Martin figured he should stick with stock cars
CORNELIUS, N.C. – Sunday marks the biggest day of the year in American motorsports with the running of the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine driver Mark Martin began his racing career at a time when drivers were more evenly divided in pursuing a stock car or an open wheel racing career.
For the Batesville, Ark., native, an open wheel career was never a serious option until later in life.
“I was always a late model or NASCAR guy,” said Martin, who returned to late model racing in the late 1980s after his first two years in NASCAR.
“Actually in my career I was a late model-NASCAR-late model-then-back-to-NASCAR kind of guy until I finally established myself in the sport.”
Once established in NASCAR, Martin admitted he was tempted to climb into one of the high speed racers.
“I had numerous chances to drive one of Robby Gordon’s Indy cars when we had the same sponsor in the 1990s,” Martin recalled. “They just wanted to let me go play.”
He said wisdom prevailed.
“I had struggled so hard to get into NASCAR and I had finally got to where I could win some races. At that point in time I saw no reason to go out and ‘have fun’ in an Indy car,” recalled Martin.
“My idea of having fun in an Indy car would be to go faster than Robby Gordon which would be real dangerous to try. I figured I would be better off sticking to stock cars.”
Michael Waltrip Racing
May 21, 2012
Mark Martin Post Race Notes and Quotes - NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
Toyota Motorsports
May 19, 2012
MARK MARTIN, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Finishing Position: 21st
How was your race?
“That was tough. It was just so hard to pass tonight and new tires didn’t make enough of a difference to get up front. We were about 10th, but on the 10-lap run we had something wrong with the car. I don’t know if we had a broken wheel or not. We’ll have to figure out what happened and be ready for next weekend.”
Mark Martin NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Preview - Bojangles' Southern 500
Michael Waltrip Racing
May 9, 2012
One of NASCAR’s greatest drivers races on one of the sport’s great tracks this weekend when No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota driver Mark Martin returns to action at Darlington International Raceway. The 53-year-old Martin owns two Sprint Cup and eight Nationwide Series victories on the 1.366-mile South Carolina track. The Batesville, Ark. native hasn’t lost any speed in his 30th year of competition. The Michael Waltrip Racing driver has won poles in two of the seven races he’s entered in 2012 and is 24th in driver points — despite choosing to sit out three of the season’s 10 races.
QUESTIONS
What are your thoughts on returning to Darlington?
“Darlington is the ‘Lady in Black.’ I don’t think I’ve missed one there since 1988. I always enjoy racing at Darlington – that’s a driver’s challenge.”
How do you like driving for Michael Waltrip Racing?
"I am just so proud of MWR and all the people there and the teamwork that they have shown there starting with Martin Truex, Jr., who has put so much work into getting the program where it was when we started the season and everybody combined. They really have a lot of great people there with great attitude, great teamwork and, man, have I got one awesome crew chief in Rodney Childers. This is so much fun and such an incredible privilege to drive a race car at this point in my career. We've made improvements every race that we've got to run together, so Rodney (Childers) and I are starting to figure some things out in the car that I like for the long haul, so it's working well."
NOTES
AUTOGRAPHS
Mark Martin will sign autographs for the public on Friday 10-10:30 a.m. in Darlington. Martin will join Kevin Harvick, Paul Menard and Regan Smith in the Fan 101 tent across from the Toyota display between USAF and National Guard displays.
MARK MARTIN OPEN HOUSE
Martin hosted his eighth annual fan appreciation event at his Batesville, Ark. car dealership and museum on Saturday. Michael Waltrip and Clint Bowyer joined Martin at the autograph session that drew about a thousand fans.
DARLINGTON CAREER
Martin owns two wins (Sept. 5,1993 & May 9, 2009) and 17 top-5 finishes in 45 starts at Darlington. He’s completed of 14,853 of 15,357 laps (96.7%) and led 801 laps. Click here for Martin’s career stats.
MYRTLE BEACH
Join Michael Waltrip at the first annual SKID PLATE Race at Myrtle Beach Speedway on Thursday. The race is part of a fundraiser for “Victory Junction” featuring NASCAR personalities. For more information contact Kinsley Parsons at kparsons@victoryjunction.org
DARLINGTON CHASSIS
Primary 726 - finished 12th at California Speedway. Backup 708 - has not raced in 2012
CREW LIST
Crew Chief - Rodney Childers
Car Chief - Steve Channing
Front Changer - Ryan Langley
Rear Changer - Shannon Myers
Front Carrier - Chris Hall
Rear Carrier - Mark Kennerly
Jackman - Tony Cardamone
Gas man - Brian Dheel
Spotter - Jeremy Brickhouse
Engineer - Billy Scott
2nd Engineer - Scott McDougall
Tires - Kevin White
Eng.Tuner- Denny Chandler (TRD)
Shocks - Mike (Nook) McCarville
Truck Driver - Glenn Shano
2nd Truck Driver - John Murphy
Pit Coach - Greg Miller
MWR’s No. 55 2012 Driver Lineup
May 19 All Star Race- Martin
May 27 Charlotte - Martin
June 3 Dover - Martin
June 10 Pocono - Martin
June 17 Michigan - Martin
June 24 Infineon - Vickers
June 30 Kentucky - Waltrip
July 7 Daytona - Waltrip
July 15 NHMS - Vickers
July 29 Indianapolis - Martin
Aug. 5 Pocono - Martin
Aug. 12 Watkins Glen- Vickers
Aug. 19 Michigan - Martin
Aug. 25 Bristol - Vickers
Sept. 2 Atlanta - Martin
Sept. 8 Richmond - Martin
Sept. 16 Chicago - Martin
Sept. 23 NHMS - Vickers
Sept. 30 Dover - Martin
Oct. 7 Talladega - Waltrip
Oct. 13 Charlotte - Martin
Oct. 21 Kansas - Martin
Oct. 28 Martinsville- Vickers
Nov. 4 Texas - Martin
Nov. 11 Phoenix - Martin
Nov. 18 Homestead - Martin
DIECAST CARS
No. 55 diecast cars are now available at the MWR souvenir hauler.
Mark Martin has one fear in racing
Michael Waltrip Racing
May 9, 2012
CORNELIUS, N.C. - Mark Martin has spent 30 years in NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing.
