NASCAR's Mark Martin
2006 Season Articles - November
Martin Closes Out Tenure in No. 6 Car with 18th-Place Finish at Homestead
Martin steps out of the No. 6 Roush Racing Ford after 19 years, 617 consecutive starts
Mark Martin and the #6 AAA Ford Fusion Racing Team
Homestead-Miami Speedway/November 19, 2006"It really was a great ride." - Mark Martin after his final race in the No. 6 car at Homestead
HOMESTEAD, FLA. (November 19, 2006) – Mark Martin climbed out of the No. 6 Roush Racing Ford for the final time on Sunday afternoon, with his 19-year legacy in the car far more important than the 18th-place finish he had just garnered in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The 18th-place finish was not the storybook-ending Martin and his team owner of almost 20 years, Jack Roush, would have wished for, but it was, nonetheless, an end to a solid season that saw Martin become one of only three drivers to make the “Chase” for the Nextel Cup its first three seasons.
In fact, Martin went out just as he came in, fighting for position. And while Martin and the team could never quite get a grip on their No. 6 Ford Fusion on this particular day, it did nothing to change the fact that with five races remaining in the season, Martin had taken the lead in the points midway through the race at Charlotte, before a string of senseless accidents put a halt to his final bid for the Cup. On this day, Martin simply climbed out from behind the seat of the race car he had occupied for almost two decades, and quietly closed the door on a chapter of racing history.
“These guys on this team...they just gave everything they had to this team,” said Martin. “They gave their heart and their soul and I feel like I gave it back and we had a great run over the past three years. The effort is what means the most to me. We aren’t going to have as high of a points finish this year as we had the past couple of years, but sometimes the effort just isn’t reflected in the final results. I love these guys and it’s been a pleasure to work with them.
“It’s always been a pleasure and an honor to drive this No. 6 car and to drive for Jack Roush,” added Martin. “It’s truly been a great ride and I know that I leave here with my cup running over.”
Martin’s No. 6 Ford Fusion wore a special paint scheme commemorating Martin’s final run in the No. 6. Martin started 26th and experienced handling problems from the beginning of the race. Martin battled a tight car for the majority of the race and that, combined with a problem in the pits during the first stop, dropped the No. 6 team back to 35th position and into a deep hole by just the eighth lap of the race.
Martin was able to drive his way back to 25th by the time the team came into the pits again under caution on lap 45. By lap 111, the car’s handling had finally freed up and Martin broke into the top 20 for the first time of the race. The team made its biggest move of the day on lap 196 when Martin and crew chief Pat Tryson opted for a two tire stop under the race’s seventh caution on lap 188. Martin returned in seventh position. The two tires worked on Martin’s Fusion and he settled into eighth place and ran there until the next caution was issued on lap 205. This time the team opted for four tires and Martin went back out in 11th when green-flag racing resumed. The car did not react as favorably to the four tires and Martin dropped all the way back 19th by lap 222, before recovering and moving back to 15th before caution number nine was called on lap 246.
The team again pitted for four tires, but they just could not seem to get a grip on the car’s handling and Martin dropped back to 19th by lap 261. The race would eventually finish under a green-white-checkered scenario, with Martin bringing home the top-20 finish. Martin would end up ninth in the Nextel Cup point standings, his 16th top-10 finish in 19 seasons at Roush Racing.
David Ragan will now take the wheel of the No. 6 AAA Ford heading into 2007, as Martin moves on to a part-time schedule in the No. 01 car with Ginn Racing.
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich., based Roush Enterprises which operates 14 motorsports teams; five in NASCAR Nextel Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, six in the Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, Todd Kluever and Danny O'Quinn, Jr., and two in the Craftsman Truck Series with Martin, David Ragan, Michel Jourdain, Jr. and Erik Darnell.
(Rusty Jarrett / Getty Images)Mark Martin Post Race Notes and Quotes - Ford 400
Ford Racing: News
November 19, 2006MARK MARTIN - No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion (Finished 18th)
YOUR THOUGHTS?
