the sport that I love so much to have him represent our Daytona 500 champion. That being said, to me, having the Wood Brothers win is a bigger deal. Trevor will win many more races. I was in the grandstand in ’76 when that car painted that way won that race. That means a lot to me and it means a lot to me to see them win because we’re not talking about a few years of history in NASCAR. We’re talking about 50-range. One of the very few that have been around for that kind of -- the Woods and Petty’s -- are important to our sport. Put it this way -- they’re important to me. They are very important to me. That was huge. That was very, very cool and I’m still giddy over it. I would have liked to have won the race myself, but I couldn’t possibly be more happy for any other situation than to have the Woods celebrating and driver-wise, we’re represented very well by Trevor Bayne."
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE OVERALL ENTHUSIASM AT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS?
"That’s hard for me to answer. I’ll know more about that this evening after our debrief and I think the teams will too. They will certainly rebound from that quickly, especially if they go out today and have fast race cars. This evening, after the last practice we’ll have our debrief and we’ll see whose got smiley faces and who may have a long face -- I don’t know. Right now, I think everybody is still optimistic about what we’re doing. We have a great, great plan. We’re looking at all different areas through with the four teams as far as what’s going to work the best and we’re going to be sort of looking at different avenues for setup stuff through the first several races. Then eventually probably migrate toward all the pieces that seem to be working the best. We have a good plan for today."
ARE YOU SURPRISED AT THE FAME TREVOR BAYNE HAS SEEN THIS WEEK?
"One of NASCAR’s biggest initiatives for 2011 was go to after the kids, the young people -- it’s perfect, just perfect. We’re talking about the Daytona 500 champion. What’s not big news about that? Second Cup race, first 500 -- there’s plenty to make a big deal out of. You’re sure not going to get me to say there ain’t no big deal here. It’s a big deal. It’s good for our sport. No, I’m not surprised. It is a big story -- it is a big story, big story."
HOW ARE THINGS DIFFERENT AT HENDRICK THIS YEAR AND ARE THINGS DIFFERENT WITH JEFF GORDON THIS YEAR?
"We’re just getting started so I could answer that question better six or eight races down the line I think -- you should ask me that again. So far it hasn’t changed. Jeff (Gordon) has been very, very good to me and very respectful and seems to be genuinely excited about everything -- the way it’s setup now. We will work slightly closer together than we did before, but mostly the difference will be that the 5 team group and the 24 team group will work closer together than they did. That’s really where the difference will be is more in the shop, in the manufacturing of the body, the cars and those kind of things. They will work a little closer together where before it was the 5 and 88, now it’s the 5 and the 24. That’s where you really see it. Jeff and I have a great relationship and we may work slightly closer together, but it won’t be dramatic because we worked fairly closely together anyway. It will mostly be in the shop."
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE UPCOMING REPAVE AT PHOENIX?
"I’m really excited about it on one hand and on the other hand I think it’s great now. Anything new is exciting. We’ll have to wait and see. They’re plans are to make it even better. I think we’ll find out here in several months just how it turns out. It’s exciting, it’s a change."
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE END OF THE DAYTONA 500?
"We broke apart. We were a little slow getting attached. It took a little longer in bumping him forward. While we were trying to do that, Kurt (Busch) got in between us and that still wasn’t death to our challenge, but as we started to exit turn two for reasons that we can’t determine right now, those things break apart when other cars are around and we broke apart and Tony (Stewart) didn’t immediately know it. So by the time he realized it, we were far enough apart that it was too late now. Our chance was over. It was just a matter or circumstances, racing. We can’t control all that stuff. I thought we had an excellent, excellent shot at it, but as it turned out we didn’t get the run that we hoped we would and the wind from the other cars broke us apart. It wouldn’t have been any big deal if we would have had five laps, but we only had a lap and a half left and we were broke well apart -- four or five or six car lengths. At that time, then Bill Elliott picked me up and so I couldn’t pick Tony up. I had to go with what I had going. Just what happened."
IS IT HARD TO BECOME TEAMMATES WITH A DRIVER THAT WAS YOUR RIVAL A DECADE AGO?
"I think that Jack (Roush) and Ray Evernham were more budding that Jeff (Gordon) and Mark (Martin). Jeff and Mark were pretty much competitors and we were heated competitors, but we never had an issue one. The issues more came from inside the teams. It wasn’t Jeff -- Jeff and I never had a problem, never. We have never had a problem on the race track. First of all, before that and after that, Jeff and I really respect one another and kind of like each other too. But really respect overrides it all and between really respecting each other and kind of liking each other, that kind of takes care of all that. You’ll have your day, you’ll have your scrapes and stuff. No, no problems."
HOW MANY RADIO CHANNELS DID YOU HAVE IN YOUR CAR AT DAYTONA?
"I had AJ (Allmendinger) and my teammates -- my three teammates and AJ. AJ had mine and I know Tony (Stewart) had mine and I don’t know who else. I’m sure Jimmie (Johnson) had mine because he talked to me in practice once. I never talked to one of my teammates all day. I was on AJ’s channel a good bit. AJ and I talked some, but I was on his radio so AJ’s spotter spotted us both. In the race where Tony and I ran together, Tony got on my radio and my spotter spotted us both. That’s how that worked, that’s what we did. Hopefully this week everybody cleans the radios up. I don’t think that’s necessary going forward. I’m not sure it would be a good thing to be able to talk to a competitor of mine. I would be better off keeping that to myself or sharing it with my spotter and my crew chief."
DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE MORE BUDDYING AROUND IN THE FUTURE OR WAS THAT JUST A PRODUCT OF DAYTONA?
"I don’t foresee hanging out with AJ (Allmendinger). I don’t foresee going out to dinner with him, but I do like AJ and I’m a big fan of AJ’s. AJ is the guy that I wanted to run with in the 500 because I knew that he would be loyal to me. I knew that I could count on him and that meant a lot to me. I also knew from experience on the race track that our cars worked well together. But I would have run with somebody I didn’t like if it made me run better. I’m not sure how to answer your question. I don’t think you have to be buddies to talk, you have to be in a position to help one another and then if you are for the day you’re buddies. You make the best of whatever the situation is."