He has raced against many of the sport’s greatest drivers including Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip and modern day heroes like Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.
Martin raced at the 200 mph superspeedways and banged fenders on the notorious bullrings in the days before SAFER barriers, HANS devices, full- faced helmets and roof flaps.
Nothing he’s encountered has ever unnerved the 53-year-old Batesville, Ark. native who’s made 40 trips to victory lane.
But, there’s still one thing in racing that makes his skin crawl.
“It’s good luck charms,” laughs Martin. “I don’t like them at all.”
To this day, Martin immediately hands off anything that most consider “lucky.”
“I try not to insult fans when they give me something,” he said. “I try to be nice and say thank you, but I can’t get rid of them fast enough.”
That’s unusual in a sport where some drivers carry a rabbit’s foot in the car, tape verses to the dash, put lucky coins in their uniform pockets. Through the years drivers have shunned green paint schemes, eating peanuts near the car before the race and driving the No. 13.
But, Martin said he has good reason to shun the supposed bringers of good fortune.
His dim view of good luck charms dates back to one Sunday afternoon in 1993 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. A well-meaning fan gave Martin a four-leaf clover he taped to the dash of his car.
“I got hit in the back right after the green flag came out,” Martin recalled. “I got hit so hard it destroyed my car and ruined our race. We got all tore up.”
That was the end of good luck charms for Martin.
“I have been anti lucky charm ever since.”
Historic driver ready for historic track: Mark Martin To Make 46th Start at Darlington
One of NASCAR’s greatest drivers races on one of the sport’s great tracks this weekend when No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota driver Mark Martin returns to action at Darlington International Raceway. The 53-year-old Martin owns two Sprint Cup and eight Nationwide Series victories on the 1.366-mile South Carolina track. The Batesville, Ark. native hasn’t lost any speed in his 30th year of competition. The Michael Waltrip Racing driver has won poles in two of the seven races he’s entered in 2012 and is 24th in driver points — despite choosing to sit out three of the season’s 10 races.
What are your thoughts on returning to Darlington?
“Darlington is the ‘Lady in Black.’ I don’t think I’ve missed one there since 1988. I always enjoy racing at Darlington – that’s a driver’s challenge.”
How do you like driving for Michael Waltrip Racing?
"I am just so proud of MWR and all the people there and the teamwork that they have shown there starting with Martin Truex, Jr., who has put so much work into getting the program where it was when we started the season and everybody combined. They really have a lot of great people there with great attitude, great teamwork and, man, have I got one awesome crew chief in Rodney Childers. This is so much fun and such an incredible privilege to drive a race car at this point in my career. We've made improvements every race that we've got to run together, so Rodney (Childers) and I are starting to figure some things out in the car that I like for the long haul, so it's working well."
Michael Waltrip Racing Announces Annual Fan Fest
Michael Waltrip Racing
May 9, 2012
CORNELIUS, N.C.- Michael Waltrip Racing will hold its sixth annual Fan Fest at its race shop in Cornelius, N.C. on Wednesday, May 23. MWR NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Martin Truex Jr., Mark Martin and Clint Bowyer will sign autographs from 1-3 p.m.
Up to 300 wrist bands for each driver will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 21 in the MWR team store. A wrist band is required for an autograph. Wrist band distribution is limited to one band per fan per day until all bands have been distributed. No purchase required to obtain a wrist band.
To guarantee an autograph from all three drivers, express passes to all autograph lines will be available for all fans who purchase more than $100 in merchandise from the team store on May 23.
Team business partners plan to bring interactive displays and SiriusXM Radio will broadcast from MWR. Music, a free poster, prizes and the MWR transporters will also be part of this year’s event. Food will be available for purchase.
Due to out-of-state commitments, Waltrip and Brian Vickers will not be present.
Michael Waltrip Racing is at exit 28 on I-77 in Cornelius, N.C. about 15 miles north of Charlotte, N.C. The team's race shop and team store will be open to the public throughout the day.
Mark Martin Post Race Notes and Quotes - Capital City 400 presented by Virginia is for Lovers
April 28, 2012
MARK MARTIN, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Finishing Position: 8th
How was the team able to improve your car?
“I’ve never seen a guy (Rodney Childers, crew chief) improve one of my cars that much in one race. You’ve got to be able to do that. I’m really surprised. They did a great job.”
Mark Martin Post Qualifying Notes and Quotes - Capital City 400 presented by Virginia is for Lovers
April 27, 2012
MARK MARTIN, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Starting Position: 1st
Is this like a second childhood and are you enjoying driving for Michael Waltrip Racing?
“Yeah, I am. I just love driving that Aaron’s Toyota and working with everybody at MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing). They believe in me and we’re just having so much fun and that was a good lap. I didn’t think I could get the pole. We were on keel off the truck and wanted to get that last draw so we’d have our best shot at it. Golly, our fans out there can break out the ‘Epic Swag’ t-shirts and follow me on Twitter - MarkMartin55.”
How was your qualifying run?
“Well, I tried to get it on the first lap. I really didn’t want to run the second lap. I knew I was going to be close to wrecking and I didn’t want to wreck the car and when he (Rodney Childers, crew chief) didn’t call me off on the first lap, I knew that we hadn’t got it. I couldn’t tell. I thought we might be 15th, you know? I had to buckle down and try to get a little bit more that second lap. It’s just a tribute to everybody that supports us at MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) — great race cars — Aaron’s, Toyota — all their support — that race team, Rodney Childers and all the fans that support us. I got this job because I’ve got these fans.”
How were you able to follow your practice speeds by winning the pole?
“Luck. Man, is it fun though. I tell you what - I’m driving fast race cars and working with great people.”
Did you surprise Carl Edwards by taking the pole?
“That’s the fun of racing and competition. I think a lot of guys like to see an old dude like me pull one off every once in a while. It’s pretty cool. Carl’s (Edwards) a good dude. It’ll be there other way around next time probably.”
Does this give you momentum for tomorrow night?
“I haven’t even thought about tomorrow night yet. I’ve got a great race car. Let’s go racing.”
Does this give you an edge to win tomorrow night?
