Thank you.
New name, same energetic Mark Martin at Auto Club Speedway
By Bob Pockrass
NASCAR - Sporting News
March 25, 2012
FONTANA, Calif. - Mark Martin has a different name above the door of his car this weekend, but his energy and fire remained the same as it was two weeks ago when he last got behind the wheel.
After three years of running a full-time schedule that followed two years of part-time racing, Martin has returned to part-time status for 2012.
Despite sitting 10th in the Cup standings after three races, Martin fulfilled his promise to Michael Waltrip Racing that he would not run a full season when he sat at home last week while Brian Vickers drove the No. 55 car.
“What it does for me is it allows me to come to the race track with lots of enthusiasm and tons of fire,” Martin said Friday prior to Cup practice at Auto Club Speedway. “It really does make a difference. It might not make a difference to a 25-year-old. It wouldn’t have to me then. But it does now.”
Martin will start third in the Auto Club 400, scheduled for Sunday at the 2-mile California oval.
“When he gets to the race track, he’s ready, he’s fired up and he’s going to go fast if the car will let him,” said crew chief Rodney Childers.
Childers has already worked with three drivers this year - Michael Waltrip (in the Budweiser Shootout), Martin and Vickers.
Some might say Childers has worked with drivers with four different names, as Martin has the name “Epic Swag” above his door this weekend. Epic Swag was the name of Martin’s hacked Twitter account last Saturday.
Martin spent much of the day Saturday worried that his Twitter account wouldn’t get fixed.
“I was really worried about that,” Martin said. “My fans were kind of looking forward to maybe commenting during the race. It was late Saturday night before I got my hands back on it.
“It was a little bit stressful. I also did not want to start from scratch. We had 50,000 followers. By the time it got back in our hands, I got 10,000 more.”
Martin can laugh about it now and maybe part of that is because he had last weekend at home to watch the race and respond to fans’ comments on Twitter.
“I had an appearance in Texas on Wednesday night and I had an appearance (Thursday) and I was able to face all that stuff with a huge smile on my face, very happy about what I’m doing and I love what I’m doing,” Martin said. “I wouldn’t face that stuff the same way if I had gone to Bristol. It really adds fire.”
While he has pretty much the same schedule he had in 2007 and 2008, Martin said the break did feel a little bit different.
“In ’07 when I did that, I was just so ready for the break,” said Martin, who had run 19 consecutive full-time seasons. “This year, I wasn’t so ready. I wasn’t not ready, either.
“I knew what I was doing, I knew what we were doing and I knew our schedule and it was what it was. I was really relieved in ’07 to take the break and this year it was just part of the program. I am really excited about being in California.”
What makes Martin excited is he gets to concentrate on the race rather than worrying about points. He doesn’t have to carry a bad race with him to the next event.
For him, that’s a throwback to 30 years ago before the championship became more of a focus.
“I’ve done OK scoring points,” Martin said. “I’ve finished second (twice) to Dale Earnhardt Sr. , second to Jeff Gordon, second to Tony Stewart and second to Jimmie Johnson - I’m proud of that.
“Not many people have done that. So it is what it is. I don’t want to worry about points anymore. I just want to race and be able to race and if I have a bad day, it’s just another day in the life. But if you’re chasing those points, you have to drag that day around all year long.”
There’s nothing dragging down Martin, who won five races in 2009 but hasn’t won in 84 starts.
He believes he can win while running a part-time schedule with a team that is still focused on showing up every week and running strong.
It appears at least from the performance of Vickers last week (fifth-place finish at Bristol) that the team can adjust with every driver.
“We’ve just got really good cars right now and really good drivers and everybody is just working together really well,” Childers said. “To have Brian come in last week and make a statement like that was pretty awesome.
“It comes down to having really good cars when we get to the track and the drivers giving the right feedback during practice and getting the cars where they need to be.”
Martin said it comes down to the team, and the last month has proven to Childers and the entire MWR organization that having four drivers - the team hasn’t named a road-course driver for those two events – can work.
“These guys had not done that substitute driver thing yet, so we got that one behind us and we know how well it can work,” Martin said. “There are no more questions in our mind. … We have a great team unit and I like having the opportunity to have the break.
“I come to this race track with the kind of fire that you would expect out of a 25-year-old. You couldn’t get that from me if I didn’t know I would have some breaks along the way. It works for me. It doesn’t work for everybody. But this thing is working for me. It worked in ’07 and ’08. I knew it would work. And now my race team knows it will work.”
MARK MARTIN, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Qualified: 3rd
Toyota
How was your qualifying lap?
“Good - we’re third. We had a very nice potential. I missed my line a little bit in turn one. It felt really good so I was a little over optimistic on the entry there. Everything else we nailed it. I’m just so grateful to have such fast race cars to drive and getting to work with these guys is really been a nice surprise.”
How was your qualifying run?
“I told my guys on the Dream Machine that they must have given me the fastest race car for sure because I kind of missed the corner. I was a little over optimistic on the entry of turn one and I wound up up in the high side. To me, anything six inches off the bottom is getting high. So, I was up in the middle of the race track and had to make the best of the lap. I was incredibly proud of being third because usually when I miss it like that I’m like 25th. Very fast race car. It’s been such a pleasant surprise to hook up with MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) and all the great personnel that they have there and the tremendous foundation that they have in the organization is really there. Rodney Childress (crew chief) has just been really special. What a great crew chief and a great relationship - a friend for life.”