IS IT BETTER TO MAINTAIN THAT KILLER MENTALITY ON THE RACE TRACK?
"It’s hard for me to say for sure. I only can tell you that I am very good friends with Jeff Burton and I’m really good friends with Matt Kenseth. But I have a high level of respect for a bunch of people that I’m not friends with. I don’t consider them my friends, but I respect them and respect overrides all. The pecking order of respect is how I treat people and by the way, my friends are at the top of that respect list. There’s some that I’m not friends with that are right up there beside them or probably tied with them. I treat people with the degree of respect that I have for them, not so much as if this is my hanging out buddy or not. I’ve only got a small handful of hanging out buddies and I don’t know what the recipe for success is -- hate them all, friends with them all -- I can’t tell you what the recipe is. It could be different for different people. Respect has always been king in my world."
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - Subway Fresh Fit 500
February 25, 2011
Mark Martin: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - Subway Fresh Fit 500
February 25, 2011
NEW RECORD
Martin now has the most top-10 finishes in the Sprint Cup Series of any driver in NASCAR’s modern era. With his 10th-place finish in the Daytona 500 last Sunday, Martin has 429 career top-10s in 795 career Sprint Cup starts.
POINT STANDINGS
Martin enters the second race of the Sprint Cup season ranked ninth in the series standings. This is the highest points standing Martin has had at this point in the season in his three years with Hendrick Motorsports.
FIRST HENDRICK WIN
Martin earned his first Sprint Cup win with Hendrick Motorsports at Phoenix International Raceway in April 2009. At the time, Martin, 50, started from the pole position and led 157 laps en route to the emotional victory. It was his first win in more than three years and the 36th of his career. The victory also made Martin only the fourth driver in NASCAR older than age 50 to win a Cup race.
MARTIN AT PHOENIX
Along with his Hendrick Motorsports win at Phoenix, Martin also visited Victory Lane there in October 1993 after leading 157 laps. Martin has earned 12 top-five finishes and 19 top-10s in 28 Cup starts there.
HENDRICK TRIO
Martin, the only driver who has raced in all 28 events at PIR, leads all drivers in top-five finishes and top-10s, while his teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon occupy the second and third spots. Martin owns 12 top-five finishes and 19 top-10s. Johnson ranks second with 10 top-five finishes and third with 13 top-10s. Gordon owns nine top-five finishes, which ranks third in that category, and 17 top-10s, which ranks him second at the racetrack.
BEST AVERAGE FINISH
Martin’s average finish of 8.6 at Phoenix is his best average finish at any oval track on the Sprint Cup schedule. Only Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International road course has been kinder to the driver, who owns an 8.3 average finish there.
LOOP STATS
According to NASCAR’s loop statistics, Martin holds the second-best average finish 8.6 at Phoenix in the last 12 races and the sixth-best average running position 11.61. His 100.8 driver rating is the third-best of all competitors and his 362 laps led rank as third-most in the Sprint Cup Series. Martin has competed in 11 of those 12 races.
MOST RECENTLY AT PHOENIX
Martin started 28th in his No. 5 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet last November at Phoenix International Raceway and benefited from a successful fuel gamble in the final laps. He crossed the finish line eighth.
POLE SITTER
Martin’s next Sprint Cup Series pole position will be the 50th of his career and will place him eighth on the all-time pole winner’s list. Martin has one career pole at PIR, which he earned in April 2009.
CHASSIS CHOICE
Crew chief Lance McGrew has chosen Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 5-643 for Sunday’s race. This is a brand new chassis that never has been raced or tested.
HENDRICK AT PHOENIX
In 29 events (103 starts) at Phoenix International Raceway, Hendrick Motorsports has earned eight wins, which leads all other teams. The organization, which has led 1,805 laps, also has 29 top-five finishes and 52 top-10s.
RUNNER-UP RECORD
Martin is tied with Gordon for the most career runner-up Sprint Cup finishes 59 of any active driver. Both Martin and Gordon are tied with Cale Yarborough for the fifth-most runner-up finishes in the history of the sport.
QUOTES
MARK MARTIN, DRIVER, NO. 5 GODADDY.COM CHEVROLET (ON PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY.)
“I love racing at Phoenix. I’m a big fan of short track racing. I grew up racing on short tracks, and it’s just always been something I’ve enjoyed. I’ve had a lot of success at Phoenix, too, so that gets me pretty geared up when I get out there.”
MARTIN (ON HIS 2009 PHOENIX WIN WITH HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS.)
“There comes a time when you really aren’t sure you’ll ever get a win again. I was at that point. I knew our team was capable, but I hadn’t won in so long. That night was incredible. I was just so happy. Beyond happy. And to see the guys, Alan (Gustafson, crew chief) and the crew guys, to see their faces. I’ll never forget it. Then to have as many of the other drivers and owners in this sport come to see me. It will be one of the most memorable wins of my career for sure.”
MARTIN (ON HIS 10TH-PLACE FINISH IN LAST SUNDAY’S DAYTONA 500.)
“When we went three laps down, there probably wasn’t a lot of expectation for us to have a shot at winning. But in the end we did. The guys did a great job of fixing the car. We basically were missing half of our splitter at one point. And Lance (McGrew, crew chief) made the right call to gamble on the wave-around when he did. We got back on the lead lap, and we knew we were fast enough to get a run. I thought on that last green-white-checkered finish that we could win it all. But when the middle lane came up there, it took any momentum Tony (Stewart) and I had away. It’s a great start for this team though and a great feeling to know we can overcome something like that. It’s a good start to build on.”
LANCE McGREW, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 GODADDY.COM CHEVROLET (ON HOW THE TEAM’S TOP-10 FINISH LAST WEEKEND AT DAYTONA BUILDS MOMENTUM.)
“There is so much work that goes into building the cars for Daytona. So many late nights over the entire offseason. So, to come out of that race with a solid finish, it’s just an instant reward for those efforts. That good finish just builds excitement for the rest of the races that are coming up.”
McGREW (ON THE TEAM OVERCOMING A THREE-LAP DEFICIT TO EARN A TOP-10 FINISH AT DAYTONA.)