“Well, I don’t know. It’s hard to say. We won one competition and that’s what it’s all about. When you get to this stage in my career, winning any competition is a cool thing. I get to drive such great race cars. MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) is doing an awesome job and my teammates are working together so well and we’ve got such great teamwork, fast cars. Rodney Childers (crew chief) does an awesome job. It’d be cool to win a race, but just driving fast stuff is pretty fun.”
What are your thoughts on running more than 20,000 laps at this track? “That’s pretty crazy. I sat on the pole 31 years ago. That is a story in itself – that’s pretty crazy. I just thought of that, because we got the pole here in 1981 when I was just doing five races with my own car. I’ve been so fortunate to drive fast race cars and work with great people and I can’t believe that Aaron’s and MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) are giving me a chance to drive this stuff at this stage of the game. I’m just a really lucky guy.
Martin wins 5th career pole at Richmond
By Hank Kurz Jr.
AP Sports Writer
April 28, 2012
RICHMOND, Va. -- Mark Martin watched and waited as 44 other drivers made two qualifying laps around Richmond International Raceway on Friday night, then went out and beat them all.
Martin turned the second-fastest lap on his first circuit around the 0.75-mile, D-shaped oval, then nudged Carl Edwards to the outside of the front row with a lap at 128.327 mph to win the pole for Saturday night's Sprint Cup race. It's his 53rd career pole.
"I was very close to skinning the car up, especially off of (turn) four (on) the second lap," Martin said. "I'm driving it as hard as I can go, and at the very limits of my talent."
Edwards' top lap at 128.290 had hung on through 17 drivers, but when Martin moved to second on the scoring tower with his first lap, Edwards paid much closer attention.
"I thought we had him, and then he shot up to the top of the scoreboard," he said.
It's Martin's fifth career pole at Richmond, and comes 31 years after his first.
"As far as I'm concerned, this is just as big a deal," he said.
It also was Michael Waltrip Racing's third pole in eight events this season.
Kevin Harvick will start third, followed by A.J. Allmendinger and Kyle Busch.
For Harvick, it came after a long day and a lot of scrambling.
"We've had a terrible race car all day to be honest with you," he said. "We just sat in the trailer afterwards and said that what we had just wasn't cutting it, so we went back to our notes from last year and were able to make some small adjustments to that.
"That's why you have notebooks. It worked out good and hopefully we can do the same for the race and make it a little bit better than what we were last year."
Mark Martin wins pole for Capital City 400
By: Michael Phillips
Richmond Times-Dispatch
April 28, 2012
Mark Martin, NASCAR's oldest driver at age 53, recently unveiled T-shirts that say "Swagtastic since 1981."
He backed up the slogan Friday, winning the pole for tonight's Capital City 400.
Martin also claimed the pole in his first-ever race at Richmond International Raceway, in 1981. That race was run before some of the drivers in tonight's field were born, but it feels like yesterday to the Sprint Cup driver.
"I can tell you the springs that were in the car, the weight distribution, and I can tell you what I did to the car after qualifying," he said. "I can tell you everything about it. Changed the right-rear springs before qualifying to tighten it up.
"I couldn't tell you anything about this car today. But that car was my baby."
Martin has a team of engineers fine-tuning the car now, but his talent still shines through on NASCAR's biggest stage.
It's his fifth pole at RIR, with his last coming in 2009. He finished fourth in that race, and tonight will look for his second victory on the track — the other coming in 1990. But it's the pole he won in 1981 that made Martin emotional after qualifying.
"It was a pretty big deal sitting on the pole with my little late model team," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, this is just as big of a deal. It's pretty cool. I can't believe I have the opportunity to drive this car for this team. I'm lucky."
Martin joined Michael Waltrip Racing before this season, and gave credit to teammate Martin Truex Jr. for putting in a lot of the work that's making him successful.
Truex will start out of the No. 8 position tonight.
Carl Edwards will start alongside Martin in Row 1, while Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick are in Row 2. Former Chesterfield resident Denny Hamlin qualified seventh.
"We didn't make a whole lot of emphasis on qualifying," Hamlin said. "It wasn't a terrible run for us. Obviously, we'd like to start a little further up front."
Paul Menard qualified in 31st with a backup car, which he had to use after wrecking his primary car during practice laps. The biggest shame for the team was that the car Menard wrecked was brand new.
"The throttle broke," Menard said.
"The primary was good, and I'm sure the backup will be good."
The star of the day, though, was the ageless Martin, who took the pole 31 years after achieving the same feat at RIR.
Watching in the press room, Edwards shook his head and commended Martin on his "nerves of steel."
"I think a lot of guys like to see an old dude like me pull one off every once in a while," Martin said. "It's pretty cool."
Mark Martin Post Race Notes and Quotes - STP 400
April 22, 2012
MARK MARTIN, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Finishing Position: 33rd
What happened at the end of the race?
“We had a really good car today. You won’t see that in the results, but we had a great car. That was a good performance by my team. Something happened under the hood late in the race. It looked like we could finish fifth and that would have been awesome. These cars are a pleasure to drive.”
Mark Martin Post Qualifying Notes and Quotes - STP 400
April 22, 2012
MARK MARTIN, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Starting Position: 5th
How was your car in qualifying?
“The Aaron’s Dream Machine was good. I didn’t get either corner quite like I wanted - wasn’t superior, wasn’t my best lap. That makes all the difference in the world when everybody’s as close as they are. Wasn’t bad - the car was good. I just overcooked it here and there and slid off my line a little bit. It’s going to be pretty good though and I think the guys have a great car for the race. We finished up practice pretty good. It’s great to be here in Kansas.”
Michael Waltrip Racing becoming a force in NASCAR Sprint Car ranks
By Jeremy Elliott - The Patriot News
PennLive.com
April 22, 2012
It’s OK to admit it.
When you turned on the television to watch the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series the last four weeks, you expected to see Michael Waltrip Racing fall flat on its face.
It’s become a common occurrence for this organization since it first fielded a car in 2002. One good run was followed by three or four sub-par performances and more disappointment.
See, underdog success stories have a short-term shelf life. That’s what makes them underdogs in the first place. They show a flash of brilliance and are temporarily renting a space with the sport’s titans.