Is the track different from last year?
“I don’t think the track is tremendously different. The tire is different and so it’s making the cars handle better. There seems to be a little bit more crack sealer (on the track), but the tire is handling the sealer a little bit better.”
Mark Martin Becomes Epic Swag For Fontana
Official Press Release
March 20, 2012
MARK MARTIN
No. 55 AARON’S DREAM MACHINE
AUTO CLUB 400 SPEEDWAY PREVIEW
CORNELIUS, N.C. — No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota driver Mark Martin watched last weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway on television. But it wasn’t a peaceful weekend.
Martin’s 60,000-follower Twitter account (@55markmartin) was hacked early Saturday morning rendering the 30-year NASCAR veteran completely powerless over his newest hobby. The unknown culprit – Epic Swag – commandeered the account and began changing every setting and altering followers.
For Martin, losing his Twitter account was almost unbearable.
“I felt naked,” he laughed. “I was locked out of my own account. I’d built my followers up and was scared I was going to lose all of it to this guy. I was mad at him, mad at myself, and really ticked off.”
Some quick work on a Saturday afternoon by Twitter and MWR restored Martin’s account to full functionality, and by late Saturday night Martin was back to tweeting about rap music, his schedule and answering fan questions.
“It’s such a cool link to my fans and I really didn’t want to give it up, so I’m thrilled I got it back. You see those commercials about people getting hacked and you really don’t think much of it, but when it happens to you it’s big. Real big.”
Martin’s weekend dramatically improved on Sunday. He watched Brian Vickers drive the No. 55 to a fifth-place finish and Michael Waltrip Racing sweep three of the top-five spots in the Bristol race. All three MWR cars are in the top eight in owner points.
“I couldn’t have been happier for Brian and (crew chief) Rodney (Childers) and all those guys on the No. 55,” Martin said. “What you saw Michael Waltrip Racing do Sunday is just the tip of the iceberg, and I can’t wait to see how good we can get as this season rolls on.”
Martin returns to the driver’s seat on Sunday at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. where he’ll have a special surprise for his Twitter hacker.
“Epic Swag stole my name last Saturday so this weekend I’m stealing his. We’ll run Epic Swag above the driver’s window where my name is usually. What do they say: ‘turnabout is fair play.’ ’’
Car owner Michael Waltrip likes the idea.
“Mark Martin has done a great job and Brian Vickers had a great day at Bristol, so this weekend we’re trying out Epic Swag in the Aaron’s Dream Machine,” Waltrip said. “Some people call him a hack, but I’m willing to give him a second chance.”
NOTES
CAREER: Sunday’s California race will be Martin’s 834th career start. He finished 10th in the Daytona 500, ninth at Phoenix and 18th at Las Vegas in 2012
ALL MWR CARS IN TOP 8 IN 2012: Martin Truex Jr. is fourth and Clint Bowyer eighth in driver points while the No. 55 (Martin & Vickers) is fifth in owner points.
CHASSIS: Martin will drive a new MWR chassis (No. 726) in Fontana this weekend. Chassis 708 will serve as backup. It raced as the No. 00 at Texas and Homestead in 2011.
PINTEREST: MWR now has a home on the Pinterest social bulletin board where you can view the latest videos and photos.
MWR ON TWITTER
@55markmartin
@mw55
@brianlvickers
@rchilders55
@mwrteam
@aaronssports
@toyotaracing
2012 NO. 55 DRIVER SCHEDULE
Apr. 1 Martinsville - Vickers
Apr. 14 Texas - Martin
Apr. 22 Kansas - Martin
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 – TBD
June 30 Kentucky – Waltrip
July 7 Daytona – Waltrip
July 15 NHMS – Vickers
July 29 Indy – Martin
Aug. 5 Pocono – Martin
Aug. 12 Watkins Glen – TBD
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
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Mark Martin Post Race Notes and Quotes - Kobalt Tools 400
Toyota Motorsports press release
March 11, 2012
MARK MARTIN, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Finishing Position: 17th
How was your race?
“That wasn’t a bad day for a bad day. That was a tough race. The track had a lot less grip, so what worked for us yesterday in practice didn’t work for us today. We just couldn’t turn well enough. We tried a lot of things and there at the end we got it going pretty good. But, when Matt (Kenseth) got in the wall, I saw stuff going everywhere and didn’t want to be flying into that and get us wrecked. So, we cost ourselves a bunch of spots there. We should have finished better, but we’ll be good.”
Mark Martin Post Qualifying Notes and Quotes - Kobalt Tools 400
Toyota Motorsports press release
March 9, 2012
MARK MARTIN, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Qualified: 13th
How was your qualifying lap?
“I thought it was a real good lap. Thought it was faster than that really. It was a good effort - not disappointed with it, just thought that maybe we had a little bit more there. Every one of them can’t be your best one or your best one wouldn’t be your best.”
NASCAR-NS: Martin takes a solid 2nd at Las Vegas Nationwide race
Interstate Batteries Driver Leads 44 Laps in Sam’s Town 300
Joe Gibbs Racing press release
March 11, 2012
Veteran Mark Martin, winner of four NASCAR Nationwide Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, came up one spot short of his fifth series win in Saturday’s Sam’s Town 300.