“David Bryant (car chief) and all of the guys did a fantastic job repairing the damage that the GoDaddy.com Chevy received in that early accident. Half of the front splitter was completely ripped off. We made quick repairs and also learned a lot that will help us if we’re ever in a similar situation. All you can hope for at the end of every race is that you put yourself in a position to have a shot at the win. This team accomplished that, and did it from three laps down. I’m really proud of the entire effort.”
McGREW (ON THE UPCOMING RECONFIGURATION OF PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY.)
“I’m not sure what their motivation is to reconfigure Phoenix. But with any new surface a lot of new questions come up. What’s the new tire going to be like? When will the testing happen? How is the new surface or configuration going to affect the cars in the Chase (for the NASCAR Sprint Cup)? There are a lot of questions that will have to be answered once this happens.”
Mark Martin NASCAR Sprint Cup - Subway Fresh Fit 500
TEAM CHEVY FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT AT PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY (PIR)
MARK MARTIN, NO. 5 GODADDY.COM CHEVROLET – 9TH IN STANDINGS – HAS TWO (2) PIR VICTORIES – ’93, ’09
“I love racing at Phoenix. I’m a big fan of short track racing. I grew up racing on short tracks and it’s just always been something I’ve enjoyed. I’ve had a lot of success at Phoenix, too, so that gets me pretty geared up when I get out there. There comes a time when you really aren’t sure you’ll ever get a win again. I was at that point (when he won Phoenix with Hendrick Motorsports in 2009). I knew our team was capable, but I hadn’t won in so long. That night was incredible. I was just so happy. Beyond happy. And to see the guys, Alan (Gustafson) and the crew guys, to see their faces. I’ll never forget it. Then to have as many of the other drivers and owners in this sport come to see me. It will be one of the most memorable wins of my career for sure.”
Phoenix International Raceway Subway Fresh Fit 500 on February 27
PHOENIX-SPECIFIC STATISTICS
Mark Martin (No. 5 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet)
Two wins, 12 top fives, 19 top 10s; one pole
Average finish of 8.6
Average Running Position of 11.6, sixth-best
Driver Rating of 100.8, third-best
241 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
Average Green Flag Speed of 123.088 mph, fourth-fastest
2,341 Laps in the Top 15 (66.9%), 12th-most
Speedway Children's Charities Changes Format for Annual NASCAR Driver Auction
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Mark Martin has 12 top-five finishes, more than any other driver. Martin (8.6 average finish) is one of two active drivers who averaged a top-10 finish. Jimmie Johnson (4.9).
LAS VEGAS -- The Las Vegas Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities will present its annual AutoTrader.com Racing Memorabilia Auction under a new format for 2011. SCC will conduct both an online auction and a live auction to give race fans the opportunity to ride around the track in the back of a pick-up truck with their favorite NASCAR driver during the pre-race driver introduction lap.
The Ride of a Lifetime online auction is under way and will conclude Feb. 27. To bid on your favorite NASCAR Sprint Cup Series or NASCAR Nationwide Series star, please visit www.sccrideofalifetime.com.
A live auction for Sprint Cup Series drivers for the March 6 Kobalt Tools 400 will be held at LVMS in the Sprint Experience on the midway immediately following the Sam's Town 300 on Saturday, March 5.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who will be auctioned off in the live auction in the Sprint Experience (following the Sam's Town 300) on March 5 include: Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards and Clint Bowyer.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who will be auctioned off in the online auction through Feb. 27 at www.sccrideofalifetime.com include: Dale Earnhardt Jr., David Reutimann, Jamie McMurray, Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, David Ragan, Robby Gordon, Marcos Ambrose, Joey Logano, Paul Menard, David Gilliland, Ryan Newman, Juan Pablo Montoya, Bobby Labonte, Martin Truex Jr. and Brian Vickers. NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers who will be auctioned off in the online auction at www.sccrideofalifetime.com include: Kenny Wallace, Elliott Sadler, Danica Patrick, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Justin Allgaier, Mark Martin, Kevin Harvick, Jason Leffler, Carl Edwards, Steve Wallace, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Aric Almirola and Trevor Bayne.
Making a difference in a child's life is the focus of Speedway Children's Charities. SCC strives to do this in collaboration with the non-profit organizations it supports nationwide. Individually, SCC's local chapters identify the needs of children in their communities and award grants to organizations that address them. Last December, the Las Vegas Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities granted $255,000 to 44 local children's causes during its annual grant distribution ceremony. For more information, please call Las Vegas SCC director Rachel Commeford at (702) 632-8242.
NASCAR Weekend begins on Thursday, March 3 with a full day of NASCAR Nationwide Series practice and a free driver autograph session. Stratosphere Pole Day features practice for both the Kobalt Tools 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race as well as qualifying for the Kobalt Tools 400 on Friday, March 4. The Sam's Town 300 is set for Saturday, March 5 and the Kobalt Tools 400 will run on Sunday, March 6. Two nights of World of Outlaws racing will take place on the dirt track March 2 and 3.
Tickets for all events are on sale at www.lvms.com or by calling (800) 644-4444. Follow LVMS on Facebook and Twitter.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Speedway Motorsports, a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. For more information visit www.speedwaymotorsports.com.
Martin quickest in quiet day of practice at Daytona - Sprint Cup
The Sports Network
February 18, 2011
Mark Martin topped the speed charts in Friday's practice for the Daytona 500, with both sessions featuring only 12 drivers on the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway.
Mark Martin led the way in the second and final practice with a lap at 196.803 m.p.h. His Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Jimmie Johnson, was just a tick behind at 196.794 m.p.h. Red Bull Racing teammates Kasey Kahne and Brian Vickers were third and fourth, respectively. Greg Biffle posted the fifth quickest lap.
Jeff Burton was fastest in the first practice, which occurred late in the morning. Burton, who won the second qualifying race for the Daytona 500 on Thursday, turned a lap at 196.648 m.p.h.
Speeds in both practices were lower than the speeds of more than 206 m.p.h. posted in last Saturday's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona.
Earlier in the week, NASCAR made revisions to the restrictor plates, which limit airflow in the carburetor and therefore reduce horsepower in the cars. NASCAR also made alterations to the water cooling system in an attempt to lower speeds.