"I don't know. I guess I'm glad that one's over with. Pat and all the guys tried to make something happen here today. We really thought we had something better than that, but we struggled around in the middle all day. The car was good on the long runs, but we didn't get much of that when we needed it. We certainly got some in the middle and got right up to the top 10, but we couldn't restart with any of them, so that one's off the list and we're done."
A MEMORABLE RUN WITH JACK ROUSH.
"Yeah, it's been a long time and a lot of water under the bridge. We've done a lot together and nothing will ever change that. We'll probably always look back on that as the good old days."
YOU ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH WITH THEM.
"Yeah, it was just a disappointing day. It didn't turn out quite like Friday night did. We hoped it would, but it didn't."
SOME PEOPLE DON'T STAY MARRIED 19 YEARS.
"That's right. It doesn't make it wrong for me to do something else, it makes it weird. It's not wrong just because I stayed there that long. My cup has been running over all year. That's it. I don't know what else to say. If it was half-full, I'd be crying right now."
JIMMIE JOHNSON WON THE TITLE TONIGHT. YOUR THOUGHTS.
"You couldn't beat him and you can't take that away from them. They went out there and earned that one."
MARTIN MILESTONES IN THE NO. 6
RACE NUMBER DATE TRACK START FINISH PRESIDENT 1st February 14, 1988 >Daytona 38 41 Ronald Reagan 56th October 22, 1989 Rockingham (first win) 7 1 George H. W. Bush 100th June 16, 1991 Pocono 1 3 George H. W. Bush 200th September 18, 1994 Dover 4 19 Bill Clinton 300th November 16, 1997 Atlanta 9 3 Bill Clinton 400th November 12, 2000 Homestead 11 3 George W. Bush 500th September 14, 2003 New Hampshire 33 28 George W. Bush 600th July 16, 2006 New Hampshire 13 4 George W. Bush 617th November 19, 2006 Homestead (final run) 26 18 George W. Bush
Martin Closes Out 2006 Truck Campaign with Sixth Victory
Martin wins at Homestead in final run in No. 6 Scott’s Ford
Mark Martin and the No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion
Homestead-Miami Speedway/November 17, 2006“These guys are just so wonderful to work with...I’m going to really miss working with Mike Beam and the No. 6 Scotts team. It’s been some of the most fun I’ve ever had in racing.” - Mark Martin after Friday’s win at Homestead
HOMESTEAD, FLA. (November 17, 2006) – Mark Martin closed out his 2006 truck season the same way he opened it--with a trip to victory lane. Martin started sixth, took the lead on lap 47 and hardly looked back en route to his sixth victory in 14 starts in the truck series in 2006. The veteran driver took over the top spot for the final time of the night on lap 112 with 22 laps remaining and drove to the finish line for what was his 89th career NASCAR victory.
"This is the way we would have written it, if we could have written a story-book ending to it,” said Martin. "Mike Beam (crew chief) and these guys are a dream to work with. It’s just pretty incredible to drive this stuff. We had huge horsepower under the hood today with our Roush-Yates engine. This is the way to end it up with the No. 6 truck.”
Martin’s Ford F-150 was fast from the start, breaking into the top five on lap 28. By lap 43, he had moved into the second spot where he was running when the team came into the pits for the first time just two laps later. The Scotts team put Martin back out in first place when he returned to the field on lap 47. In the end, Martin would lead 57 of the race’s 134 laps.
“We had an incredible engine under that hood and all year long, and really good Ford trucks,” added Martin. “It was really awesome to have Scotts come on board. I remember back during January testing, I had no plans at all of running Daytona, and we made the deal that, if they'd sponsor us, I'd run Daytona. We got the pole and won the race, so that was a pretty good way to start it off. We've been on a roll all year with that thing. It's just pretty special. It's great people and great equipment and it's been a lot of fun."
With the first-place finish, the No. 6 truck finishes second in the Championship owner’s points, just 30 behind the No. 30 truck, despite being driven by four separate drivers.
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich., based Roush Enterprises which operates 14 motorsports teams; five in NASCAR Nextel Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, six in the Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, Todd Kluever and Danny O'Quinn, Jr., and two in the Craftsman Truck Series with Martin, David Ragan, Michel Jourdain, Jr. and Erik Darnell.
