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Ever since watching MARK MARTIN race since I was a little kid, he has been one of my favorites throughout the years. Another one of my favorite NASCAR legends of all time is 1988 NASCAR, WINSTON CUP CHAMPION, BILL ELLIOTT.
With Mark Martin currently SECOND place in NEXTEL Cup points, I believe #6 has a great chance at winning the NEXTEL Cup in his "speculated" final year in NASCAR. And I say "speculated" because I highly doubt he is going to retire when the 2006 season is over. Martin just can't retire yet and not anytime soon! Also, Mark Martin is currently in FIRST place in points in The Craftsman Truck Series as well.
So no matter what, if it's the NEXTEL Cup (which to me, will ALWAYS be known as the "WINSTON CUP") or Craftman Truck Series, if Mark Martin will win or not in 2006, Mark Martin WILL ALWAYS be a CHAMPION in his "own class"!
I CAN CARELESS about these younger drivers such as, The Earnhardt Juniors, The Tony Stewarts, The Kasey Kahnes, The Kevin Harvicks, The Busch brothers, Kurt & Kyle, The Jimmie Johnsons, The Ryan Newmans and so on.....
My other favorite NASCAR veteran drivers such as, Kenny Schrader, Joe Nemechek, Sterling Marlin, Dale Jarrett, Michael Waltrip, Jeff Burton, Kyle Petty, The Labonte brothers, Terry & Bobby, Kevin Lepage, and even "my part-time season guy", Bill Elliott NEED to take the race track back because you're ALL BETTER than these new jokers, the so called "Young Guns".
Bill Lester... African American or not, it doesn't matter... You have a GREAT future ahead of you in NASCAR and you'll make racing history, maybe not now but soon! Best of luck to you, Bill Lester!
Morgan Shepherd, #89..... Where are you? You're 64 years old and you still prove time and time again that you can still drive at 200 miles per hour regardless if you keep crashing and wrecking your car around the first and/or the second lap. Remember, you're Racing With Jesus! MORGAN SHEPHERD!..... "Victory in Jesus Racing", OH HELL YEAH!!!
Rusty Wallace and Ricky Rudd..... I MISS YOU GUYS!!! Please consider some part-time racing just like what Bill Elliott is doing...
Anyway, Mark Martin..... This thread is dedicated to you! Win a cup or not, YOU will ALWAYS be a CHAMPION to me!!!
A LIVING LEGEND in NASCAR..... MARK MARTIN!!! I LOVE YOU MAN!!!
Posts: 3662 | From: The City of Angels, Beautiful Los Angeles, California | Registered: Oct 2005
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Mark Martin is and has always been one of my favorites because of his career and also part of it is he is from my native state of AR.DWE, do not forget to take a moment and remember the one and only #3. I'd like to see Martin take Johnson into the wall,hehe.
Posts: 725 | From: litte rock AR | Registered: Oct 2005
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I've never been much of a fan of #3 but I have to give Earnhardt much credit for what he has done throughtout the years.
I never did liked Jeff Gordon either.
Richard Petty & Harry Gant are 2 others that I admire and miss on the race track! The STP and The SKOAL guys!!!
NASCAR is exploding with popularity today, but NASCAR JUST isn't the same as it was back then, when all these new PUNKS that are known as the so called, "Young Guns" started coming out. SCREW EM! I'm in for the Mark Martins, the Sterling Marlins, the Joe Nemecheks, the Bill Elliotts, the Michael Waltrips, the Dale Jarretts the Kenny Schraders and so on..... You get the idea.
WARD BURTON!!! PLEASE COME BACK!!!
[ April 05, 2006, 08:13: Message edited by: DWE ]
Posts: 3662 | From: The City of Angels, Beautiful Los Angeles, California | Registered: Oct 2005
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Mark Martin is second in the points, just 59 behind leader Jimmie Johnson. Credit: Autostock
Age aside, Martin having time of his life this year!
Veteran is 47, but second in the standings during final season.
By: Mark Spoor April 7, 2006 07:08 PM EDT (23:08 GMT)
JUSTIN, Texas -- Even though Mark Martin is clearly running like a youngster in the Nextel Cup Series these days, he admits that as the clock continues to tick, he's starting to feel his age.
"I'm old," he said Friday at Texas Motor Speedway where he qualified third for Sunday's Samsung/RadioShack 500 (1:30 p.m. ET, FOX). "It's a lot harder work when you get my age to get it done."
In reality, the 47-year-old Martin is at least 12 years older than any of the other nine drivers currently in the Nextel Cup Series top 10. For his part, Martin says he was a much different racer a dozen years ago.
"I didn't even know I could wreck," Martin said with a smile. "Now I know it's a possibility. Things are different. Everybody matures at a different rate and maybe I was a slow one in getting there."
Still, Martin said no matter what your age, with the hope to run with the top dogs in the Nextel Cup Series comes an increase in commitment.
"In order to be a fierce competitor, you have to have an incredible fire and desire and drive and be willing to make every possible sacrifice and compromise in your life to be able to get out there," he said, "and that's what I've done and that's what I still do."
However, as the short Nextel Cup offseason clicked off over the winter and the season-opening Daytona 500 approached, Martin wasn't sure he had that desire, or that he'd ever get it back.
"I didn't know if I was gonna be able to find it. I swear I didn't," he said. "I kept putting everybody off in December. I put them off in January with those questions and I was really concerned that I wouldn't be able to find it, but I went out in Daytona and did my job."
And that's when everything changed.