NASCAR has made no announcements so far of making any further changes to the cars for Sunday's 500-mile race.
Final practice for the Daytona 500 is scheduled for Saturday at 10:30 a.m. (et).
It's Mark Martin's career, and he gets to make the calls
By Jim Utter
That's Racin
February 18, 2011
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Sunday’s Daytona 500 might be the last of Mark Martin’s career.
Or maybe not.
Why the uncertainty? Martin doesn’t want to talk about it.
You won’t find out here what Martin’s going to do in 2012 - other than he’ll “absolutely, positively be racing” - but perhaps what you’ll better understand is why Martin is reluctant to discuss the topic at all.
It’s due in large part because of how he has addressed the topic of his future in the past. In a fashion, oddly enough, most journalists would prefer: Open, honest and as forthcoming as possible.
“I answered all the questions because I want to be honest and good to the journalists, so I answered the questions honestly at the time,” Martin explained.
“It might have been too soon to answer the questions, but it was probably not too soon for journalists to ask the questions.
“I learned a lesson from that. So I’m not going to answer the questions this time because I don’t know, it’s not set in stone and it’s not important to me to answer those questions any more.
“It’s more important to me to be happy. I want to do what makes me happy. Right now that’s driving the No. 5 car for Hendrick Motorsports.”
Martin, 52, has had a long, successful NASCAR career and his ability to remain highly competitive as he has aged has made following his career changes a ripe topic for fans and motorsports media.
That success and his longevity are also what have prompted a slew of unexpected career changes in recent years.
On Oct. 14, 2004, Martin announced that the 2005 season would be his last in full-time Cup competition with veteran team owner Jack Roush.
Although many have forgotten, Martin never said he was going to retire. What he did say was this: “First of all, I’d like to stress that I am not announcing retirement today, but 2005 will be my final year to race for the Cup.”
As happens many times in racing, plans change.
Roush asked Martin to stay another year to help young driver David Ragan move into the seat of the No. 6 Ford. Martin agreed.
In doing so, Martin brought the first round of complaints from the media and fans, who thought he had misled them.
"Why can’t I wake up every day and just say, ‘This is what I am going to do today?’ instead of me having to answer someone’s question and then someone saying, ‘Well, he’s wishy-washy.’
"That’s bull,” Martin said.
Martin then joined a new organization called Ginn Racing (which later merged with Dale Earnhardt Inc.), planning to drive about half the races on the Cup schedule for two seasons, splitting the ride with aspiring newcomers. He worked with drivers Regan Smith (now in Cup) and Aric Almirola (now in Nationwide).
During the 2008 season, Martin got a phone call from team owner Rick Hendrick. Would he consider a return to full-time Cup competition for at least one more season, Hendrick asked?
“There are a number of reasons you might quit doing something. One of those reasons is if what you do stands in the way of what you want to be doing. Racing did stand in the way of me doing what I wanted to do in 2005,” Martin said.
“I had to weigh that out. I was willing to give up the kind of schedule I had to be able to do what I wanted to do, which was have some time away from racing with my son and with my wife and my family.”
Martin’s son, Matt, elected not to pursue a career as a driver and Mark relished the opportunity to work with another of the most successful owners in NASCAR.
Martin joined HMS and returned to Cup with a bang. He earned five wins, seven poles and finished as runner-up to Jimmie Johnson in the series’ championship battle in 2009.
That success brought another request from Hendrick. Would Martin agree to drive two more seasons? Still on top of his game, Martin again said yes.
Again his plans changed.
Now, Martin is beginning his final season at HMS. Martin wouldn’t make any more long-term commitments and Hendrick has signed Kasey Kahne to take his place in the driver lineup.
Kahne will join the organization in 2012.
Martin said he's entering 2011 with as much enthusiasm as he's ever had.
“When I get done at Hendrick Motorsports, I want them to say that they were glad that I was there - every driver, every crew chief, everyone,” he said.
The end of the season will leave Martin at another career crossroads.
“My passion is racing and I realize that there is going to have to be a transition, and it will have to be a gradual transition from driving to my next involvement in racing. I embrace that, but the people in the garage don’t talk to me about that,” Martin said.
“Nobody in the garage wants to talk to me about anything I could do for them except drive their car. That’s the reality.”
For that reason, Martin is certain he will be racing. What series or how much he'll race remains unclear. And he is in no hurry to get the answer.
That also means more questions from the media and fans about what’s next.
This time, he’s ready.
He’s just going to make everyone wait and see.
Mark Martin Post Race Notes and Quotes - Gatorade 150 - Duel 1
Team Chevy
February 17, 2011
MARK MARTIN, NO. 5 GODADDY.COM CHEVROLET, FINISHED 8TH:
ON THE RACE
"It was fun and we have a really fast race car and it is still in one piece. We located a number of things we need to work on in different areas. We have a few days to get. Before today we really didn't know what we really needed to zero-in on. I am tickled to death. The GoDaddy.com Chevy can win this race but we are going to have to make those areas better and we know where to work."
Start 4
Finish 8
62/62 Laps
Running
$25,213
Mark Martin - Team Chevy From The Driver's Seat - Daytona 500
February 16, 2011
MARK MARTIN, NO. 5 GODADDY.COM HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET:
“Well the statistics show a lot but I am not convinced that the stats are just not in one of those coincidental phases where it looks really, really good (safer). When you say safety, you think comfort. I don’t think that there is a huge amount more of comfort with what we do but certainly the HANS device is and incredible light years move forward along with all the other little things that go along with that and then maybe the safer barrier being number two to the HANS device. But we didn’t give safety a second thought when we didn’t have those things to be honest with you and we don’t give them a second thought really today. So it hasn’t changed the driver’s thought process, you know most of the guys out there don’t know any better. And let me put it this way because that is not fair to say. What is fair to say is that they don’t know any different whereas Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton, and even Jeff Gordon; we know, we have been there and we have lived it when there was a tire war, and we didn’t have safer barriers or HANS and that was brutal and as long as I live I will feel the effects (laughs) from those days.”