That would be teams fielded by Rick Hendrick Motorsports and Roush-Fenway Racing. But after seven races in 2012, MWR is not only competing with the elite, they are making a believer out of the NASCAR world.
Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer are in the top 10 in points. Veteran Mark Martin and Brian Vickers are sharing seat time in the final entry of this three-car assault and have also shown promise.
Still, we were skeptical after last week’s race at Texas. Hey, it’s my nature. But after watching this organization place all three drivers – Martin is racing this week – in the top eight starting spots for today’s STP 400 at Kansas Speedway, I’m sold.
Michael Waltrip Racing is a player.
The current trio of drivers hasn’t cracked victory lane this season. But in order to win, you have to first show consistency. And this team is on point.
In seven events for three cars and a possible 21 finishing positions, Truex, Bowyer, Martin and Vickers have accounted for five top five runs and 12 top 10s.
That’s better than the three top fives and seven top 10s by Joe Gibbs Racing and is on par with the Hendrick’s four-car glory boy team of Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne, which has seven top fives and 13 top 10s.
Resource rich Roush entries Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards lead the pack with 10 top fives and 13 top 10s.
Michael Waltrip, a former Daytona 500 winner, is annoying behind a microphone, but he should be praised for his ownership exploits with 50-50 partner Rob Kauffman, founder of managing partner of Fortress Investment Group. They have put together a stable of drivers that have something to prove to the racing world.
Truex was signed before the 2010 season after two dismal years with Earnhardt-Ganassi. Bowyer inked a deal before the start of this season after he couldn’t secure sponsorship with Richard Childress Racing.
Then there is Martin and Vickers. Martin’s career is winding down, and his knowledge and experience provide guidance to the organization. Vickers might be the hungriest of them all. He lost his sponsor and is still trying to show his NASCAR chops.
It takes a man behind the scene to pull it all together. Waltrip went out and got a hired gun in Scott Miller. The former director of competition for RCR was eager to jump ship to take on a new challenge as the vice president of competition at MWR.
It’s a mix that seems to be working. Martin would know. He has been around some of the best players in professional auto racing for 30 years.
Martin is old school. He doesn’t pull punches; doesn’t have to at his age. He also doesn’t shower people with false praise, and he doesn’t impress easy.
So when Martin goes all new age social media on Twitter to make the point about how “smart” and “impressed” he is with Michael Waltrip Racing as an organization, you know it’s genuine.
Martin isn’t saying that MWR is on the same level as Hendrick Motorsports, Roush-Fenway or even JGR. That’s a stretch.
But if this organization continues to build on its recent success, the other top teams in NASCAR will have to make a little room for the new guy on the block.
Mark Martin Interview - STP 400 - Kansas Speedway
April 20, 2012
MARK MARTIN, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
How is your outlook for this weekend in Kansas?
“I’m excited to be at Kansas, especially after last week. We had such a great weekend in Texas and I am having a lot of fun. I just love working with Rodney Childers (crew chief) and the folks from Aaron’s and Toyota and everybody at MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing). Really got great teamwork going on between Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer and myself and all of our teams working real well together. I’m just really proud of the performance that they’re putting out on the race track. It’s good to be here. This is kind of close to - I did a bunch of racing up kind of this way at I-70 and Springfield, Missouri and all. I see a lot of faces that saw me race when I was first getting started in the fans. There’s a lot of enthusiasm here for sure.”
How does this season differ from your first season with Jack Roush or Rick Hendrick?
“Well, my first year with Jack Roush, we were building a team together from the ground up and that was quite some time ago when it wasn’t as easy or there wasn’t nearly the kind of assistance that you get from other teams and all. That was a whole different time and a whole different thing. Jack and I worked through an awful lot of things together through the years. I don’t think it’s really necessary to go into comparing - I’m so happy I could just - I’m really happy. I really, really have been pleasantly surprised with the personnel at MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing). I didn’t realize, I didn’t go to the shop before I made the deal to drive for them, and when I went to the shop, I saw a lot of faces that I’d worked with before at other places. When you’ve been around as long as I have, you’ve seen a lot of those guys and worked with lots of them and raced against some of them. I was teammates with Martin Truex Jr. at DEI (Dale Earnhardt Inc.) in ’08. What I’m doing this year is not new, I did it in ’07 and I did it in ’08 and did it very successfully - was very fortunate to have good sponsorship and good people working on my race cars and they were giving me great cars and we just didn’t get to continue that. Went into DEI and then DEI went in with Ganassi (Earnhardt Ganassi Racing) and downsized. So, I certainly enjoyed my time with Rick Hendrick - I made friends there for life and I feel very - they make me feel welcome, still. I appreciate that.”
What have the first part of the season been like at MWR as they’ve seen performance catch up to their investment?
“It’s a really exciting time for Clint (Bowyer) and myself to be there. I try to acknowledge Martin Truex Jr. who has been there and suffered through the growing pains of that organization and help get it where it is when we got to come on board. They’ve been working on and strengthening the organization and they were starting to see some fruit - actually have made progress along the way but have started to see fruit toward the end of last year. With the extra energy that was put into there with Scott Miller (executive vice president of competition) and Clint Bowyer and Brian Pattie (No. 15 crew chief) and all, everything seems like it’s clicking right now. It’s really, really a lot of fun whenever you can perform up to your expectations or exceed, that’s good times. For me, I felt like we were going to have to work for a good while to be able to enjoy the kind of success that we are seeing right now. They are very good stuff, very good cars, very competitive and the teamwork is really fantastic there.”
What is the most interesting thing you’ve learned about Michael Waltrip?
“Michael (Waltrip) is a very, very creative soul and very, extremely bright. Usually when you have someone that is really creative, they’re a little bit different and Michael is a little bit different. Michael is smarter than I realized - he is - he’s very smart guy, very bright, very creative and I’m enjoying driving for an owner/driver because that’s different than I’ve done in the past. I think, I see a little bit of what Dale Earnhardt saw driving for Richard Childress - just maybe a little bit different than when Dale drove for Bud Moore, who was fantastic as well. There is a different dimension and certainly Michael doesn’t have the qualities that Jack Roush has - they’re all different people, everyone is different and I’m enjoying the strength that Michael has and is bringing to the program. It’s been fun.”