The driver of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) led once for a total of 44 laps, but after surrendering the lead coming off of pit road on lap 146, Martin couldn’t get around eventual race winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and brought the white-hot No. 18 Interstate Batteries Camry home in the runner-up spot.
“Thanks to Joe Gibbs and everybody at JGR and Interstate Batteries,” said Martin, who now has six top-two finishes in seven career Nationwide Series starts at Las Vegas. “This Toyota was awesome and they were awesome.”
After qualifying seventh, Martin battled a loose handling racecar from the drop of the green flag, much like many of his fellow competitors. Crew chief Adam Stevens worked hard on the first three pit stops of the day to tighten up Martin’s racecar with a combination of air pressure and track bar adjustments. Not only did Stevens cure the handling issue, the Interstate Batteries team got Martin off pit road in the lead on lap 102. He led the next 44 laps, but on the final round of pit stops on lap 146, Stenhouse claimed the edge over Martin as the two raced off pit road.
Martin battled hard to get around Stenhouse during restarts on lap 150 and lap 162, but Stenhouse somehow kept Martin behind him during the final 53 laps of the 200-lap race.
“That was a serious beat down that Ricky Stenhouse Jr., put on me that last run,” said Martin, whose only finish outside the top-two at Las Vegas was a sixth-place effort in March 1998. “I have to admit, I almost wrecked the car five times trying to keep up with him and finally just had to surrender. I just about wrecked it I don’t know how many times. He was just gone and we have to, unfortunately, settle for second place.”
Martin’s JGR teammate, Brian Scott, driver of the No. 11 Toyota Camry, finished 34th after making contact with the outside SAFER Barrier in turn four, thus ending his day just prior to the race’s halfway point.
Stenhouse’s victory was his third career Nationwide Series win, his first of the season and his first at Las Vegas. Stenhouse is the defending Nationwide Series champion.
Martin finished 5.904 seconds behind Stenhouse, while Elliott Sadler, Trevor Bayne and Brendan Gaughan rounded out the top-five. Cole Whitt, Austin Dillon, Justin Allgaier, Sam Hornish Jr., and Kasey Kahne comprised the remainder of the top-10.
There were seven caution periods for 32 laps, with 13 drivers failing to finish.
The next event on the Nationwide Series schedule is the March 17 Ford EcoBoost 300 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. The race starts at 2 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by ESPN beginning with its pre-race show at 1 p.m.
Mark Martin Post Race Notes and Quotes - Sam's Town 300
Toyota Motorsports press release
March 11, 2012
Mark Martin (second) was the highest finishing Toyota driver in Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Martin led once for 44 laps in his first race driving for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Other Toyota drivers in the field included Kenny Wallace (11th), Mike Bliss (15th), Tayler Malsam (16th), Joe Nemechek (20th), Eric McClure (25th), Jason Bowles (27th), Kyle Busch (33rd), Brian Scott (34th) and Jeff Green (40th).
MARK MARTIN, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Finishing Position: 2nd
How was your first Nationwide Series race with Joe Gibbs Racing?
"Thanks to Joe Gibbs and everybody at JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) and Interstate Batteries. This Toyota was awesome and they were awesome. I needed to run a race to see if I could find a few things that maybe we could work on to improve. I got a few ideas, but that was one serious beat down Ricky Stenhouse just put on me there at the end. That was a serious beat down, man. I almost wrecked the car about four or five times -- probably five or six times. It was just like I can't do it -- man he (Ricky Stenhouse) was gone."
How was your race at Las Vegas?
"This was so much fun -- it was such a great race car. It's so fun to be a part of Joe Gibbs Racing. I'd like to do some more of these. We have some on the schedule, but no sponsorship so far. Heck, I don't know, I enjoy watching these things on TV, but that was a good view I had right there -- I enjoyed it. That was a serious beat down that Ricky Stenhouse Jr. put on me that last run. I have to admit I almost wrecked the car five times trying to keep up with him and finally just had to surrender. I just about wrecked it I don't know how many times. He was just gone."
Did you have fun in today's race?
"I did, I'd just like to start by saying what a special treat it was to be able to join the Joe Gibbs organization, JGR, it's just something that we've wanted to do for a long time and the stars didn't line up until now to do it. J.D. (Gibbs, president) and I had a little fun with it for sure. It's a real privilege -- I would like to do more of it, but there's no sponsorship for that right now. I have six more on the schedule if we could stir something up. It sure was fun to work with Adam (Stevens, crew chief) and all those guys."
What's your secret to running well at Las Vegas?
"I get to drive really fast cars. That's what it is -- really fast race cars. Lucky me."
How much fun are the NNS cars compared to the NSCS cars?
"I'm going to tell you something. My Cup car drives way better than this car. I -- whew, I don't know -- you saw me almost wreck I don't know how many times today. Man I can't wait to get back in that Cup car. I didn't think it was so slick yesterday, but today it was a handful. I never was real comfortable out there."
Mark Martin ‘It Wasn’t Even Close’ on Saturday
By Kelly Crandall
SpeedwayMedia.com
March 11, 2012
For much of the second half of Saturday’s Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas it appeared veteran Mark Martin had things under control and was heading toward a likely victory.