Sam’s Town 300 a 'Personal Favorite' for Mark Martin; NASCAR Veteran Chooses Las Vegas as One of His Four 2011 Starts
By John Bisci, Turner Motorsports
February 15, 2011
LAS VEGAS -- Stock car racing legend Mark Martin will compete once again in the Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in what may well be his final season as a full-time NASCAR driver.
The Batesville, Arkansas native will pull double duty during LVMS’s NASCAR Weekend, driving a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in the March 6 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kobalt Tools 400 and in a new ride – the No. 32 Turner Motorsports Dollar General Impala – for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Sam’s Town 300 on March 5.
Martin is in his final contract year for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series.
He will compete in only four NASCAR Nationwide Series events in 2011. Las Vegas, where Martin has visited the Sam’s Town 300 victory lane three times, is one of the select quartet.
He also will compete in a pair of NASCAR Camping World Series events.
Although he is 52 years old, his well-known fitness and nutrition regimen keeps him in top shape and ready for his ironman undertakings.
“I’ve got to get back to victory lane in the Dollar General car so I can keep Kyle Busch from breaking my Nationwide Series record,” Mark explained. “I'm excited to be running back in the Nationwide and Truck Series again. Everyone at Dollar General and Turner Motorsports has been great and I'm looking forward to hitting the track with them this year. Working with Turner Motorsports, I get to extend my relationship with Chevrolet and continue to have Hendrick horsepower under the hood which is really, really good.”
With a career spanning 30 years, he has 40 victories in 794 Sprint Cup Series starts, holds the Nationwide records for most victories (48) and most poles (30), and has seven victories in 23 Truck starts.
“The races we picked for both series are personal favorites of mine,” Martin said.
In five Sam’s Town 300 starts at LVMS, Martin has three victories (1999, 2005 and 2008), four top-fives, five top-10s and two pole awards to his credit.
He also won the inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in Las Vegas in 1998.
NASCAR Weekend begins on Thursday, March 3 with a full day of NASCAR Nationwide Series practice and a free driver autograph session. Stratosphere Pole Day features practice for both the Kobalt Tools 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and Sam’s Town 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race as well as qualifying for the Kobalt Tools 400 on Friday, March 4. The Sam’s Town 300 is set for Saturday, March 5 and the Kobalt Tools 400 will run on Sunday, March 6. Two nights of World of Outlaws racing will take place on the dirt track March 2 and 3.
Tickets for all of these events are on sale at www.lvms.com or by calling 1-800-644-4444. Follow LVMS on Facebook and Twitter.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Speedway Motorsports, a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. For more information visit www.speedwaymotorsports.com.
Mark Martin Post Qualifying Notes and Quotes - Daytona 500
Team Chevy
February 13, 2011
MARK MARTIN, NO. 5 GODADDY.COM CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED 8TH:
THE LAP OUT THERE, WAS IT ABOUT WHAT YOU EXPECTED?
"Probably a little bit off of what we expected. We had hoped to back up our time from yesterday and we didn't and it would have took that to be a pole contender or a little bit of a pick up. We were really good yesterday. A little bit disappointed with that but to go that fast and be disappointed just speaks volumes for Hendrick Engine department and this Smith race car we got here and everything."
A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE WIND HERE AT DAYTONA FOR QUALIFYING IN FEBRUARY, YOU KNOW THIS AREA AS WELL IF NOT BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE DOWN HERE IN THE SPRINT CUP SERIES GARAGE SO LETS TAKE THE GODADDY.COM RACING HAT OFF AND PUT THE GODADDY.COM WEATHERMAN HAT ON, IS THE WIND GOING TO PICK UP LATER IN THE DAY AND HURT THESE GUYS LATER IN THE DRAW?
"How can you predict that? There's no way of knowing that. That's why we all gotta stay tuned and watch this thing."
HAVE YOU TALKED TO KYLE (BUSCH) AND FIGURED OUT WHAT HAPPENED YET?
"Just racing. No. I don't think either of us really knows. That's was last night, today is a new day. Our run was little bit disappointing. We were hoping for a little bit better.
We were really good in practice and that's not quite what we ran in practice and we were hoping to back up our practice time and would have taken that to got the pole or maybe a little bit of a pick-up. You know the car is fast, got a lot of horsepower. I'm proud of these guys and we'll just get ready to go racing now."
Mark Martin - Bud Shootout
Position 17
Start 20
36/75 laps
Accident
$30,575
Mark Martin Post Race Notes and Quotes - Bud Shootout
Team Chevy
February 12, 2011
MARK MARTIN, NO. 5 GODADDY.COM CHEVROLET
WHAT HAPPENED?
"Well, I don't know. It just went around on him. We were perfect-latched and nothing was different. So I don't know if our tires being colder or, I don't know why that happened. I have no answers. I'm sorry. I was doing the same thing everybody else was doing. It's just a bad deal. I hate that."
SOUNDS LIKE PART OF THE LEARNING PROCESS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THIS TWO-CAR DEAL.
"I don't know if you need to wait until the tires get hotter. I'm not really sure. There was no indication. He did (No. 18) slip quite a bit down in Turn 3 and 4 and I did too. I had somebody pushing me. And he slipped pretty big but I didn't pay any mind to it. I thought it was because we had three of us hooked instead of two. And then we got down there and when he turned in the corner the back just went around on him."
"I just don't know why or how that happened. Kurt and I ran the whole 25 laps hooked together and everything was perfect and Kyle and I got hooked on him and we went into Turn 1 and his back end just started coming around and I don't know if we needed to wait until the tires got hotter; maybe they were a little cold. I'm not sure. I can't figure out why that happened. It was just a non-issue. Before that we were able to run through the corners and it wasn't even a sweat. I hate it. We were doing good and I was having a good time."
WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE IN RACE CONDITIONS WITH THE NEW PACKAGE?
"I enjoyed it. I was having a good time. Our GoDaddy.com Chevy was pretty strong. I was wanting to get hooked back up with Kurt (Busch). If Kurt and I could have stayed together the whole time, but the restart broke us up, I think that we could have had a chance."