What do you think of Michael Waltrip as a business guy?
“Michael (Waltrip) sees how to make it work for the sponsor better than a lot of people that I’ve been around. He really sees how to make it work for sponsors and it shows. Their organization is well sponsored and that hasn’t been done based on performance, it’s been done on performance, but not performance on the race track, it’s been based on how to make it work for the sponsors and their very determined to get that performance on the race track. They want to win and they’re very close now. It’s neat to be a part of the organization right now because they are so close.”
Why do you think there have been 20 fewer cautions this year compared to last season?
“First of all, cautions breed cautions - if you have a caution, you’re probably going to have another one and another one. If you have a long green flag spell, unless there are debris caution you may not have a lot of cautions for a while. If you ever got started having cautions, you might have one right after another. That’s been one part of it. You have to realize racing - everything goes in cycles in racing. You might have two or three of the most exciting races you’ve ever seen and two or three that are not. I think we’re going to see plenty of cautions, I just don’t know when. Once you start having them, they do reoccur more often because you bunch them up and guys are trying to make their moves when they can, when they’re in a bunch and things go wrong.”
Why do cautions breed more cautions?
“When it’s stretched out, to control your car to some degree you have to play nicer or you’ll lose control. If you put them in a group, a wad and you put new tires on them, you don’t have to play so nice because you can keep control of your car. An example being, we used to go to Daytona in July and it was so hot and slick, day time racing, it was so hot and slick they wouldn’t have a caution. We almost couldn’t drive our cars without wrecking them, we couldn’t get near one another or we would lose control, so there would be fewer cautions then than in February when there was more stick and we could get up closer to each other - that’s just the nature of the beast.”
What’s the potential growth opportunity at MWR if the marketing and on-track are both performing well?
“I know that’s what they’re working towards - that’s their goal. They’re putting a lot into it and that’s what they hope. That’s a big statement, I can’t make that statement and that’s a huge statement. All I can say, as of right now, they are performing on the level of the best out there, I think.”
Is MWR as strong in marketing and on-track as the other bigger NASCAR teams?
“Yes and the performance is very strong as well. It’s all of our hope that we can continue that. It runs in cycles just like the cautions and everything else. There were a couple years where the Roush cars were not very competitive and then there were a year or two when they were clearly the best stuff on the race track. I think Hendrick Motorsports had the best cars on the race track in 2009. With so many smart people, you can’t be at the cutting edge all the time. Somebody gets ahead of you. Everyone at MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) is digging in and they are in for the long haul and they have a goal of doing and sustaining - not only achieving what they’ve achieved already, but sustaining it as well. Everybody has that goal.”
Mark Martin NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Preview - STP 400
Martin excited heading to Kansas Speedway
Michael Waltrip Racing
April 18, 2012
CORNELIUS, N.C. - When the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series visits Talladega Superspeedway the first weekend in May, Mark Martin will host his eighth annual fan appreciation event on May 5 at his Batesville, Ark. car dealership and museum.
Joining Martin at Saturday’s autograph session will be two-time Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip who’ll fly to Batesville after he qualifies the No. 55 Aaron’s Toyota at Talladega.
The daylong event (8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CDT) will include an Aaron’s display, Lucky Dog, Sirius Radio remote, race cars and souvenirs. Click here for directions: Directions : Mark Martin Museum
Martin would like nothing more than to bring the race-winning trophy from this Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway to the open house in May. After Saturday night’s third-place finish in Texas, the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota driver is one of the favorites at Kansas where he won in 2005.
MARTIN ON FAN APPRECIATION DAY
“This is our eighth year doing it and it’s a blast. We get so busy racing and going places that sometimes you just run out of hours in the day. So we wanted to set aside a day just for the fans. Each year it’s gotten better and better. This year Michael Waltrip will join us. We’ll do autographs, question and answers, and just have a fun time. I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish in 30 years in this sport, but I know I couldn’t have done much of this by myself. I had a lot of help and a lot of support over the years. This is just a small way to repay those who’ve supported me.”
KANSAS
“After Texas I'm really excited, but I was excited anyway. I love going to Kansas Speedway. There's nothing else that I find quite as much fun as going to work with a great race team with a great attitude. So it's fun for me to go to every race that I get to go to. But with the great run we had in Texas we'll be able to roll this setup logic into next week's car. We're still trying to improve on our long haul -- getting a little easier on the tires so the thing will stay faster. If we can make any more improvement maybe we can get right up there and make some sparks for those guys. It's a great place. It's almost like a home track because I raced so much up in Springfield (Mo.) and I-70 Speedway and around there, so we should have a lot of charged-up fans.”
CUP: Making His Mark
By Mike Hembree
nascar.speedtv.com
April 18, 2012
Ageless Mark Martin continues to stir the waters in part-time role at Michael Waltrip Racing…
Mark Martin continues to amaze three decades into his Sprint Cup driving career.
Martin finished third last week at Texas Motor Speedway to continue what has been a remarkable ride through the early-season Sprint Cup point standings – particularly for a driver running only a part-time schedule.
Martin’s third-place run in the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 55 Toyota boosted the Arkansas driver five places in the point standings to 20th. This keeps Martin in points territory that is rather embarrassing for many of those who race around him.
Although Martin has run only five of the season’s seven races to date, he is ahead of 14 drivers who have competed in all seven events. In fact, every driver in the top 33 – except Martin – has raced in all seven races.
Martin’s performance in the No. 55 is the largest reason the car – also driven on occasion by team co-owner Michael Waltrip and Brian Vickers – is seventh in car owner points. It’s been a big season so far for MWR, which also has its 56 car (driven by Martin Truex Jr.) fourth in owner points and its No. 15 (Clint Bowyer) 11th in owner points.
Martin is winless, but there is reason to think that stat could change.
He rolls into Kansas Speedway this week for the STP 400 with a history of a victory and five top 10s in 12 races at the track.
“I love going to the race track,” Martin said. “There's nothing else that I find quite as much fun as going to work with a great race team with a great attitude. So it's fun for me to go to every race that I get to go to.
“We're still trying to improve on our long haul, getting a little easier on the tires so the thing will stay faster. If we can make any more improvement, maybe we can get right up there and make some sparks for those guys.