Craftsman Truck Series driver Mark Martin celebrates following his win in the Ford 200 truck race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., Friday, Nov. 17, 2006. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)Mark Martin and Jack Roush Post Race Interview - Ford 200
Ford Racing: News
November 17, 2006MARK MARTIN -6-Scotts Ford F-150 (Finished 1st)
"Well, to start with, this is the storybook ending, almost. This is the first segment. We lacked two feet last year of winning this race with Biffle beating us by two feet. It would be pretty incredible to be in contention again for that. This is sweet. Jack and I have done this a lot together and Sunday is our last chance, for a while anyway. You never know what'll happen in the future. I've seen a lot of crazy things happen over there.
Anyway, this is sweet. We had a huge effort from Mike Beam and from Roush-Yates engines. We had an incredible engine under that hood and all year long, and really good Ford trucks. It was really awesome to have Scotts come on board. I remember back in January testing, I had no plans at all of running Daytona, and we made the deal that if they'd sponsor us that I'd run Daytona. We got the pole and won the race, so that was a pretty good way to start it off. We've been on a roll all year with that thing. It's just pretty special. It's great people and great equipment and it's been a lot of fun."
JACK ROUSH - Team Owner
"I listen to Mark and I've learned things that sometimes that he says publicly that I haven't heard privately. I would look forward to negotiating with Mark for a return back to the Ford world and Roush Racing for anything that he would be interested in running for a championship. He's a championship man.
It's going to be pretty hard to win the Cup championship. I've held out hope that we would get this one done, but we've had several things happen and we were off a little on performance and we just didn't get the deal closed. Again, it's more my fault than his. But, 19 years we've been doing this in Busch cars, Cup cars. Of course, Cup cars first and then Busch cars and now trucks, and, of course, this year it was all three. To win the first race for the F-150, to win the last race with the F-150, and to win six races with the No. 6 truck, there's some kind of karma there. I'm not sure what all that means, but it's pretty special.
Mark is leaving Roush Racing, but he's not leaving Jack as a friend. We'll be friends as long as we live, I'm sure. It was a particular joy that we were able to share that here tonight with our friends from Ford. Ford had been through all their trials and tribulations, and they've done everything they could this year to support us by giving us parts for our engines and time in the wind tunnel for our aero, and, of course, helping with tooling where we needed to have things tooled to get competitive with what was happening in this series. Ford is very much a part of this, too, and we enjoy having them here since this was the Ford 200 tonight. It was awesome to share that with them.
I look forward to trying to make a run it win the race Sunday night, and I guess Mark will be taking tomorrow off. Are you sure you need to take tomorrow off? At any rate, it's been a great run. I'm not going to get a tear tonight, but certainly I can tear up. It's been real special, and it's been sad."
MARTIN
"I think it's great for Todd. I raced against all three of them and all three of them are fierce competitors. Coming from a guy who's never won one, I would have to say that they don't need a title to make them (Bodines) great. Geoff Bodine did tremendous things in this sport, as well as Brett. Todd has been phenomenal this year. I would like to point out that I think our truck was second in the owner's points. Mike Beam mentioned that we only missed the championship by 30 points with four different drivers. You might want to check those facts before writing them, but I'm very proud of Roush Racing in all. On that note, it was nice to see. Todd and those guys certainly earned it. I saw them sweat pretty hard for it.
In 2007, I'm not going to worry about points so much. It's been a long, hard road, and I would have to say, and with Jack's disappointment, maybe in the outcome of our year, one of my proudest moments was with five races to go, we were five points out. That was pretty special to me. All I wanted was a chance and we had a chance and things turned for the worse. I'm very proud of the effort that has been made by Roush Racing and especially by the 6 team all three years. The last three years have been phenomenal. We won't finish as high in the points this year as we did the other two years, so on paper it may not look as good, but believe me, the effort was spectacular. The effort was probably better than the last two. Sometimes the results don't show the true effort and sometimes the performance."
TALK ABOUT THE PASS YOU MADE ON BRENDAN AT THE END.