Mark Martin Press Conference Transcript
Team Chevy
February 10, 2011
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES 2011
NASCAR MEDIA DAY DAYTONA INTERNATIOINAL SPEEDWAY TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
MARK MARTIN, NO. 5 GODADDY CHEVROLET, met with members of the media at NASCAR Media Day and discussed Danica Patrick, NASCAR safety, Dale Earnhardt, Sr and other topics. Full transcript:
REGARDING DANICA PATRICK:
“You know its not so much of where you can slide these cars because you can slide these cars pretty much at some places and not so much in other places and if you think you are at one of the places where you can, and you do, and it’s not, then it’s not so good today. So you have to learn these things through driving them and one thing that you need to take notice of is that she has not wadded-up any race cars. How many newcomers come in and don’t? You know? So give her a break. (laughs) You know she is really up against a lot. You know, it’s a lot.”
ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE TO COACH HER A LITTLE BIT WHEN YOU CAN?
“I don’t know. You know I am happy and I like Tony Jr. a lot. And I have a...I care a lot about Junior Motorsports and my last Nationwide win came from that group and so we will see in the future. I have a full time job right now and that is what I have to keep telling people that I have a full time job and I kind of have to keep my focus and priorities there and we will see when we get further down the road what else I can do. I would certainly like to do more things in the future but for 2011 my plate is stacked about right.”
MARK YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW THE CARS DRIVE BUT HOW HAS THE SKILLSET OF THE DRIVERS CHANGED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS BECAUSE A DRIVER MAY HAVE TO DRIVE A CAR THAT IS NOT HANDLING AS WELL THROUGH A LONGER GREEN FLAG CYCLE SINCE THE AMOUNT OF CAUTIONS HAVE GONE DOWN?
“That is very observant and I applaud you for being that aware. But you have to do that all through the years and all through your career you have to adapt to...the duty right now is different than it was a few years ago and it was different then, than a few years ago before that. And the very best drivers adapt to what the demand is quicker.”
AS THE CARS CHANGE YOU HAVE TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO CHANGE. YOUR CREW MAKES ADJUSTMENTS BUT WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO AS A DRIVER?
“It’s coming back to me. The multiple-caution, short-burst runs were not my strong suit. My strong suit was long runs, green flag runs, managing the tires, and managing the equipment and making the stuff last. Well the equipment got so good that you don’t have to make it last anymore although managing the tires can still be an asset to you if you manage them properly and if you can get everything out of them that you can get out of them or getting too much and making them where they don’t last and also that you don’t underuse them in the beginning. So that’s a factor but it’s still coming back to my style right now. Green flag racing is still...that’s racing to me.”
ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF DALE EARNHARDT AND HOW DALE JR’S FOCUS WILL BE FOR THIS RACE:
“I think he can. I think he can handle it but I think it will be an additional stress and strain on him. But I think he can handle it and shoulder it. You have heard me say it before and I am going to say it again. This is the strongest set of shoulders in motorsports. And he gracefully carries the incredible weight and under the incredible circumstances he is a strong individual who carries an enormous amount and you know….I wouldn’t want to be him. (laughs). But he does well with it.” INAUDIBLE QUESTION :“You know, I started racing when I was a kid and I have been making mistakes ever since. And I think you learn from your mistakes and I am not done making them but hopefully I will make a few less than I did early so….”
HOW MUCH SAFER DO YOU THINK THIS SPORT IS NOW?
“Well the statistics show a lot but I am not convinced that the stats are just not in one of those conincidental phases where it looks really, really good. When you say safety, you think comfort. I don’t think that there is a huge amount more of comfort with what we do but certainly the HANS device is and incredible light years move forward along with all the other little things that go along with that and then maybe the safer barrier being number two to the HANS device. But we didn’t give safety a second thought when we didn’t have those things to be honest with you and we don’t give them a second thought really today. So it hasn’t changed the driver’s thought process, you know most of the guys out there don’t know any better. And let me put it this way because that is not fair to say. What is fair to say is that they don’t know any different whereas Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton, and even Jeff Gordon; we know, we have been there and we have lived it when there was a tire war, and we didn’t have safer barriers or HANS and that was brutal and as long as I live I will feel the effects (laughs) from those days.”
HOW MUCH MORE ATTENTION IS THERE ON SAFETY NOW THAN IN THE OLDER DAYS?
“Its amazing and its just something that we didn’t put enough thought into. It didn’t have to be the way it was. The seats that we drove in were ridiculous...ridiculous.
“When I first came to NASCAR racing in 1981, the seats that were used in NASCAR racing were...it was just outrageous. You know it could have been so much better but when you think back to when they raced without seatbelts...(laughs) that was ridiculous too, so we were just in the stoneage.
“And where we are today, I just don’t see where you can make big leaps and gains like we did with the safer barrier, the HANS device, and the seats and the headrests and head restraints.”
NOW THAT YOU ARE A HENDRICK INSIDER, WHAT DID THE CHAMPIONSHIP LAST YEAR BY THE 48 TEAM TEACH YOU ABOUT THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP MENTALITY?
“Well that was impressive because they didn’t have the speed that we enjoyed the year prior. But it didn’t teach me anything that I hadn’t already learned in the sport which is you know, magic is sort of intangible. Its not something you can reach out and touch and we had magic going on in 2009 and we had magic going on in 1998 and I am aware of it, and I am working hard to try and create it and maintain it through 2011 with Lance and my team.” Note: Team Chevy press releases, high-resolution images, and media kit can be downloaded from the Team Chevy media website: http://media.gm.com/product/public/us/en/gmracing/news.html
About Chevrolet:Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 140 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly to gas-free” solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
Mark Martin: If 2011 Is His Final Year, Expect Him To Have Some Fun
By Paul Carreau (Featured Columnist)
Bleacher Report
January 20, 2011
For Mark Martin, it seems like most of the last six seasons have been more of a question of uncertainty about what the next year would bring. Instead of focusing on driving, or retirement, he has been having to answer the question "what's next?"
It started in the 2005 season. That year was supposed to be Martin's final year in Sprint Cup. He decided it was time to start putting more focus on his son Matt's future in racing than his own.
Martin had planned on running a full Truck Series schedule in 2006. He felt there would be no pressure in running the truck series, and he could go out and just have fun. The season is also one third shorter than that of the Sprint Cup.