Martin led for a total of 44 laps and was leading when the race’s sixth yellow flag flew. The leaders all came down pit road for their final stops and by just inches Martin was beaten to the exist by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., would end up being the difference.
Stenhouse went on to lead the final 55 laps and drove away from Martin at one point for a five second lead. He went on to win his third career race as Martin cruised home behind him.
“That was one serious beat down he put on me that last run, just a beat down,” Martin said afterwards.
“I kept up with him for while and about wrecked five times and that’s it. The run before that was no problem, I could stay ahead of him. And anytime he would close in on me I could get up on the wheel and pull back out. But that last run he seemed to be stronger, I didn’t feel my car was off he just had that thing rolling. I’m not ashamed to say it wasn’t even close.”
Last season Martin lost the title he had held for so long, being the Nationwide Series all-time win leader. The man who took it, Kyle Busch, did so in the car that Martin drove on Saturday, the No. 18 for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Had Martin won on Saturday it would have been his 50th career NNS victory. It also would have been his second straight at Las Vegas, he won the race last year while driving for Turner Motorsports.
“Thanks to Joe Gibbs and everybody at JGR and Interstate Batteries,” Martin said. “This Toyota was awesome and they were awesome. I needed to run a race to see if I could find a few things that maybe we could work on to improve. I got a few ideas, but that was one serious beat down Ricky Stenhouse just put on me there at the end. It was just like I can’t do it – man he was gone.”
It’s well known the 2012 season isn’t about championship of any kind for Martin; he’s not running a full schedule in Sprint Cup and would like to do more NNS races. He just wants to have fun and win, accomplishing one of the two goals on Saturday.
“I did, I’d like to start by saying what a special treat it was to be able to join the Joe Gibbs organization, JGR, it’s something that we’ve wanted to do for a long time and the stars didn’t line up until now to do it,” Martin said about having fun.
“J.D. [Gibbs] and I had a little fun with it for sure. It’s a real privilege – I would like to do more of it, but there’s no sponsorship for that right now. I have six more on the schedule, if we could stir something up. It sure was fun to work with Adam [Stevens, crew chief] and all those guys.”
Yet, for as dominant and easy as Martin made things seem, he wasn’t completely satisfied on Saturday. Not because it hadn’t won but with the car he was driving. Going from the NNS from the NSCS garage threw him for a loop.
“I’m going to tell you something, my Cup car drives way better than this car,” he said. “I – whew, I don’t know – you saw me almost wreck I don’t know how many times. Man I can’t wait to get back in that Cup car. I didn’t think it was so slick [Friday], but today it was a handful. I never was real comfortable out there.”
Being behind the wheel of an accomplished JGR car though, will have any driver wanting to come back. Martin is no different and will wait for the call for the next time that he’ll get to take a nice Saturday drive.
“This was so much fun – it was such a great racecar,” Martin said. “It’s so fun to be a part of Joe Gibbs Racing. I’d like to do some more of these. We have some on the schedule, but no sponsorship so far.
“Heck, I don’t know, I enjoy watching these things on TV, but that was a good view I had right there. I enjoyed it.”
Mark Martin Race Preview - Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series
March 8, 2012
MAKE YOUR MARK
Camry driver Mark Martin has proven to be a driver to beat in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) at Las Vegas. In six NNS Las Vegas starts, Martin has four victories (1999, 2005, 2008 and 2011), two pole positions (1998 and 1999), a runner-up result (2000) and a sixth-place finish. The Batesville, Ark., native has also led 333 (of 1,202) laps at the 1.5-mile oval in the NNS. This Saturday, Martin will pilot the Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry -- his first-ever start with JGR.
MARK MARTIN, No. 55 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing - Kobalt Tools 400
What do you like about Las Vegas Motor Speedway?
"I love the size and shape of it -- mile-and-a-halfs are my favorite race tracks and Las Vegas has been good to me. I can't wait to get there with our Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota with Rodney (Childers, crew chief) and this team. It's a race track I like to drive on even more than Phoenix, and I like Phoenix, but I like Vegas even more. I'm excited."
MARK MARTIN, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - Sam's Town 300
Are you looking forward to your first start with Joe Gibbs Racing?
"This is exciting. No organization has been better in the Nationwide Series over the past three or four seasons and to have the chance to get behind the wheel of a Joe Gibbs Racing Nationwide car will be a thrill. Maybe I can pick up a few more races and try to catch Kyle (Busch) to get my record back again."
Mark Martin looking to cash in with Kyle Busch's old ride
By Chad Leistikow
USATODAY.com
March 8, 2012
LAS VEGAS – A five-time runner-up but never a champion in the Sprint Cup Series, Mark Martin has become synonymous with the number 2 throughout his long NASCAR career.
When Martin takes the grid in Saturday's Nationwide Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, he'll be associated with second place again but for an entirely different, almost-inconceivable reason.
That's because 2.0 is his average Vegas finish in six starts in NASCAR's second-level series.
With four wins, a second and a sixth there, Martin's affection for Sin City isn't because of its AARP-friendly buffet specials.
"I love the size and shape of (the track)," Martin said. "Mile-and-a-halfs are my favorite racetracks. And Las Vegas has been good to me."