"When I slip down in the seat of the 6 car, it feels like your favorite spot on the couch or the recliner. It's the right place for me," he said.
"I didn't expect 2006 to be the time of my life, but I'm having the time of my life and I know that in just a couple of years I'm gonna look back on 2006 and say 'Man, those were the good old days.'"
His record this season seems to prove that. Through six events, his worst finish came last weekend at Martinsville when he crossed the line 13th. The finish still bumped him to second in the point standings. That Martin's stats will slump Sunday at Texas is unlikely. He won in 1998 and has five top-10 finishes in 10 Cup starts there.
"We love this racetrack," Martin said. "We had a great run the last time we were here [second] and hopefully we can come back and do the same.
"I think the competitive fire is there and the confidence. I know that I probably have better cars right now than I even had last year and that gives me great confidence going forward.
"I think most of the fire that you're seeing in me is really a reflection of the cars that I'm driving and the team that I'm working with that's really at the top of their game."
MARK MARTIN..... YOU'RE THE MAN!!! Run for President of the United States in 2008 and you'll have my vote!
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Mark Martin..... You're looking good in points! 4th place in points, baby!!! You've got until November to become number one in points and become the NEW 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL (WINSTON) CUP CHAMPION!!!
#20, Tony Stewart..... BITE ME!!! I don't shop at Home Depot because of you!
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MORGAN SHEPHERD..... Keep doing what you're doing..... You're also a "LIVING LEGEND" in "YOUR OWN" class!!!
64 YEAR OLD MORGAN SHEPHERD wins NMPA Pocono Spirit Award!!!
From NASCAR Team Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Morgan Shepherd, who at 64 is the oldest full-time driver in the Nextel Cup Series, was named winner of the National Motorsports Press Association's Pocono Spirit Award on Sunday night.
Shepherd was the fourth-quarter winner of the award, mainly due to his 19th annual Morgan Shepherd Charity Ride, dedicated to helping disabled and underprivileged people each December. With a passenger bus and passenger vans, a group of drivers, racing personnel and media travelled from Conover to the PARC Workshop in Stuart, Va., and other towns in the region.
"We carry friends, presents and hope for these people," Shepherd said. "Besides a donation, hopefully a large donation each year, to the PARC Workshop, we are delighted to have the chance to meet with old and new friends and to show the love of Christ to these folks."
The annual Christmas trip began in 1986, when the Morgan Shepherd Charitable Fund was established to assist the needy and disabled in the Virginia mountains. That first year, the trip culminated with the group putting a new roof on the house of a needy person in Fries, Va., and it has grown since then. The trip now assists more than 300 needy and people with disabilities each year.
Drivers such as Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader, Kyle Petty, Dale Jarrett and Jeff Green have been on the trip in the past.
The award, determined by a vote by the full NMPA, is sponsored by Pocono International Raceway.
Race fans and corporations can help by making donations via MasterCard or Visa at:
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Derrike Cope loses 25 points for Texas rule violation.
April 11, 2006
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- One fine and two penalties have been issued to the No. 74 Dodge team competing in the Nextel Cup Series, as a result of rule violations last week at Texas Motor Speedway.
Due to violations of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20-5.9G(1) (external modifications to the intake manifold deemed impermissible unless authorized by the Series Director) of the 2006 Nextel Cup Series Rule Book, crew chief Domenick Turse was fined $50,000; driver Derrike Cope was penalized with the loss of 25 driver championship points; and car owner Ray McGlynn was penalized 25 owner championship points.
The infraction was discovered during opening day inspection.
WHAT A SHAME!!! Derrike Cope! What are you doing, man??? You are the 1990 Daytona 500 Champion! Get your act together!!!
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quote:Originally posted by DWE: Mark Martin..... You're looking good in points! 4th place in points, baby!!! You've got until November to become number one in points and become the NEW 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL (WINSTON) CUP CHAMPION!!!
#20, Tony Stewart..... BITE ME!!! I don't shop at Home Depot because of you!
Why the hatred for Tony Stewart? Ive always been a Tony Stewart and Mark Martin fan. Mark Martin is the most respected driver in the series and also 35 Cup series wins, 47 Busch series wins(most all-time), 13 IROC wins(most all-time), 5 IROC championships(most all-time) so, Martin has accomplished alot in his career. And Tony Stewart has accomplished more than any current driver in North America just look at his impressive racing resume-
-2005 Nextel Cup Champion -2002 Winston Cup Champion -2001 World of Outlaws champion (Car Owner) -1999 Winston Cup Rookie of the year -1997 Indy Racing League champion (IRL) -1996 Indy Racing League Rookie of the year -1995 USAC Triple Crown - USAC Midget, USAC Sprint Cars, USAC Silver Crown championships -1994 USAC Midget champion -1987 World Karting Association National Title -1983 International Karting Foundation Grand National title
Posts: 216 | Registered: Mar 2006
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quote:Originally posted by DWE: Mark Martin..... You're looking good in points! 4th place in points, baby!!! You've got until November to become number one in points and become the NEW 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL (WINSTON) CUP CHAMPION!!!
#20, Tony Stewart..... BITE ME!!! I don't shop at Home Depot because of you!