"That was a good way to do it. We were in a situation where we didn't have somebody from behind us really pestering us, so we were able to make it fun and exciting for the fans. I had to make sure that I made that pass without making a mistake. Brendan was rolling around the top really well, and he didn't need me wrecking into him, and I didn't need to mess up another truck like I did like a bonehead at Atlanta at the start of the race. I was being very careful with that pass, and it was a lot of fun. This race track has matured greatly, and it's a fantastic place to race. He was riding right up by the wall and I was right down on the white line, so I was just trying to figure out a way to get it done where I could do it clean and safe and not jeopardize either one of us."
"This is the best program that I think I've ever been involved in, with Mike Beam and all of the guys there. It has kept me awake at night quite a bit, the decision to not be able to continue in that truck. It's just an incredible opportunity to drive such fantastic equipment and work with such incredible people. For some reason, the chemistry really worked with Mike Beam and Hal (Rolston, engineer) and the guys between us. I think it's pretty cool, pretty exciting to drive the Wood Brothers truck next year, the No. 21. History means an awful lot to me. I knew those boys when I was a boy. When I first came in 1981, I was 21 years old and that's probably about what those boys were, too, if that. We've been around a long time and I've admired them, and this is our first chance to work together on any project and it's a real special honor and a real special opportunity for us to do something together. Between five and 10 (races in 2007 in the No. 21 Ford F-150), probably closer to 10 than five. We're just working on all of the details. They haven't secured sponsor for it, but they've made a commitment to do a minimum of five races. They're working right now. They're pretty close on some things and hopefully it will work out."
TALK ABOUT HOW SPECIAL THIS WIN WOULD BE IF THIS WERE YOUR LAST WIN FOR JACK ROUSH.
"Well, it would be real special to just win for Jack. I know everybody thinks it probably won't be, but this could be the last time that I ever win a NASCAR race, so the challenge is on. I'm faced with greater challenges going forward than I probably have been in many years because I'm interested in doing anything less that what we did tonight. That was some of the most fun that I've ever had and this is what it's all about. Some day it will come to end, but I hope it didn't come to an end tonight. This size, this shape of race track in this kind of equipment is a dream come true. I felt like I was 21 year old again out there tonight, and I'd like to latch on to that some in the future, so there's our challenge."
Mark Martin Post Race Notes and Quotes - Ford 200
Ford Racing: News
November 17, 2006MARTIN WINS FOR THE SIXTH TIME IN 2006
Mark Martin took the checkered flag for the seventh time in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career with tonight's victory. Martin started sixth and went to victory lane in his second series start at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
In 14 races this season, Martin has driven to victory lane a series-high six times, and extended Roush Racing's all-time series win mark to 43, the most in series history.
Ford has now won 78 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races all time, and eight in 2006 with three different drivers (Martin, Cook, Crawford).
Ford's win today is its fifth truck series victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the most of any manufacturer (D. Rezendes -1, K. Irwin -1, R. Crawford -1, M. Wallace -1, M. Martin - 1).
The last Ford truck series triumph at HMS occurred when Mike Wallace won this event in 1999.
MARK MARTIN-6-Scotts Ford F-150 (Finished 1st)
"This is the way we would have wrote it, if we could have wrote a story-book ending to it. We still have Sunday night to go. My car today wasn't too bad, my AAA Fusion. Tomorrow we're going to try to get it wired in this good. Mike Beam (crew chief) and these guys are a dream to work with. Golly, man, pretty incredible to drive this stuff."
HOW MUCH DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO GIVE JACK ROUSH ANOTHER TROPHY?
"It does mean an incredible lot, but this is a team effort. We had huge horsepower under the hood today with our Roush-Yates power. This is the way to end it up with the 6. It's a good thing that there's a number 6 on the side of this truck. Like I said, we lacked two feet of winning this Cup race last year, and I know that's asking a lot."
TALK ABOUT RACING GAUGHAN AT THE END.
"Brendan really had that top line working there, and I just had to be real careful. I didn't want to make any mistakes. We had a great truck here and we just wanted to make sure that we made the pass clean and didn't have any trouble there."