A little Vegas luck hasn't hurt. Last year, Martin swooped in for a win after leader Brad Keselowski cut a tire on the final lap in a fuel-mileage race that saw Danica Patrick record the best finish by a woman (fourth) in a national NASCAR race.
That marked Martin's 49th career Nationwide victory, a series record at the time that was broken later in 2011 by Kyle Busch. That subplot is especially rich this week, as Martin will buckle into Busch's former ride - the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota - for Saturday's race.
It'll be Martin's first-ever race for Gibbs. The Cup Series veteran of three decades changed teams in the offseason, going from Hendrick Motorsports' Chevrolets to a reduced Cup schedule for Michael Waltrip Racing, which races Toyotas and shares information with JGR.
Now Busch, who has 51 Nationwide victories and now drives for his own team, will be pitted against the driver whose record he recently passed in the car he recently drove.
"This is exciting. No organization has been better in the Nationwide Series over the past three or four seasons (than Gibbs)," Martin said. "Maybe I can pick up a few more races and try to catch Kyle and get my record back again," Martin said.
Nationwide is no longer Martin's stomping grounds. He only races occasionally outside NASCAR's top level, where he's showing signs of a career renaissance at 53. With finishes of 10th in the Daytona 500 and ninth last week at Phoenix International Raceway, Martin is seventh in Cup points.
It's a standing that won't last if he sticks to his planned 25-race schedule with MWR but it could improve this week in the desert if his Vegas success continues.
In Cup, he has one win, six top-fives and an average finish of 13.1 on the high-speed, 20-degree-banked oval.
"It's a racetrack I like to drive on even more than Phoenix," Martin said. "And I like Phoenix. But I like Vegas even more."
NASCAR-NS: Mark Martin outrageously dependable at Las Vegas
Joe Gibbs Racing Press Release
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (March 6, 2012) – One of Interstate Batteries’ slogans is that its products are “Outrageously Dependable.” For this Saturday’s Sam’s Town 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Interstate Batteries found a driver who is certainly outrageously dependable at the 1.5-mile oval.
NASCAR veteran Mark Martin will pilot the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing at Las Vegas and his record at the track north of the famous Las Vegas Strip is nothing short of incredible.
Martin has competed in six Nationwide Series races at Las Vegas and won four of them (1999, 2005, 2008 and 2011), while finishing second (2000) and sixth (1998) in the other two. Martin also captured the pole for the Las Vegas Nationwide Series races in 1998 and 1999.
He has led laps in all six races and led as many as 150 laps en route to victory as he did in 1999, or as few as just one lap when he won last year’s race there. Martin has led 333 total laps at Las Vegas (an average of 55.5 per race) and his average start is 8.5 while his average finish is 2.0.
While the pairing of Martin and Joe Gibbs Racing may certainly provide dividends on the track, it also provides a neat “trifecta” of sorts for Martin. He spent the majority of his NASCAR career driving for Roush Fenway Racing and then spent the last three years competing for Hendrick Motorsports. By driving for JGR at Las Vegas, Martin will have worked with three of the most iconic teams in NASCAR that have each been involved in the sport for at least 20 years.
As anyone who travels to Las Vegas knows, there is no such thing as a fail-safe bet. However, if any driver is close to a “sure thing,” it’s Mark Martin competing in a Nationwide race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Mark Martin, Driver of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries NASCAR Nationwide Series Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing:
What are your thoughts on competing for Joe Gibbs Racing and Interstate Batteries in the Sam’s Town 300 Nationwide Series race?
“Their Nationwide Series program is one that has had everyone’s attention for years. They’ve won a lot of races and had great cars and they’ve been the premier Nationwide Series program for a few years. So, I couldn’t be more excited to get a chance to work with them.”
Why have you been so good at Vegas throughout the years?
“Some tracks you get around pretty well and others you just don’t. For some reason, Vegas has been a track that has been really good to us and things just work out.”
Talk about driving the Interstate Batteries car, which has been an iconic car in NASCAR for more than two decades.
“Dale Jarrett and Bobby Labonte obviously made the car pretty famous and now Kyle Busch is carrying that tradition on when he runs the Interstate Batteries Toyota. It’s neat for me to get to drive it and Interstate has been involved with JGR and NASCAR for a long time and that’s great for the sport. Norm Miller (chairman of Interstate) will be out there and hopefully we can put them in victory lane.”
Adam Stevens, Crew Chief of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries NASCAR Nationwide Series Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing:
You’ve worked with Tony Stewart and other great drivers throughout your career. Talk about working with Mark Martin.
“I have been fortunate to work with some great drivers, so it’s fun for me to get to work with Mark, a guy who has that much experience and is still excited about doing what he does. He came by the shop and he could talk racecars 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Having him get behind the wheel and get a read on where our intermediate program is will be huge for us. So, I’m excited about that.”
Mark’s record at Las Vegas is pretty incredible. Does that put any pressure on you?
“You can only do what you can do so, no, not really. I’m glad we’re taking him to a place where we can cut our teeth with him, where he’s 100 percent confident he can get around there and that it’s right in his wheelhouse. If anything, that takes some pressure off.”
What are the challenges working with a driver for the first time?