“This is so much fun and such an incredible privilege to drive a race car at this point in my career, to be able to drive a race car for a team like that and in a hot rod like that.
“We've made improvements on our racer every race that we've got to run together, so Rodney (crew chief Rodney Childers) and I are starting to figure some things out in the car that I like for the long haul. So it's working well.”
Martin said the overall success at MWR is fueling each of the teams. He said he’s been impressed with the teamwork between the teams and drivers, even more so than in other operations for which he’s driven, a list that includes Hendrick Motorsports and Roush Fenway Racing.
“The teamwork I'm feeling right now at MWR is second to none I've ever been at …,” he said. “Martin Truex Jr. is really, really engaged, and he's working hard to help the whole program. We're racing three cars to put two in the Chase for sure and win races and try to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Hendrick and Roush and those guys.
“That's a tall order for right now. I'm very proud of the results we're getting. It's coming from a lot of good attitudes and hard working people.”
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 30 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
Mark Martin showing he’s no ‘old man’ at Michael Waltrip Racing
By Jeff Owens
NASCAR - Sporting News
April 16, 2012
FORT WORTH, Texas - Sometimes 53-year-old Mark Martin looks and sounds downright old.
“Yeah, you've got to holler at me because I've been racing these cars 35 years. I ain't got much more hearing,” Martin said Saturday night when he couldn’t hear a question in the media center at Texas Motor Speedway.
It’s when the veteran driver is on the racetrack that he doesn’t look or act his age.
Martin showed once again he can still drive and race with the best of them, finishing third in the Samsung Mobile 500. It was his best finish since joining Michael Waltrip Racing in the offseason.
After two disappointing seasons at Hendrick Motorsports-the last two years-Martin is experiencing yet another resurgence in his long career. With MWR showing vast improvement in its sixth season as an organization, Martin is running up front again and looking like the driver who has 40 career Cup wins.
“This is so much fun and such an incredible privilege to drive a racecar at this point in my career, to be able to drive a racecar for a team like that and in a hot rod like that,” he said Saturday night.
On a night when Martin and teammate Martin Truex Jr. both were contenders, Martin ran in the top five throughout the race. And he got better as the long night wore on and the long, green-flag runs wore out drivers nearly half Martin’s age.
“I could see the leader the whole race, and at times we could gain,” he said. “When we were at our very best we were making some gains on the leaders, and when we were at our worst we were falling back some, but most of the time we could kind of maintain pace.
“We don't have much more work to do, and we can get up there and be battling for the win.”
Martin is running only 26 races for MWR, sharing the No. 55 Toyota with team owner Michael Waltrip. Martin already has three top-10 finishes, however, in his five races with the team.
After Saturday’s performance, he is eager this week to get to Kansas Speedway, where he won in 2005.
“After today I'm really excited, but I was excited anyway,” he said. “I love going to the racetrack. There's nothing else that I find quite as much fun as going to work with a great race team with a great attitude. So it's fun for me to go to every race that I get to go to.
“But with the great run we had here, we'll be able to roll this setup logic into next week's car, and hopefully...we're still working. We're still trying to improve on our long haul, getting a little easier on the tires so the thing will stay faster. If we can make any more improvement maybe we can get right up there and make some sparks for those guys.”
Martin has been impressed so far with MWR, and that’s saying a lot since he spent most of his career with Roush Fenway Racing and three years with Hendrick Motorsports before cutting back to a partial schedule again this year.
While Martin is not racing for the championship, Truex is fourth in the standings and new MWR driver Clint Bowyer is 10th.
“The teamwork I'm feeling right now at MWR is second to none,” he said. “Martin Truex Jr., is really, really engaged, and he's working hard to help the whole program. We're racing three cars to put two in the Chase for sure and win races and try to go toe to toe with the likes of Hendrick and Roush and those guys.
“That's a tall order for right now. I'm very proud of the results we're getting.”
Mark Martin praises MWR and teammate Martin Truex Jr. after Texas
By Kelly Crandall
SpeedwayMedia.com
April 15, 2012
There’s no better indicator for team about how far them have come then when it’s no longer news about how well they’re running.
It’s taken Michael Waltrip Racing six years but they’ve finally reached that point. Now seven races into the 2012 season MWR drivers are making waves and headlines for all the right reasons.
Saturday night in Texas that continued as their three drivers finished third, sixth and 17th. It started with Martin Truex Jr. on the pole, Mark Martin close behind in fourth as the two drivers carried the MWR banner.
“I am just so proud of MWR and all the people there and the teamwork that they have shown there starting with Martin Truex Jr., who has put so much work into getting the program where it was when we started the season and everybody combined,” said third place finisher Martin.
“They really have a lot of great people there with great attitude, great teamwork and man, have I got one awesome crew chief in Rodney Childers. This is so much fun and such an incredible privilege to drive a racecar at this point in my career – to be able to drive a racecar for a team like that and in a hot rod like that.”
Martin noted that even though Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson dominated the race, he wasn’t far behind. The No. 55 Aarons 2011 Best of the Best Toyota held steady in the top three for the second half of the race, able to see the leaders in front of him.
“We don’t have much more work to do and we can get up there and be battling for the win, so I’m really proud of the guys,” said Martin. “We’ve made improvements every race that we’ve got to run together, so Rodney and I are starting to figure some things out in the car that I like for the long haul, so it’s working well.”
The 53-year-old Martin has never been one to hide his excitement but Saturday night he looked all but ready to jump out of his chair when asked about racing next weekend in Kansas. His face lit up and he had to contain himself when acknowledging that going to work is easy when a driver has a great race team.
“After today I’m really excited but I was excited anyway,” said Martin. “I love going to the race track. There’s nothing else that I find quite as much fun as going to work with a great race team with a great attitude. So it’s fun for me to go to every race that I get to go to.
“But with the great run we had here we’ll be able to roll this setup logic into next week’s car – we’re still working. We’re still trying to improve our long haul, getting a little easier on the tires so the thing will stay faster. If we can make any more improvements maybe we can get right up there and make some sparks for those guys.”