The 2005 season was dubbed "the salute to you". It was Martin's farewell to the fans, in a season that was seeing another one of NASCAR's stars, Rusty Wallace, also embarking on a retirement tour.
Then, late in the season, Martin's farewell was put on hold. It had already been announced that Jamie McMurray was slated to take over driving duties of the No. 6 car for Martin in 2007. That left the seat vacant for the upcoming 2006 season.
So, Martin stepped back up to the plate. Feeling that he owed it to Jack Roush for all that he had done for his career, Martin agreed to come back for one more year and help out the team.
Instead of taking it easy, 2006 was actually one of Martin's busiest years. Aside from running the full Sprint Cup schedule, he also ran in 14 out of 25 truck races. The Sprint Cup series provided a respectable season, but in the trucks, he was dominant when he was on the track. He won six races that year, including the season opener at Daytona.
So as 2006 wound down, Martin's future was again in question. It was clear he would not be returning to Roush Racing, so an opportunity arose for Martin to drive the No. 01 U.S Army car for Ginn Racing.
The opportunity was perfect for Martin. He was only going to be running in 24 of 36 events, all while serving as a mentor for Aric Almirola, the supposed heir apparent to that car.
The season started nearly perfect for Martin. He missed out on winning the Daytona 500 by a bumper to Kevin Harvick. He would run in the first four races that season, and after the fourth event, the supposed part-time Martin was actually the points leader.
Once again, questions surfaced. Should Martin change his plans and run the full season to try and win a championship? The answer, for Martin, was no. He stuck to his guns and relinquished his seat, and his point lead.
The 2008 season was met with the same opportunity. Ginn Racing had merged with Dale Earnhardt Inc., and it asked Martin to run another partial schedule, this time driving the famous No. 8 Chevrolet. Martin once again couldn't say no.
He once again had a decent season, posting nearly identical numbers as the previous season. So, after two part-time seasons, was it finally time for Martin to get out of the sport, and coast into retirement?
Not exactly. Late in the 2008 campaign, a huge announcement was made concerning Martin. It was announced that he would join the flagship organization of NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, on a full-time basis.
The decision came as a result, not only of Martin's desire to still race, and his love for the sport, but also from his son's decision to step back from racing a little bit.
Any question about Martin's abilities to still handle a full-time season soon disappeared. Martin earned a career-high seven pole positions driving the No. 5 Chevrolet. Eight races into the 2009 season, Martin went back to victory lane for the first time in three and a half years, at Phoenix.
He would go on to win a total of five races that season, his highest total since 1998. He also finished runner up to Jimmie Johnson in championship points, his fifth career runner up finish in the championship race, all without having won a points championship.
For the first time in years, Martin's future wasn't the subject of any questioning. He had a secure ride for 2010, and appeared to be at the top of his game, and a viable challenger for the Sprint Cup.
But 2010 was a letdown of a season, as he failed to qualify for the Chase, ultimately finishing 13th in the points. And once again, questions about Martin's future rose to the surface.
Midway through the season, it was announced that Kasey Kahne would be replacing Martin in the No. 5 starting in 2012. But this led many to wonder if Kahne would replace him sooner than that. Week in and week out, Martin had to answer the question of where would he be in 2011 and beyond.
He held firm that he would pilot the GoDaddy.com car once again in 2011, and that he had no set plans beyond that, but was not ready to hang up his helmet just yet.
So as the 2011 season quickly approaches, we are all wondering what lies ahead for the now 52-year-old Martin. He has decided that this season, once again, is going to be about having fun.
He has signed on to drive four Nationwide Series events, driving the No. 32 Dollar General Chevrolet for Turner Motorsports, and he is also scheduled to drive in two truck series races for the team. All of these extra curricular events for Martin will take place at tracks that he loves to race on.
Once the season gets under way, we all know that it won't take very long for all of the questions about Martin and his future to start being asked. But whatever the answers turn out to be, if this does end up being the end of the line, let's just hope that he goes out on his terms.
But as a writer, and more importantly, as a fan, I hope that this is not the end for Martin. I would love to see him race for as long as he can. But regardless of how much longer Martin's career continues, I have every intention of just sitting back, and having fun watching Mark race. I just hope I have as much fun watching as he does driving.
TURNER MOTORSPORTS ANNOUNCES MARK MARTIN TO DRIVE THE NO. 32 DOLLAR GENERAL CHEVROLET IN SELECT 2011 NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES EVENTS
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 12, 2011) – Turner Motorsports is pleased to announce the addition of racing legend, Mark Martin, to its 2011 driver line-up. Martin will pilot the No. 32 Dollar General Impala in NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) events at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Michigan International Speedway and Kentucky Speedway with crew chief, Trent Owens, calling the shots. He will also drive the No. 32 Silverado in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) races at Michigan International Speedway and Pocono Raceway.
“I’m excited to be running back in the Nationwide and Truck Series again,” said Martin. “Everyone at Dollar General and Turner Motorsports has been great and I’m looking forward to hitting the track with them next year. Working with Turner [Motorsports], I get to extend my relationship with Chevrolet and continue to have Hendrick horsepower under the hood which is really, really good.”
Martin brings unparalleled experience to Turner Motorsports. With a NASCAR career spanning 30 years, he has 40 wins in 794 Sprint Cup Series starts, holds the all-time Nationwide Series records for most wins (48) and most pole positions (30), and seven wins in 23 NCWTS starts. In 2006, motorsports media members acknowledged his accomplishments by naming him the greatest Nationwide Series driver of all-time. Martin continues to compete full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports machine.
“The races we picked for both series are personal favorites of mine. I’d love to win another truck race, and I’ve got to get back to Victory Lane in the Dollar General car so I can keep Kyle [Busch] from breaking my Nationwide Series record,” Martin joked.
Martin has experienced tremendous success at the tracks at which he will compete for Turner Motorsports. In five Nationwide Series starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Martin has three wins, four top-fives, five top-10s and two pole awards to his credit. In only two Nationwide starts at Auto Club Speedway, he has earned one win and a third-place finish. At Michigan International Speedway, he has two wins, eight top-five and nine top-10 finishes and one pole position in his 11 starts. Martin will make his Nationwide Series debut when the team travels to Kentucky Speedway in July.