Why the hatred for Tony Stewart? Ive always been a Tony Stewart and Mark Martin fan. Mark Martin is the most respected driver in the series and also 35 Cup series wins, 47 Busch series wins(most all-time), 13 IROC wins(most all-time), 5 IROC championships(most all-time) so, Martin has accomplished alot in his career. And Tony Stewart has accomplished more than any current driver in North America just look at his impressive racing resume-
-2005 Nextel Cup Champion -2002 Winston Cup Champion -2001 World of Outlaws champion (Car Owner) -1999 Winston Cup Rookie of the year -1997 Indy Racing League champion (IRL) -1996 Indy Racing League Rookie of the year -1995 USAC Triple Crown - USAC Midget, USAC Sprint Cars, USAC Silver Crown championships -1994 USAC Midget champion -1987 World Karting Association National Title -1983 International Karting Foundation Grand National title
I have my own preferences for drivers who I've seen over the years such as the ones I've mentioned above. Tony Stewart and all these newer, younger guys I can careless about. The only newer and/or younger driver that comes close that can "POSSIBLY" be on my favorites list one day is Elliott Sadler.
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But with many of the previous generation drivers such as Rusty Wallace, Terry Labonte, Bill Elliot, Ricky Rudd, retired and Dale Earnhardt gone. And Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett, Ken Schrader and others soon to follow in the next couple of years these younger guys are the future of the sport. Oh yeah Mark Martin thinks pretty highly of Tony Stewart. Mark once said this about Stewart-
"In my eyes, Tony Stewart is the greatest driver in this era," Martin said. "A.J. Foyt might have been when I was a little boy, but Tony is it now."
Posts: 216 | Registered: Mar 2006
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Stocktrader20. Yes, I know the likes of Dale Jarrett, Kenny Schrader, Sterling Marlin and other veterans will retire soon leaving the younger generation of drivers on the NASCAR track.
So to be fair, these are the younger drivers I would most likely to be in favor of.....
That's about it. I thought I would have at least 5 but 4 is enough.
I'll really get pissed off when "Front Row" Joe Nemechek decides to retire. Nemechek has a long way to go though. I was very happy for Joe during his last 2 back to back victories in Kansas he captured during both the BUSCH and NEXTEL races on that Saturday & Sunday back in October of 2004.
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Also, Mark Martin DOES says a lot of great things about most of the younger drivers but that doesn't mean I gotta like em', ESPECIALLY TONY STEWART!
Second to Stewart is that HORRIBLE Kevin Harvick! All those times he bashed Kurt Busch and telling the national audience that he looks and drives like "Opie Taylor"..... Well, as far as I know, Opie Taylor has a NEXTEL Cup Championship, Harvick doesn't!
JEERS TO STEWART & HARVICK!
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As for championships, Martin doesnt have a championship either, Well all I know is Tony Stewart has two Cup championships and he will go down in the history as one of the few drivers to win multiple championships in Nascar's premier series and the only driver to win a Winston Cup and Nextel Cup championship. And as for Kurt Busch, I dislike him the most. Jack Roush Put Busch in competitive cars with great teams and took a chance on him. Jack Roush made Kurt Busch and Busch repays Roush back by asking to be let go out of his contract early in the middle of the season and signs a long term contract with another team. Busch owes his success to Roush and thats how he shows his respect for Roush? Busch is the most hated driver in nascar without a doubt and Ive been to nascar races, Kurt Busch gets the most boos from the fans by far.
Posts: 216 | Registered: Mar 2006
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LoL! Boos or not, I love it when fans throw cans and other garbage at Jeff Gordon's car after Gordon wins a race in certain parts of the country.
Dale Earnhardt #3 has gone down in NASCAR history way more than once. I have NEVER EVER liked Earnhardt nor do I like his son. The only reason why Junior has such a huge fan base is because of his last name, "Earnhardt". Look at him! Earnhardt Jr. SUCKS on the track and has been sucking for a long while!
I can careless about Kurt Busch. Although he is one individual with microphone skills, I'll give him credit for. I'm actually, glad that Kurt Busch has proven Harvick wrong over and over again and where is Harvick these days or anyday? Harvick should of kept his mouth shut about "Opie Taylor" and now I bet you Harvick wished he did. Number 1 in the "BUSCH" Series??? Funny how Harvick is first in points in the "BUSCH" series! LoL!
By the way, I think it's an "honor" for Kurt Busch to take over Rusty Wallace's Miller Lite #2 car. Roush DID make Kurt Busch..... But in Busch's current status and eventhough I don't like Busch, he can do whatever he wants.
Hollywood Stunt Man, #72 STANTON BARRETT is MY PERSONAL CHOICE for BUSCH SERIES PEPSI 300!!!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO STANTON BARRETT!!!!!
ERIN CROCKER #9 is starting in 7th position in the PEPSI 300! GREAT GOING ERIN!!! I'M SO PROUD OF YOU! Yet another woman driver in NASCAR makin' a name for herself! ERIN CROCKER makes Shawna Robinson and Tina Gordon look horrible!!! GOOOOOOOOO ERIN CROCKER!!!
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quote:Originally posted by DWE: Mark Martin..... You're looking good in points! 4th place in points, baby!!! You've got until November to become number one in points and become the NEW 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL (WINSTON) CUP CHAMPION!!!
#20, Tony Stewart..... BITE ME!!! I don't shop at Home Depot because of you!
Why the hatred for Tony Stewart? Ive always been a Tony Stewart and Mark Martin fan. Mark Martin is the most respected driver in the series and also 35 Cup series wins, 47 Busch series wins(most all-time), 13 IROC wins(most all-time), 5 IROC championships(most all-time) so, Martin has accomplished alot in his career. And Tony Stewart has accomplished more than any current driver in North America just look at his impressive racing resume-
-2005 Nextel Cup Champion -2002 Winston Cup Champion -2001 World of Outlaws champion (Car Owner) -1999 Winston Cup Rookie of the year -1997 Indy Racing League champion (IRL) -1996 Indy Racing League Rookie of the year -1995 USAC Triple Crown - USAC Midget, USAC Sprint Cars, USAC Silver Crown championships -1994 USAC Midget champion -1987 World Karting Association National Title -1983 International Karting Foundation Grand National title
The USAC triple crown was created after Tony won it. He's the only one! USAC never thought that anyone would ever win all three, so they never actually made a Triple Crown Trophy until after Tony broke all expectations on drivers.