“Every driver is particular about something and I don’t know what that something is with Mark. I don’t know what buttons to push that are going to get a reaction and what buttons to push that aren’t going to move the needle. So, we have to learn that fast if we’re going to be good. I feel like our intermediate package has changed quite a bit from last year, so now we have more than one variable. It’s not just Mark and I working together for the first time, it’s Mark and I working together for the first time and trying to move our program forward.”
Mark Martin NASCAR Sprint Cup Post Race Notes and Quotes - Subway Fresh Fit 500
March 4, 2012
MARK MARTIN, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Finishing Position: 9th What do you think of your first top-10 at Michael Waltrip Racing? “Proud of the effort and any time you get a top-10 with this group of guys, you have to say it’s a reasonable run. We had a little more than that, maybe not quite enough to win, but definitely a shot at a top-five. We had EFI (electronic fuel injection) problems.”
What does your Phoenix finish tell you about the rest of the season? “Optimism - it looks really good. Martin (Truex Jr.) had a good run, too. Kudos to Michael Waltrip Racing.”
Mark Martin Race Summary: No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota driver Mark Martin finished ninth in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway. The Michael Waltrip Racing driver started on the pole for the 52nd time in his career. He led the first lap and never ventured far outside the top 10 in the early going then climbing as high as second at the halfway mark. Martin ran in the top three throughout the second half of the race. Martin restarted 14th after a pit stop for fuel and tires with 50 laps to go and raced his way to a ninth-place finish - his second consecutive top-10 finish to start his tenure at Michael Waltrip Racing. The Aaron’s Dream Machine returns to action Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Won the 52nd pole of his career and the eighth pole for Michael Waltrip Racing. His first pole came in 1981. Led first lap and stayed in the top 10 throughout the race climbing as high as second at the halfway mark. Spent second half of the race in top three repeatedly turning the fastest laps on the track. Restarted 14th after pitting for fuel and tires with 50 laps to go. Moved from 14th to ninth over the final 50 laps to record his second consecutive top-10.
MARTIN QUOTE: “Proud of the effort and any time you get a top-10 with this group of guys, you have to say it’s a reasonable run. We had a little more than that, maybe not quite enough to win, but definitely a shot at a top-five. I’m excited for what we have here at MWR and what’s coming up. This is going to be a lot of fun.”
Mark Martin NASCAR Sprint Cup Post Qualifying Notes and Quotes - Subway Fresh 500
March 3, 2012
What does this pole mean to you since joining MWR?
"I just can't tell you how thankful I am for MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing), for Aaron's and everybody at MWR for giving me these awesome Toyotas. It's been so much fun already to drive and having an owner -- Michael Waltrip gets the last little bit of credit for that pole. I'm not going to tell you why, but having an owner for a driver that I respect and looked up to, really is going to be cool. This is a great addition to my resume to be able to be here and be a part of this. I'm shaking so hard I can't quite hardly talk. It's just incredible. What an opportunity that Aaron's and Michael and everybody at MWR have given me."
How have you been able to perform at a high level with the different teams you've worked with over the years?
"I've driven really good stuff ever since 1988. I did drive a couple slugs back in the early '80s. You can't do that without superior effort and equipment and effort on top of that. It's more than equipment that does that. I think all of you know that I do work real hard at it, and I know that I have to work harder at it than the guys that are 20 years younger than me. I'm willing to do that to be able to compete. Make no mistake, MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) and Rodney Childers (crew chief) have good stuff and they're making gains and making progress and they showed that last year in the last 10 races. I hadn't been in the car very much, but I've been in it here and I have been in it at Daytona and I've been in it at New Smyrna and it's good stuff. I couldn't do it without that kind of effort. I feel really blessed."
What does winning the pole do for your race team?
"I'm sure that it makes Rob Kauffman (co-owner) and Michael Waltrip and the folks from Aaron's, who stuck their neck out there to hire an old guy, this kind of makes them feel better about it, it makes me feel a little bit better about it, too. It's truly a tribute to how hard they're trying to step their game up at MWR. With having Martin (Truex Jr.) and Clint (Bowyer) at the top of the board at the end of practice yesterday, I think it's just another example of that. Hopefully we can keep that going. This is one little thing, but it is really nice. I wanted it so much for MWR and Rodney (Childers, crew chief) because that guy's heart and soul is into this thing like I can't believe. It's really, really going to be fun to work with Rodney. I had not paid any attention to him and didn't realize what an incredible, committed talent that he is. I look forward to seeing him get a chance to hopefully shine with an old guy behind the wheel."
How has your past experience helped you get around the repaved Phoenix track?
"I was so, so nervous about making the qualifying thing because I wanted to be able to go out there and throw it all out and go all out. I knew I had a good race car, but I knew I couldn't. Now it's going to be so easy for me to either under-drive it or over-drive it. I over-drove it the second lap and almost wrecked it down there in turns one and two. I didn't even run my second lap. I felt a lot of pressure because I wanted it for them. I want the success for them. I see how hard they're trying and how hard they're putting into it and I want to see them succeed. I was relieved to get back around here and have it end up being first was even better. I have been around, and I have done a lot of things, and I've worked with a lot of people, but I haven't have an opportunity to drive for a driver Michael Waltrip -- somebody that I look up to and respect who's words before qualifying probably made the difference in me getting the pole and me not. I am not going to tell you. I just want everybody to know I am excited about it more now. Michael wants it, too. He's been asking me questions this weekend, he's engaged. To have a driver who's not driving, so he's not busy and all consumed. You can't do other things when you're focused on the driving thing. When he's not driving, he can see things I can't see because I'm just in that tunnel. I think that he'll bring that and make me better. It's a really exciting time just to have an opportunity to be racing in fast cars is wonderful. This is what I love and I'm so glad to be still doing it."