Team owner, Steve Turner, is very pleased with the experience that Martin brings with him and has high expectations for his organization in 2011.
“We are thrilled to announce the addition of Mark Martin to our stable of drivers,” commented Turner. “Mark (Martin) shares my same passion for helping groom young talent and has expressed interest in helping us get our young drivers to the NASCAR Sprint Cup level. I can’t think of a better mentor than Mark Martin. Everyone at Turner Motorsports knows the value and experience he brings to our organization and we are all delighted to have him join our team. We look forward to getting Mark [Martin] and Dollar General into the winners circle in 2011.”
About Turner Motorsports:
Turner Motorsports, LLC, established in 1999, is in the midst of its sophomore season of NASCAR competition. Owned by Texas-native, Steve Turner, the racing organization has expanded in 2011 from a two-truck operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series. Turner Motorsports operates out of an 110,000 square-foot state-of-the art facility in Mooresville, N.C., and will house three entries in both the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series. The team boasts an all-star driver line-up that includes Mark Martin, Kasey Kahne, Reed Sorenson, Jason Leffler, Justin Allgaier, Ricky Carmichael, James Buescher and Brad Sweet. The Chevrolet-backed team has created alliances with General Motors powerhouse teams Hendrick Motorsports, who will provide engine support for both its NNS and NCWTS programs, Kevin Harvick Inc. for body and aero support, and Earnhardt Technology Group for drive train and suspension technology assistance. Turner Motorsports’ marketing partners includes Dollar General, Great Clips, Monster Energy, BRANDT, AccuDoc Solutions, Wolfpack Rentals, Rexall, Fraternal Order of Eagles, ABF Freight, Bigspot.com, Northeastern Supply, Deft Paint, SEM and Safety-Kleen.
For more information on Turner Motorsports, visit
Mark Martin to Race in All Three NASCAR Series in 2011
By Bob Zeller - Motorsports Editor
Motorsports FanHouse
January 12, 2011
Just when we thought Mark Martin might be winding up his long and storied career as a NASCAR driver, he's decided to jump back in with both feet in 2011 by running races in all three of NASCAR's national touring series.
In his final, lame-duck year with Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup series, Martin has decided to also run selected Nationwide series and Camping World Truck series events for Turner Motorsports.
Martin will drive the No. 32 Dollar General Chevrolet in Nationwide races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Ca., Michigan International Speedway and Kentucky Speedway, with Trent Owens serving as his crew chief, the team announced Wednesday.
Martin will also drive the No. 32 Chevy Silverado truck in NASCAR Truck series races at Michigan as well as Pocono Raceway.
"I'm excited to be running back in the Nationwide and Truck Series again," said Martin. "Everyone at Dollar General and Turner Motorsports has been great and I'm looking forward to hitting the track with them next year. Working with Turner, I get to extend my relationship with Chevrolet and continue to have Hendrick horsepower under the hood, which is really, really good."
Martin, of course, will also drive the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy full time in the Sprint Cup series in the last of his three years with Hendrick Motorsports.
Although Martin has never really retired from any of the three series, his last truck race was in 2007, and he only ran in a single Nationwide race last year.
In his 30 years in NASCAR racing, Martin has 40 wins in 794 Sprint Cup Series starts and holds the all-time Nationwide Series records for most wins (48) and most pole positions (30). He also has seven wins in 23 truck starts.
"The races we picked for both series are personal favorites of mine," Martin said in the statement. "I'd love to win another truck race, and I've got to get back to victory lane in the Dollar General car so I can keep Kyle (Busch) from breaking my Nationwide Series record."
Busch has 43 career victories in the Nationwide series, including a record 13 wins last year.
Martin set the record for most Nationwide series wins while almost always running a partial schedule. His only full season in Nationwide was in 1987. His most recent win in the series came in 2008.
"We are thrilled to announce the addition of Mark Martin to our stable of drivers," team owner Steve Turner said in the statement. "Mark shares my same passion for helping groom young talent and has expressed interest in helping us get our young drivers to the NASCAR Sprint Cup level. I can't think of a better mentor than Mark Martin."
Mark Martin to compete for Turner Motorsports in NASCAR Nationwide, Truck races
NASCAR News: FOX Sports
January 12, 2011
Mark Martin will drive NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck series races for Turner Motorsports this season.
According to a team release, Martin will drive the organization’s No. 32 in the Nationwide Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Michigan International Speedway and Kentucky Speedway. He will work with crew chief Trent Owens in the events and carry sponsorship from Dollar General. In the Truck series, he will also drive the organization’s No. 32 and is scheduled for the events at Michigan and Pocono Raceway.
“I’m excited to be running back in the Nationwide and Truck series again,” said Martin. “Everyone at Dollar General and Turner Motorsports has been great and I’m looking forward to hitting the track with them next year. Working with Turner, I get to extend my relationship with Chevrolet and continue to have Hendrick horsepower under the hood which is really, really good.”
Martin holds the wins record in the Nationwide Series with 48 to his credit. He also has earned the most pole positions with 30. He has seven wins in 23 Truck starts. He also has 40 wins in the Sprint Cup series, where he continues to compete full time for Hendrick Motorsports.
“The races we picked for both series are personal favorites of mine. I’d love to win another Truck race, and I’ve got to get back to Victory Lane in the Dollar General car so I can keep Kyle [Busch] from breaking my Nationwide Series record,” Martin said.
Martin is strong at the tracks on which he will race. In five Nationwide starts at Las Vegas, he has three wins with five top-10 finishes, four of them top fives. In two Nationwide starts at Auto Club, he has one win and third-place finish. At Michigan, he has two wins, nine top-10 finishes, eight of them top fives. Martin will make his Nationwide Series debut at Kentucky.
“Mark shares my same passion for helping groom young talent and has expressed interest in helping us get our young drivers to the NASCAR Sprint Cup level,” team owner Steve Turner said. “I can’t think of a better mentor than Mark Martin. Everyone at Turner Motorsports knows the value and experience he brings to our organization and we are all delighted to have him join our team. We look forward to getting Mark and Dollar General into the winners circle in 2011.”