In my opinion, barring any serious injuries, Tony will go down as the best driver of all time in Nascar when all is said and done.
I still wish Davey Allison was around.
[ April 15, 2006, 18:22: Message edited by: Peaser01 ]
-------------------- Buy Low. Sell High. Posts: 10750 | From: The Land Of The Giants | Registered: Feb 2005
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"Tony will go down as the BEST driver of all time in NASCAR when all is said and done"???
Mr. Peaser01..... C'MON!!! From ticker symbol, WGFL to Tony Stewart... Now that's hilarious!
You honestly think Stewart will even be better than Richard Petty and last as long as he did? With Stewart's bad temper and attidude on the track in the past, he's bound to go on a rage one day and cause unnecessary accidents, probably get someone or himself injured, get banned from NASCAR and do other damage. NASCAR doesn't let his type of behavior slide so easily these days. This isn't the Earnhardt era where Earnhardt Sr. would crash into people so he can "cheat to win". I commend Stewart for capturing the Winston & Nextel cups but I can't see him win yet another one. He's getting up there in weight too just like Jimmy Spencer and that always slows a car down.
I agree about the Davey Allison comment. I miss Allison too. BUT... I miss HARRY GANT being on the race track MORE!
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Id honestly like to see Tony Stewart race F1. He has had quite a career in Nascar in his short 7 year Nascar career. Tony has won a championship in every racing series that he has raced full time. Not too many drivers can say that. He can win on dirt tracks, pavement, in sprint cars, indy cars, stock cars. He has dominated at every type of event in Nascar. Hes won at short tracks, restrictor plate tracks, 1.5 mile ovals, and road courses. Oh yeah Stewart is the only driver to of ever won the pole position for both the Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400. Without a doubt Stewart is the most versatile driver in the country and no one has accomplished more than him in such a variety of diffrent race cars. He already has won 2 Nascar Cup championships in only 7 years. He will easily win another Nextel Cup if he choses to stay in Nascar but, Id like to see him move up to the next level. But either way he will win more championships.
Posts: 216 | Registered: Mar 2006
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To me, it would be great if Stewart left NASCAR for F1. I can't stand Stewart in NASCAR! I honestly hope he decides to leave soon.
It's people like Kenny Schrader that have accomplished way more that people like Stewart that don't get full recognition for their accomplishments. Kenny Schrader may not win a whole lot in NASCAR but look at Schrader's overall racing record in other racing organizations such as ARCA Racing when ya'll get a chance. This guy was born to race anything and everything! Kenny Schrader will be racing til he's in his eighties. I AM PROUD to be a KENNY SCHRADER FAN!!!
Read his brief biography.....
For Ken Schrader, racing and winning races are second nature.
Since he was a little boy growing up in Fenton, Mo.,
Schrader has found some of his greatest happiness driving in circles. And after 20 full seasons in NASCAR’s elite series, Schrader still can’t wait to put on his helmet, strap in his driver’s seat and chase the checkered flag every Sunday afternoon or any other day of the week for that matter.
It is that desire and dedication to drive that has earned Schrader the reputation around the garage as a true racer’s racer. It’s nothing for Schrader to run a couple of dirt races during the week, compete in the Nextel Cup Series on the weekend and then show up at another dirt track show on Monday night.
In fact, many have said that Kenny Schrader will race just about anything that has wheels. Asphalt or dirt, superspeedway or half-mile track – it really doesn’t matter as long as it has three pedals and a steering wheel.
The story of how Schrader’s racing career began has been told so many times that it is almost legend in the NASCAR ranks.
At the young age of three, Schrader’s dad Bill tied a cable from his go-kart to a post in the backyard of their Midwestern home. Schrader would go round and round in circles. When the go-kart ran out of gas, Schrader would ask his dad to fill it back up. Then he would start going in circles all over again.
Schrader’s love of racing has only progressed over the years.
“I guess you could say that I have been dizzy ever since,” Schrader said. “I really don’t think it is an exaggeration when I say that racing is all I’ve ever known. I’ve been racing since I could walk, and it is really all I have ever wanted to do. To be honest, I would race everyday if I had the opportunity.”
And that’s no understatement. At one point in his career, Schrader was running in excess of 100 races each year. In recent years, Schrader has cut that number back to about 90 races a season, but he still climbs in that race car every time he has the chance.
For the past 20 years, Schrader has focused on racing full-time in the Nextel Cup Series. However, he also drives for his self-owned team in a variety of series including the Craftsman Truck Series, the NASCAR Grand National West Division, the NASCAR Auto Zone Elite Southwest Series and the ARCA Series. Schrader also finds time to stay close to his roots as he also races at various dirt tracks throughout the Midwest each year.
Driving and owning his own team isn’t Schrader’s only connection to racing. For the past nine years, he has also been co-promoter for one of the 3/8-mile dirt tracks where he grew up racing – I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo.
Schrader’s career started at local dirt tracks just like the one he now owns. Before getting behind the wheel of a stock car, Schrader raced all over the Midwest, driving mostly open wheel cars.