AVONDALE, AZ - MARCH 03: Mark Martin, driver of the #55 Aaron's Toyota, poses after winning the pole for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 3, 2012 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Tyler Barrick/Getty Images for NASCAR)
NASCAR: Mark Martin nabs pole at Phoenix
By Mark Armijo
azcentral.com
March 3, 2012
Oh, that age-defying Mark Martin. Even at age 53, Old Man River remains a top-notch wheelman.
Martin, the oldest driver in Sunday's Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, turned back the clock Saturday by collaring the pole position with a speedy lap measured at 136.815 mph in the No. 55 Aaron's Toyota.
In only his second start with Michael Waltrip Racing, Martin proved once again he isn't getting older, he's getting better.
"You can't do this without superior (team) effort and equipment," said Martin, who now has 52 career poles. "And I think I know I have to work harder at it than guys 20 years younger than me. I'm willing to do that."
Such eagerness is what helped put Martin on the point for the 312-lap race, one in which he'll share the front row with Tony Stewart, the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.
As good as Stewart (136.126 mph) feels about his chances Sunday, he knows it would be a glaring misstep to discount Martin, who last won during the 2009 season.
"You look at Mark Martin and it doesn't matter what car he drives, he's good in it," Stewart said. "You just don't find guys like Martin a lot. He brings out the best in a team."
Martin hopes to bring out the best in himself and the MWR organization at PIR, where he has won twice before.
But it won't be easy.
Since undergoing reconfiguration and repaving last year, PIR went from being a tricky 1-mile oval to downright nasty.
Examples occurred often in qualifying as several drivers got squirrelly during their individual two qualifying laps, perhaps trying to gain more from their machines than what a fickle oval was willing to give.
Even Martin had trouble, scrubbing his second lap when he motored into Turns 1-2 and lost momentum.
Martin, however, was far from alone. Driver after driver incurred miscues and a few narrowly missed collecting the concrete wall.
"It was really slick out there," said Regan Smith (135.998 mph), who was third fastest on the qualifying ladder and starts next to Jimmie Johnson.
And with temperatures expected to be several degrees warmer Sunday, crew chiefs likely spent their after-hours burning the midnight oil trying to solve a mystery, as in how best to attack an unforgiving racing surface.
Good luck.
"It got warmer (Saturday than it was Friday) and the car got a little freer (loose)," Stewart said. "But I always like it when it's hotter and slicker. I'm actually a little excited.
"Normally, when we qualify we have a decent shot at running well in the race."
Martin isn't certain what to expect, so uncertain he planned to keep his eyes peeled on Saturday's Nationwide race.
"I wouldn't have thought that the track would get loose, but it was some kind of loose out there (in qualifying)," Martin said. "We just don't have enough knowledge with this track yet. Visually, it looks a lot different than before (the reconfiguration)."
Knowing Martin, he'll undoubtedly find a way to overcome any potential roadblock.
"I don't like a slick track as much as Tony does, but we will deal with whatever we have to deal with."
Even if it means dealing with his own advancing age.
Mark Martin NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Preview - Subway Fresh 500
Follow @55markmartin on Twitter and you’ll quickly learn about one of his passions in life beyond racing - music. The 53-year-old uses music to energize the physical training that’s allowed him to win 40 races during a 30-year NASCAR Sprint Cup career.
The Batesville, Ark. native’s musical tastes span a variety of genres - some might even surprise you.
MARK MARTIN ON MUSIC - "Music has always been important to me. I don’t know if that makes me any different than anyone else or not. I’ve always had all my vehicles with extra oomph to them. They have all had loud speakers and stereo in them. Growing up I listened to bands like Aerosmith, AC/DC and music like that. But, there was always another side of me that likes Neil Young and singers that weren’t quite as hard rock. There was always two sides to my musical tastes even when I was a kid coming up."
RAP - "I kind of got away from keeping up with different kinds of music when my family started growing. Then we went testing in 2002 and my crew chief Ben Leslie was playing rap music really loud in our truck. I was like ‘Man, this is really good.’ It just triggered something in me. That’s how I stumbled over rap music."
WORKING OUT - "Rap music is like a cup of coffee for me. It wakes me up and gets me going. I listen to it when I work out now. I love the energy. I still listen to Taylor Swift and Johnny Cash and country as well but that’s about 1 to 10 compared to the number of rap songs I listen to."
FAVORITES - "The real motivation in music for me is Dr. Dre. He’s the king who laid down all these songs for guys like Eminem, Snoop and 50 Cent. He’s a really talented and fascinating guy. He just makes magic. I’d love to meet him some day."
MUSICAL TALENT OF HIS OWN? - "Ha ha….forget about it. No singing or dancing for me."