Martin won’t stop at praising just MWR, he says a big part of the company’s turnaround has been his teammate, Martin Truex Jr. Joining MWR in 2010, Truex has been there as they struggled and weren’t doing much of anything right.
Instead of giving up and looking for a way out, Truex hung tough and worked as hard as he could with not just his own No. 56 NAPA team, but vowing to make everyone better. On the verge of snapping his own winless streak and after another strong run in Texas, he’s getting strong words from Martin.
“Martin Truex Jr. has been phenomenal, phenomenal,” said Martin. “The teamwork I’m feeling right now at MWR is second to none I’ve ever been at. [He’s] really, really engaged and he’s working hard to help the whole program. We’re racing three cars to put two in the Chase for sure and win races and try to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Hendrick [Motorsports] and Roush [Fenway] and those guys.
“That’s a tall order for right now. I’m very proud of the results we’re getting. It’s coming from a lot of good attitudes and hard-working people.”
Martin’s only running a partial schedule; therefore he’s not in the championship battle. But Truex Jr. sits fourth and Bowyer slipped one spot to 10th following Texas. Both Truex and Bowyer were once questioned for their decision to leave high profile companies like Earnhardt-Ganassi and Richard Childress Racing for MWR, now however, it looks like it wasn’t such a bad decision.
Truex has been knocking on the door to victory lane for the past few weeks, trying to earn just his second career win. Bowyer has had rough luck to start the season, but once the No. 15 Five Hour Energy team puts that behind them they’re expected to be there contending with Truex.
After his Texas run, Bowyer took to Twitter to apologize to his fans for their performance, saying the team got their butts kicked. He also said though they would get back after it next weekend.
Should any of the three MWR drivers win in Kansas it would just be the third victory for the organization, first since July 2010. But now not the longshot that it once was thought to be.
Mark Martin Post Race Notes and Quotes - Samsung Mobile 500
Toyota Motorsports
April 14, 2012
MARK MARTIN, No. 55 Aaron's Best of the Best Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Finishing Position: 3rd
How do you like driving for Michael Waltrip Racing?
"I am just so proud of MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) and all the people there and the teamwork that they have shown there starting with Martin Truex, Jr., who has put so much work into getting the program where it was when we started the season and everybody combined. They really have a lot of great people there with great attitude, great teamwork and, man, have I got one awesome crew chief in Rodney Childers. This is so much fun and such an incredible privilege to drive a race car at this point in my career -- to be able to drive a race car for a team like that and in a hot rod like that. I could see the leader the whole race, and at times we could gain -- when we were at our very best we were making some gains on the leaders, and when we were at our worst we were falling back some, and most of the time we could kind of maintain pace. We don't have much more work to do, and we can get up there and be battling for the win, so I'm really proud of the guys. We've made improvements every race that we've got to run together, so Rodney (Childers) and I are starting to figure some things out in the car that I like for the long haul, so it's working well."
Are you excited to carry momentum into next week's race?
"After today I'm really excited, but I was excited anyway. I love going to the race track (Kansas Speedway). There's nothing else that I find quite as much fun as going to work with a great race team with a great attitude. So it's fun for me to go to every race that I get to go to. But, with the great run we had here we'll be able to roll this logic, setup logic into next week's car and hopefully -- we're still working. We're still trying to improve on our long haul -- getting a little easier on the tires so the thing will stay faster. If we can make any more improvement maybe we can get right up there and make some sparks for those guys. It's a great place (Kansas Speedway). It's almost like a home track because I raced so much up in Springfield (Mo.) and I-70 and around there, so we should have a lot of charged-up fans."
How are you and Martin Truex Jr. working together?
"Martin Truex Jr. has been phenomenal, phenomenal. The teamwork I'm feeling right now at MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) is second to none I've ever been at, if that answers your question. Martin Truex, Jr., is really, really engaged and he's working hard to help the whole program. We're racing three cars to put two in the Chase for sure and win races and try to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Hendrick (Motorsports) and Roush (Fenway Racing) and those guys. That's a tall order for right now. I'm very proud of the results we're getting. It's coming from a lot of good attitudes and hard-working people.
Mark Martin: Mark Martin wins Mobil 1 driver award
Rotoworld.com
April 15, 2012
Mark Martin wins the Mobil 1 Command Performance Driver of the Race award at Fort Worth.
The award ($5,000) is given to the winner of the race or the next-highest finishing driver displaying the Mobil 1 decal. He earned the award for his 3rd place finish in the Sprint Cup Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. The driver of the No. 55 moved up five spots to 20th in the 2012 Sprint Cup point standings
Mark Martin Post Race Comments - Samsung Mobile 500
By Pete Pistone - NASCAR Blogger
CBS Sports.com
April 14, 2012
THE MODERATOR
We're also joined tonight by third- place finisher Mark Martin, driver of the best of the best Toyota. This is Mark's eighth top 5 finish at Texas Motor Speedway. Mark, talk about your night.
MARK MARTIN
I am just so proud of MWR and all the people there and the teamwork that they have shown there starting with Martin Truex, Jr., who has put so much work into getting the program where it was when we started the season and everybody combined. They really have a lot of great people there with great attitude, great teamwork, and man, have I got one awesome crew chief in Rodney Childers. This is so much fun and such an incredible privilege to drive a race car at this point in my career, to be able to drive a race car for a team like that and in a hot rod like that.
I could see the leader the whole race, and at times we could gain -- when we were at our very best we were making some gains on the leaders, and when we were at our worst we were falling back some, and most of the time we could kind of maintain pace. We don't have much more work to do, and we can get up there and be battling for the win. So I'm really proud of the guys. We've made improvements on our racer every race that we've got to run together, so Rodney and I are starting to figure some things out in the car that I like for the long haul. So it's working well.
Q. Are you running next week's race?
MARK MARTIN
Yeah, you've got to holler at me because I've been racing these cars 35 years. I ain't got much more hearing.
Q. That's a place you've won and had some success. Can you just talk about next week?
MARK MARTIN
After today I'm really excited, but I was excited anyway. I love going to the racetrack. There's nothing else that I find quite as much fun as going to work with a great race team with a great attitude. So it's fun for me to go to every race that I get to go to. But with the great run we had here, we'll be able to roll this logic, setup logic into next week's car, and hopefully -- we're still working. We're still trying to improve on our long haul, getting a little easier on the tires so the thing will stay faster. If we can make any more improvement maybe we can get right up there and make some sparks for those guys.