He won in every division he raced, including two USAC championships. Schrader won the USAC Silver Crown championship in 1982, and he followed that up by taking top honors in the USAC Sprint Car division in 1983.
Despite his success in the open wheel ranks, Schrader wanted to find a permanent home in a stock car circuit.
His big break came in 1984 with the help of car owner Elmo Langley. Schrader rented Langley’s Fords for three races in 1984 before running out of money. By being smart on the race track and careful with the equipment, Langley allowed Schrader to run two extra races that year. By the end of the season, the cars were still in one piece and Schrader had gotten his first taste of the big show.
He wasted no time making his case for a full-time ride in the Winston Cup Series. Car owner Junie Donlavey was impressed by Schrader’s talent, and he decided to take a chance on the young driver. Donlavey’s hunch paid off as Schrader scored three top-10 finishes en route to Rookie of the Year honors for the 1985 season.
From Donlavey Racing, Schrader moved to Hendrick Motorsports in 1988. Schrader earned all four of his victories in nine seasons with the Hendrick Motorsports organization from behind the wheel of the No. 25 Chevrolet. During his nine seasons with Hendrick, Schrader accumulated 15 poles, 54 top-five and 110 top-10 finishes. Schrader also scored his career-best Cup points finish – a fourth-place finish in 1994.
Then in 1997, Schrader moved to the fledgling Andy Petree Racing. In three years, Schrader claimed five poles and 25 top-10 finishes.
Schrader drove for MB2 Motorsports from 2000 to 2002, where he posted seven more top-10 finishes.
In 2003, Schrader moved to BAM Motorsports and the No. 49 Dodge. In his two-and-a-half seasons behind the wheel of the No. 49 Schwan’s Home Services Dodge, Schrader has added five top-10 finishes to his resume (through SearsPoint on June 26, 2005).
Over the past 20 years in the Nextel Cup Series, Schrader has collected a total 640 starts and more than $25 million in earnings. He has four wins to his credit in the Nextel Cup ranks (Talladega, 1988; Charlotte 1989; Atlanta, 1991; Dover, 1991) as well as 64 top-five and 181 top-10 finishes. Schrader has also led the field to the green flag on 23 occasions during his career.
Schrader’s record behind the wheel of his Schrader Racing entries is just as impressive.
He has claimed 25 victories in a variety of series since Schrader Racing were formed in 1987. The Schrader Racing team has also won 17 races with other drivers at the helm. And these numbers don’t begin to include the numerous time Schrader has taken top honors at dirt tracks.
In addition to his Nextel Cup duties in 2005, Schrader will again tackle a hectic Schrader Racing schedule. Plans call for Schrader to run 17 races in four different series (Craftsman Truck, NASCAR Southwest, NASCAR West and ARCA). He’ll also compete in more than 20 races at various dirt tracks.
Busy, yes. But Schrader wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I want to spend my time racing,” Schrader said. “It’s not only my job, but it’s also my hobby. I love the time that I get to spend behind the wheel, and as long as I can, I’m going to race whenever I get the chance.”
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THIS MARK MARTIN ARTICLE TOUCHES MY HEART. I HOPE IT DOES FOR YOU AS WELL. MARK MARTIN..... YOU'RE THE MAN!!!
By David Newton, WWW.NASCAR.COM April 16, 2006 10:35 AM EDT (14:35 GMT)
Busy Mark Martin teaching son the family business.
Matt Martin (Mark's 14 year old son) learning patience both on the track and off.
NEW SMYRNA, Fla. -- Mark Martin and his 14-year-old son, Matt, sit quietly in the back of the No. 66 hauler outside of Turn 4 at New Smyrna Speedway as they wait on the feature event.
Mark, considered one of the more educated Nextel Cup drivers when it comes to current events, occasionally glances at Entertainment Tonight playing on the flat-screen television mounted to the wall.
Matt curls up in his chair and pulls a blanket around his neck on a cooler-than-normal Florida night.
It's February 13, less than a week before Mark is scheduled to run his final Daytona 500.
Had last season's farewell tour gone according to plan he'd be spending a lot more nights like this helping his son break into the Limited Late Model series on the same track he made his racing debut 29 years ago.
It didn't.
A series of events that sent Kurt Busch from Roush Racing to Penske Racing South and Jamie McMurray from Ganassi Racing to Roush Racing a year earlier than expected pushed Martin's plans to retire from the No. 6 Cup car at Roush back a season.
Mark, 47, initially was wary of the change, in part because it meant another year of missing nights such as this, in part because he wasn't sure he had the energy to make another run at the championship that remains a void in his resume.
The four-time series runner-up still misses seeing his son race and the quality time shaping Matt's career, but energy has not been a problem.
Mark is fourth in the Cup standings and first in the Truck Series. Things have gone so well that he doubled the number of Truck races he'd scheduled to 14, making this arguable one of his busiest seasons since he broke into NASCAR's premier series in 1981.
Matt understands.
"We usually race at least once a month, sometimes two,'' he says. "I can't really race all the time because I'm always with dad at the track when there's really good races for me to go do. That kind of [stinks].
"But it's real cool seeing him do good. It's good that he's always been loyal to Roush Racing. It's good that he's where he wants to be.''
Even a week such as this, when the Cup and Truck Series are off, the schedule keeps Mark from family time. He spent Tuesday and Wednesday testing at Richmond.
He spent Friday in his hometown of Batesville, Ark., for the grand opening of his new car dealership and museum that will contain the trophies, cars and other memories that have shaped his career.