NOTES
CAREER: Sunday’s Phoenix race will be Martin’s 832nd career start. He finished 10th in Monday’s Daytona 500.
2012: Mark Martin will race the No. 55 in 24 races plus the All Star race in 2012. Michael Waltrip will drive the No. 55 in six races. MWR will fill the remaining races with a driver to be named later.
WINNING: Martin is the only driver to win at Phoenix in two different manufacturers: Ford (1993) and Chevrolet (2009).
TWITTER: @55markmartin, @mw55, @rchilders55, @mwrteam, @aaronssports, @toyotaracing
CHASSIS NOTES: Primary- 714 Backup- 715 - Both are new cars
No. 55 CREW
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
Aaron’s Dream Machine Gets New Number to Commemorate Founding Aaron's Sports
Aaron’s Sports.com
Michael Waltrip Racing announced today that Mark Martin and Michael Waltrip’s car number will be No. 55 when the duo share driving duties in the Aaron’s Dream Machine in the 2012 and 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup seasons.
Aaron’s Inc. switched the car number from No. 00 to No. 55 to commemorate its founding in 1955.
“This is a new era for the Aaron’s Dream Machine. Adding Mark and Michael created the perfect time to switch the number to 55 in honor of Aaron’s founding by Charlie Loudermilk in 1955,” said Ken Butler, chief operating officer. “The number 55 means so much to our employees and now they’ll see it at every track across the nation and on television for the next few years.”
Martin will drive in 25 Sprint Cup events each of the next two seasons, sharing the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine with Waltrip who will drive five events with Aaron’s sponsorship. Martin will join Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr. in the MWR stable of drivers.
Martin will begin his tenure with MWR at the 2012 Daytona 500. Waltrip will run the remaining restrictor plate races plus the race in his home state of Kentucky. MWR plans to run a combination of drivers and sponsor partners to fill the remaining races when Martin and Waltrip are not behind the wheel.
“I love this choice,” said Martin. “The car number means a lot to the driver. We talked about a variety of available numbers, but we settled on 55 because of the importance to Aaron’s. Michael has a history with this number as well. ”
Waltrip raced the No. 55 at Bill Davis Racing in 2006 and again during the 2007 and 2008 seasons in the first two years of MWR’s existence.
“This means a lot to me,” said Waltrip. “I know how much we have grown since those days when I first started racing the No. 55. To get back into the No. 55 Toyota in 2012 and share driving duties with a future first ballot hall of famer in Mark Martin is certainly an honor.”
Aaron’s relationship with Michael Waltrip Racing began in 2000 when the Atlanta-based company sponsored six races for Waltrip’s Nationwide team. The relationship grew from a partial Nationwide program to one of the most recognizable Cup partnerships in the sport with aggressive activation and extensive usage of Waltrip and MWR in television and radio commercials.
About Aaron’s, Inc.
Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), the nation’s leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, has more than 1,900 Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Founded in 1955 by entrepreneur R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr. and headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron’s has been publicly traded since 1982. For more information, visit Aaron's.
Martin to drive for JGR in Nationwide race at LVMS
By Team Release
NASCAR.COM
January 6, 2012
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. -- Joe Gibbs Racing announced Friday that Mark Martin will drive for the team in the Nationwide Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March.
"We've always hoped to have the opportunity for Mark to drive for us and to have him behind the wheel of our Interstate Batteries Toyota for the Nationwide race in Vegas is exciting," said JGR president J.D. Gibbs. "He is a great example to all drivers of the dedication it takes to be successful and certainly we're honored to have him part of our efforts in 2012."
While Martin is only currently scheduled to race for JGR at LVMS, the team is still working on opportunities to secure additional races for the veteran driver..
Martin currently has 49 career victories in 235 Nationwide starts. His most recent victory came last season in the No. 32 car at LVMS. He had four total starts in 2011, with the one victory and three top-ten finishes.
"This is exciting," Martin said. "No organization has been better in the Nationwide Series over the past three or four seasons and to have the chance to get behind the wheel of a Joe Gibbs Racing Nationwide car will be a thrill. Maybe I can pick up a few more races and try to catch Kyle to get my record back again."
New Mark Martin dealership opens in temporary location
By Tammy Curtis, Staff Writer
Area Wide News
January 8, 2012
Many are anticipating the opening of the new Mark Martin dealership to be located at 41 Highway 62/412 in Ash Flat.
The construction is on schedule but Mark Martin opened a new, albeit temporary, Chevrolet -- Buick -- GMC dealership on Jan. 2 in Highland.
The location is housed at the Mark Martin pre owned vehicle store.
Vic Davidson, Sales Manager for Mark Martin said the location will serve as a temporary site until construction is completed at Ash Flat.
Davidson said the dealership will serve all GMC, Buick, and Chevrolet needs, but will be concentrating on its GMC and Buick lines.
Mark Martin GMC will still carry its pre owned line of quality affordable automobiles.
Davidson said the proposed opening date for the new location at Ash Flat is in June.
Until then, the full service new vehicle dealership will be open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. weekdays, and from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
Currently, Mark Martin is completing customers' service needs at their Melbourne location, but Davidson said the new Ash Flat location will offer a full service department.
He said, "The new location will make it convenient to serve everyone in the area."
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