It's a great place. It's almost like a home track because I raced so much up in Springfield and I-70 and around there, so we should have a lot of charged-up fans.
Q. You and Martin have become quite a potent pair, and tonight at the end your car was better than his. You want to win as much as he does, but how can you guys work together to improve you both?
MARK MARTIN
Martin Truex, Jr., has been phenomenal, phenomenal. The teamwork I'm feeling right now at MWR is second to none I've ever been at, if that answers your question. Martin Truex, Jr., is really, really engaged, and he's working hard to help the whole program. We're racing three cars to put two in the Chase for sure and win races and try to go toe to toe with the likes of Hendrick and Roush and those guys. That's a tall order for right now. I'm very proud of the results we're getting. It's coming from a lot of good attitudes and hard-working people.
Mark Martin Post Qualifying Notes and Quotes - Samsung Mobile 500
Toyota Motorsports
April 13, 2012
MARK MARTIN, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Qualified 4th
Was that a good qualifying run?
“I’m pleased with what I’m driving. Just love driving for this race team. Every lap can’t be your best or your best wouldn’t be your best - and it wasn’t the very best. It wasn’t a Phoenix lap, but it wasn’t shabby. I wouldn’t want to do it again.”
Are you pleased with your car for tomorrow’s race?
“Pretty happy. We’re still learning. We’re still trying to learn a little bit about - I’m trying to learn the cars a little to help them a little bit with tire longevity. We’ve got good speed. To really go out here and close these deals I got to get a little better acquainted with their cars to help them get it easier on the tires.”
What do you think about Martin Truex Jr.’s pole?
“I’m so proud for those guys and for him. That’s sweet. A win for MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) is right around the corner.”
Mark Martin NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Preview - Samsung Mobile 500
Michael Waltrip Racing
April 11, 2012
No. 55 AARON’S/BEST OF THE BEST TOYOTA
TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY PREVIEW
CORNELIUS, N.C. - No. 55 Aaron’s/Best of the Best Toyota driver Mark Martin quickly points out three reasons why he likes Texas Motor Speedway. The 1998 Sprint Cup race winner and three-time Nationwide winner says Texas is one of his favorite stops on the NASCAR circuit. The Michael Waltrip Racing driver hopes to improve upon the No. 55’s ninth place in the 2012 owner standings.
Why Mark Martin likes Texas Motor Speedway:
1. Winning
“Texas Motor Speedway is the site of a lot of great success for me. I think we’ve won a race and finished in the top five seven times. We blew up the first year leading the race and Jeff Burton went and got his first win. Then the next year (1998) we got the win. I’ve won three Nationwide races there. It’s an absolutely great place to race and man is it fast!”
2. FAN SUPPORT
“Texas Motor Speedway is about 450 miles from my hometown of Batesville, Arkansas. I’ve had a stronger fan following there than anywhere else. Sure I listen in driver introductions when the fans cheer or boo, but I really notice the fans in general throughout the weekend. They are pretty vocal. Since it isn’t that far from Batesville it’s one of the places where my fans go. Texas and Kansas are probably the two places where I see or hear from most of my fans. That’s always a great feeling.”
3. PROMOTION
"I just really salute everyone at Texas Motor Speedway for furthering our sport. It is a venue we can all be extremely proud of. They might not have hit the nail on the head coming out of the gate all those years ago but they sure have fixed it. It’s a track we need to keep going to. I’m proud of Texas Motor Speedway. That’s one thing about Bruton Smith. He puts the money into the facility. It’s not all about taking it back out. I have to respect that. Putting money in the facility makes it better to race on, race at, and a better experience for fans.”
NOTES
CAREER
Mark Martin Career Statistics - Racing-Reference.info
BEST OF THE BEST
The No. 55 carries a special paint scheme this weekend celebrating Aaron’s 2011 Best of the Best employees, divisions, regions, stores and franchises. All are from Texas. Winners, based on operational results for the 2011 calendar year and appearing on the No. 55, include:
Division of the Year - Dave Buck – Southwestern Division (Houston, Tex.)
Franchise Division of the Year - Wallace Vernon / Tom Blassingame / Charles Hollinger - Bear Rental Purchase (Killeen, Tex.)
Region of the Year – Company - Ryan Malone – South Texas (Corpus Christi, Tex.)
Region of the Year – Franchise - David Foster – Alliance North (Decatur, Tex.)
Store of the Year – Company - Joe Borrego – C1024 (Odessa, Tex.)
Store of the Year – Franchise - Joey Dolberry – F684 (Early, Tex.)
APPEARANCE
Martin will appear for 15 minutes at Aaron’s Corporate Display at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday at 3:40 p.m.
CHASSIS
Primary 729 – Backup 708 – Neither has raced in 2012
MWR IN POINTS
All three MWR cars are in the top-10 in the 2012 owner standings. Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota is tied for third, No. 55 is ninth and Clint Bowyer’s No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota is tenth.
2012 NO. 55 DRIVER SCHEDULE
May 6 Talladega - Waltrip
May 12 Darlington - Martin
May 19 All Star Race - Martin
May 27 Charlotte - Martin
June 3 Dover – Martin
June 10 Pocono – Martin
June 17 Michigan – Martin
June 24 Infineon – Brian Vickers
June 30 Kentucky – Waltrip
July 7 Daytona – Waltrip
July 15 NHMS – Vickers
July 29 Indy – Martin
Aug. 5 Pocono – Martin
Aug. 12 Watkins Glen – Vickers
Aug. 19 Michigan – Martin
Aug. 25 Bristol – Vickers
Sept. 2 Atlanta – Martin
Sept. 8 Richmond – Martin
Sept. 16 Chicago – Martin
Sept. 23 NHMS – Vickers
Sept. 30 Dover – Martin
Oct. 7 Talladega – Waltrip
Oct. 13 Charlotte – Martin
Oct. 21 Kansas – Martin
Oct. 28 Martinsville- Vickers
Nov. 4 Texas – Martin
Nov. 11 Phoenix – Martin
Nov. 18 Homestead – Martin