"I don't know if you saw the movie '8 Degrees,' '' Martin says. "But the guy in there that handled the dogs told someone, 'These are working dogs. And they'll run themselves to death if I let them.'
"And that's a little bit like me. I'm willing to work myself to death to go out at the top of my game. ... So there's a bright side. The other side is, yeah, I had some other plans.''
Times have changed
Mark looks around at the state-of-the-art equipment that his son has at his disposal.
It is a lifetime from the homemade trailer and pickup truck that pulled then-18-year-old Mark's car into New Smyrna for the first time in 1977.
Mark doesn't remember where he finished that night, but he remembers the setup of the car and just about every setup he's had since. He can't help it. That's the way his mind works.
"I was just trying to get experience,'' Mark recalls. "I don't think we did too well that first race, but by the end of speedweeks I was running in the top five.''
Running in the top five isn't the goal for Matt on this night or any in the near future. He is here to learn, not only from his father but from others on the track.
"To be patient,'' says Mark, reminding Matt is more aggressive than he was early in his career.
To make sure of that, Mark brought what he called a middle-of-the-pack car for this race.
"He don't need a great car to learn,'' Mark says. "I've got a really good car back at the shop. If I brought it he probably could have qualified eighth instead of 19th.
"But he would have made the same mistakes in that car, and why waste a good car? I kind of look at this as a Bud Shootout car, one we can afford to play around with.''
Mark smiles, looking at his son who obviously has other thoughts about what's best for him.
"He doesn't agree with me,'' Mark says. "He thinks he's going to win no matter what. But I tell him what we're going to do and he listens.''
This time, Matt smiles.
"He knows more about a racecar than most other people,'' he says. "I have the driver's suit and shoes on, but he's really in control.''
Final preparation
Matt jumps to his feet and begins zipping up his uniform.
The roar of engines from cars leaving the track is a signal that it's time to get ready.
"They're going to give you extra laps to warm up the tires,'' Mark says as he stands eye-to-eye with Matt. "Once they get warm, things will be all right.''
Matt listens better than most sons getting fatherly advice. He knows few are more respected than his father, who was called by many of his peers at Richmond this week the king of driver etiquette.
He also doesn't hesitate to take a dig at his old man, reminding of the time they went head-to-head in quarter midgets.
"I showed him how it's done,'' Matt says with a chuckle.
Mark laughs.
"Those things are a lot harder to drive than I thought they'd be,'' he says.
Matt looks like a miniature version of his father in his tiny driver's suit that is splashed with sponsors such as Coca-Cola. He looks even smaller when he crawls into a specially-designed seat surrounded by 480 horsepower of Ford.
As the crew buckles him down he looks through the front window with his big eyes and winks at his mother.
"I get so nervous,'' Arlene says. "But it's pretty neat that Mark was able to be here for this. He doesn't get many chances to do this once the season starts.''
Mark leans into the window to double-check the safety harnesses and go over final instructions with Matt. As Matt backs the car away from the hauler, Mark goes inside to adjust his radio headset and find a few moments of solitude.
"I get pretty nervous at these things,'' Mark admits. "I'm just like any other dad. I want what's best for my kid. I could be doing the same thing if he was getting ready for a football game. I just wouldn't know what to tell him.''
Show time
The public address announcer begins introducing the starting lineup as Mark and Arlene settle into the wooden stands outside Turns 3 and 4.
"These are our future stars of auto racing,'' he says. "Talk to the guys that run NASCAR and they'll tell you this is where they began. This is what grass-roots racing is all about.''
Matt spins out in front of his parents before the words echo into the darkness. Mark takes a deep breath, spits between the bleachers and talks into the headset, reminding Matt of what he'd told him an hour before about cold tires.
The public address announcer continues.
"Speaking of future stars,'' he says. "There's Matt Martin in the No. 66. You may know his dad, who will be racing at Daytona later in the week.''
It's almost 8 p.m. when the green flag drops. That's four hours earlier than the feature race the night before. Mark, who lives only a few miles away, asked the track to run the event earlier.
"Matt's got school tomorrow,'' he says.
One lap into the race Mark's concern about the cold tires becomes reality as the first wreck occurs. Matt isn't involved, but the sheet metal on the right rear side of his car has come loose and is flapping like a flag in a windstorm.
The sheet metal becomes a problem a few laps later when another car attempting to pass pinches Matt's car into the wall.
Mark and Arlene jump to their feet. Assured Matt isn't hurt, they move toward the hauler, realizing the car is too damaged to continue. A large crowd of people, including reigning Cup champion Tony Stewart dressed so warmly he's barely recognizable, follow.
"Well, that didn't last very long,'' Mark says as he takes off his headset.
'Good job, Matt'
While Mark surveys the front-end damages with Stewart, a small boy wearing a red No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. jacket tugs at Matt's uniform.
"Good job, Matt,'' the kid says softly.
Matt pats him on the head the way his dad would a young admirer, accepting defeat as graciously as his father taught him.
By now a television camera is ready for an interview. Even for a 14-year-old, there's not a cool-down time where the media is concerned.
Matt answers all the questions as a large crowd gathers. Stewart, who has become more recognizable since lowering the hood of his sweatshirt, smiles in amazement at the way Matt handles himself.
"Can you imagine the pressure he's under?'' he says, "When I was 14, I was racing go-karts.''
Mark has the look of a proud father. As a competitor, he knows there will be many other nights like this.
"You learn from your mistakes,'' he says. "We didn't embarrass ourselves.''
These are the kind of moments Martin hopes to enjoy more after his Cup career "officially'' ends. Matt looks forward to the day when his father can be at all of his races, like the one after this one in which he finished eighth.
He wishes his father could be around for more days like Monday when they went to the movie Benchwarmers.
"That was awesome,'' he says.
But Matt doesn't begrudge his father's decision to run another Cup season. He takes it as another life lesson in commitment.
"It's important to have commitments,'' Matt says. "If you're not loyal to people they're not going to be loyal to you.''
And since Mark has made this commitment, he hopes to make the most of it.
"It's not the center of my life,'' he says of the career his son hopes to follow. "It's not the center of his. But it has a way of being the center when you're in the middle of it.
"There's lots of things I want to do that I can't, but it won't always be that way.''
-------------------- "NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE U.S./CHINA CONNECTION"
Kulwicki posts first career win, celebrates with 'Polish victory lap'
By Mark Aumann, NASCAR.COM April 18, 2006 02:44 PM EDT (18:44 GMT)
If foreshadowing is the act of providing hints of a future event, the 1988 Checker 500 at Phoenix International Raceway left the names Kulwicki, Allison and Elliott eternally entwined.
An unheralded journeyman by the name of Alan Kulwicki would post his first Cup victory in NASCAR's first visit to the desert mile that season -- setting the stage for an improbable series of events that would culminate in Kulwicki's 1992 championship, at Bill Elliott's expense.
Kulwicki, the 1986 rookie of the year, had won four poles and finished second at Darlington and Martinsville earlier in the season. It appeared this wouldn't be Kulwicki's day when a stuck lug nut forced him to run on "three new tires and one old one for about 25 laps."
But when Rusty Wallace began to suffer from handling problems, Ricky Rudd took the lead and built an advantage over the field. Following Kulwicki's final pit stop on Lap 248, his Thunderbird began to reel in Rudd's Buick.
What looked to be a classic duel to the finish became anticlimatic when a radiator hose came loose on Rudd's car with 25 laps to go, forcing Rudd to drop out of the race after leading 183 laps.
"Between our last stop and the time Ricky fell out, we'd cut his lead from 8 seconds to about 3," Kulwicki said. "We certainly had a chance to catch him even if he didn't fall out. We'll never know now, but we had an excellent chance to win this race either way."
Kulwicki beat Terry Labonte to the line by 18.5 seconds, with Davey Allison finishing third -- yet another foreshadowing of 1992. Kulwicki then delighted the crowd of about 60,000 with a lap of the track in reverse, which he called "my Polish victory lap."
"I'd thought about it for a couple of months and been waiting to use it," Kulwicki said. "There'll never be another first win, and I wanted to do something people would remember me by."
Elliott's fourth-place finish allowed him to maintain a 79-point advantage on Wallace heading into the season's final race at Atlanta. Things were dicey early, as Elliott cut a tire and was out of sequence with the leaders for the rest of the day.
One of those was Wallace, who led 68 laps before fading to fifth at the end.
"We got out here in pretty good shape, and I don't know what else to tell you," Elliott said. "I'll do what I have to do at Atlanta. All I have to do is finish in the top 20."
Even though Wallace would go on to win the final race of the year, Elliott's 11th-place performance at Atlanta would be good enough for him to claim his first championship.
Four years later, Elliott would once again come into Phoenix with a significant lead. However, a 31st-place finish -- coupled with Allison's second consecutive victory there -- would result in a 110-point swing, giving Allison the points lead heading into the season finale.
Just like Elliott in 1988, Kulwicki would go on to finish fourth at Phoenix in 1992 -- and claim the championship when Allison was caught up in a crash at Atlanta.
Kulwicki would win four more races, including twice at Bristol, before being killed in a plane crash on April 1, 1993. Two of Allison's 19 career victories would come at Phoenix. He was fatally injured when the helicopter he was piloting crashed in the infield of Talladega Superspeedway on July 13, 1993.
-------------------- "NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE U.S./CHINA CONNECTION"
posted
Mark Martin still looking good after finishing 11th in the April 22nd, Subway Fresh 500 in Phoenix, Arizona! Still 4th place in NEXTEL CUP point standings. Long way to go til November but MARK MARTIN is picking up on those points and can be the NEXT NASCAR NEXTEL CUP CHAMPION!!!
GO MARK MARTIN #6!!!
HARRY GANT!!! PLEASE COME BACK!!!
-------------------- "NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE U.S./CHINA CONNECTION"
posted
Mark Martin's outlook on restrictor-plate racing is rather grim, but he hasn't been too bad in his career at Talladega. Credit: Autostock
BY THE NUMBERS: Talladega, Alabama
By Josh Pate, NASCAR.COM April 27, 2006 08:41 PM EDT (00:41 GMT)
The year was 1988 -- Valentine's Day in Daytona, where drivers were getting buckled in for a new kind of racing on the beach, one that would slow them rather than speed them up.
It was the first restrictor-plate race following NASCAR's rule change.
It was also Race No. 1 for Mark Martin and his streak that would follow. He was 29 years old. For perhaps a clearer picture, he was J.J. Yeley's age.
Martin lasted just 19 laps that day at Daytona, parking Jack Roush's No. 6 Ford early because of an overheating problem.
In the 18 years since, Martin has won 35 races (two at Talladega), finished in the top 10 in points for 15 years and retired once. He also hasn't missed a race, having entered 589 consecutive starts. Prior to that, Martin scattered 57 starts over seven years.
But Martin and restrictor-plate racing have never made up from that bad first impression.
"I think that my feelings regarding Talladega as a restrictor-plate race are pretty widely know," Martin said heading into Sunday's Aaron's 499 (1:30 p.m. ET, FOX) at Talladega. "I'm not a big fan of that type of racing at all, but I know that the fans love it and it's the next race."
What you didn't know
21 -- Top-10 finishes for Mark Martin in 40 starts at Talladega, more than any active driver. He has only one top-10, however, in the last five starts at the superspeedway.
Driver Rating: Aaron's 499
109.4 -- Tony Stewart, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet. Stewart led 67 laps in the two Talladega races last season and finished second both times. He has never won at the superspeedway.
NASCAR's driver rating combines the following categories: wins, finishes, top-15s, average lead-lap running position, average speed under green, fastest lap, led most laps and lead-lap finish. Statistics based on current and past year at track. Maximum rating: 150 points.
Numerology
Sunday will be the 74th race at Talladega's 2.66-mile superspeedway. It's the longest track. It's the steepest track (33 degrees) aside from Bristol. It's a roomy 48 feet wide with 12 feet of apron, and its straightaways are both longer than 4,000 feet.
There have been 33 winners at the track, but less than a fourth of them remain active.
0 -- Times Kasey Kahne has qualified in the top 10, led a lap or finished in the top 10 at Talladega. He has only finished on the lead lap once in four races there. 3 -- Talladega races that have gone caution-free: 1997 spring (Mark Martin), 2001 spring (Bobby Hamilton) and 2002 fall (Dale Earnhardt Jr.). 3 -- Drivers with average running positions inside the top 10: Matt Kenseth (8.336), Jamie McMurray (8.724) and Tony Stewart (9.672). 3 -- Consecutive top-10 finishes at Talladega for Kurt Busch, Dale Jarrett and Tony Stewart, the longest current streaks. 4 -- Winners in 73 Talladega races that started worse than 20th. 8 -- Races in the last 12 at Talladega that have been won by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon. 11 -- Times that Michael Waltrip had the fastest car in last year's Aaron's 499, more than any other driver. 13 -- Winners in the last 14 Talladega races have driven a Chevrolet, although the most recent winner, Dale Jarrett, took a Ford to Victory Lane. 15 -- Positions in the standings that Kevin Harvick has improved in the last five races. He was 23rd following the Atlanta race and now sits eighth after last week's victory at Phoenix. 18 -- Talladega races that have been won from the second starting position, including both races in 2005. The average starting position for winners is 6.81. 24 -- Laps of the fastest 25 last year at Talladega that were run in the Aaron's 499, with Greg Biffle clocking the best at 196.750 mph. 34.62 -- Percent of passes made on the frontstretch last year at Talladega, by far the most popular place to pass. The worst places for passing last year were Turn 2 (9.73 percent) and Turn 4 (9.94). 48 -- Starts at Talladega for Kyle Petty without a victory, more than any active driver. 71.65 -- Percent of laps led by Jeff Gordon in last year's Aaron's 499 (139 of 194). 159 -- Laps led by Jimmie Johnson at Talladega, the most by a driver without a victory. Jeff Gordon leads active drivers with 640 laps led. 192 -- Laps that Jeff Gordon ran in the top 15 during last year's Aaron's 499 of the 194 total. 193.667 -- Jeff Gordon's average speed from last year's race, in miles per hour, through Turn 1, the fastest portion of the speedway. 1976 -- Last time a Dodge went to Victory Lane at Talladega, when Dave Marcis won the Talladega 500 on Aug. 8, 1976. 21,868 -- Green-flag passes in last year's two races at Talladega, with Martin Truex Jr. (who wasn't a full-time driver) leading everyone with 833 passes.
Of the eight active drivers who have gone to Talladega's Victory Lane, all have led more than 150 laps. In fact, there is only one other active driver who has been up front for that long -- Jimmie Johnson (159).
Talladega Threats Active drivers who have won at Talladega Races Wins T5 T10 Led Avg. St. Avg. Fin.
D. Earnhardt Jr. 12 5 7 8 492 14.2 10.7 J. Gordon 26 4 11 14 640 11.3 15.2 D. Jarrett 38 2 11 16 231 15.7 16.1 S. Marlin 45 2 10 17 437 12.8 18.6 M. Martin 40 2 10 21 313 14.1 15.2 B. Labonte 26 1 6 10 150 17.4 16.3 K. Schrader 42 1 6 12 155 20.2 20.8 M. Waltrip 40 1 7 13 188 19.3 19.3
Bold denotes best among active winners
-------------------- "NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE U.S./CHINA CONNECTION"
posted
Mark Martin drops back to 5th place in NEXTEL points after a 35th place finish, only completing 101 out of 188 laps at the Aaron's 499 in Talladega this past Sunday.
BETTER LUCK this week at the Crown Royal 400 in Richmond!!!
GOOOOOOOOOOOO MARK MARTIN!!!
-------------------- "NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE U.S./CHINA CONNECTION"
posted
Dale Earnhardt who??? I have no clue who that is. BUT, my warmest wishes goes to Sterling Marlin for a great top ten finish, finishing in 9th place in Richmond, VA at the Crown Royal 400 this past Saturday.
Mark Martin, finishing 11th place in Richmond and also moved back into 4th place in NEXTEL CUP points. Nicely done! Better luck to MARK MARTIN at the Dodge Charger 500 in Darlington next SATURDAY!!!
HARRY GANT!!! Please come back to the track!!!
-------------------- "NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE U.S./CHINA CONNECTION"
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