Martin Bookends 2006 with Victory at Homestead
By Charles Krall - TrackSide Editor
TruckSeries.com
November 18, 2006Mark Martin played a patience game late in the going during the Ford 200, and when it came time to go he pressed the button and ran to the front, passing Brendan Gaughan with 31 laps to go to score his sixth victory of the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.
"It means a lot to me because this was an incredible team effort," Martin said. "This is the best program I have ever been affiliated with in my life. Mike Beam and the guys give me great trucks each and every week. We had huge horsepower under the hood tonight. This is a great way to end things with the 6 team."
Martin raced his No. 6 Scott's Ford side by side with a resurgent Brendan Gaughan late in the going. Gaughan qualified well and stayed near the front and before Martin's charge looked like he had a shot to win.
"That was a lot of fun racing the 77 like that," Martin said. "He had it wound up in the outside lane. That's why this type of track is so good. It has aged well and you have grooves all over that you can race. He was good up top and we were good down low. The good thing is we had the time to race him and do it right because we didn't have anyone behind us to pressure us. I wasn't going to do anything that crashed him or crashed us."
Gaughan was pleased with his effort against one of the "mega-teams" of the series.
"The South Point Racing Team is back on the right track," Gaughan said. "To come out and run this way against the Roush juggernaut says volumes about the work this team has done to get turned around. Tony Liberati came in and tore our shop apart and got us turned around. Now with Bryan Berry leading things we've stepped it up."
"I knew when Mark dropped back he was cooling his tires. My spotter called down and said we needed to get ours cool too. If we could have held him off for about four more laps his tires would have been as warm as ours and I think we could have given him a run for the money."
Erik Darnell closed the season with his third top-three finish in the last five races. Darnell locked up the 2006 NCTS Raybestos Rookie of the Year award with his finish.
"We kind of got bit on pit road a couple of times tonight," Darnell said. "The guys nailed the last stop and we got pretty good track position. John (Quinn) made the right adjustments on the No. 99 Woolrich Ford. I didn't quite have enough for Mark, but if we had another five laps I think we could have raced Brendan for second."
The race started off with a couple of quick yellows. First, Willie Allen and Chad Chaffin tangled in turn four on lap 6, sending Chaffin headlong into the wall and sweeping Michel Jourdain and Damon Lusk into the aftermath. Shortly after the restart, Mike Skinner was racing for the lead with David Reutimann off turn four when he lost traction and slid into the inside wall. Skinner's truck was heavily damaged, and he retired with a 35th-place finish.
The two championship contenders were not a factor in the race. Todd Bodine locked up the championship with a 21st-place finish on what was a entirely unspectacular day for the No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota team. But even with their struggles in the final race, they locked up the title by 127 points over Johnny Benson after Benson was involved in two separate incidents.
On lap 96 Chase Miller spun into the infield in turn two, and just as Benson arrived on the scene Miller's truck backed up the banking. Benson made contact, damaging the left side of the No. 23 Exide Batteries Toyota, but he was able to continue on. Then, on lap 115 as he was racing for a spot in the top ten, Benson had a left front go down, ending his championship hopes.
Bobby Hamilton, Jr. had a strong run in the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge, finishing fourth just ahead of Jack Sprague in the No. 60 Con-way Toyota. Joe Nemechek ran up front early before finishing sixth in the No. 46 Ginn Clubs and Resorts Chevrolet, David Starr was seventh in the No. 11 ToyotaForklift.net Toyota, David Reutimann was eighth in the No. 17 Team Tundra Toyota, Dennis Setzer was ninth in the No. 85 E85 FlexFuel Chevrolet, and Terry Cook rounded out the top ten in the No. 10 Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford.
The 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racing season is over, but the champion and remainder top-10 drivers will be feted at the NCTS Awards Banquet in Orlando on December 10.
NASCAR driver Mark Martin waits for his qualifying attempt for the Sunday running of the Ford 400 auto race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., Friday, Nov. 17, 2006.
(AP Photo/Alan Diaz)Mark Martin Post Qualifying Notes and Quotes - Ford 400
Ford Racing: News
November 17, 2006MARK MARTIN - No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion (Qualified 26th)
"We expected better. The car just didn't hook up like it had our mock lap in practice. It's still not gonna be bad, but it's not what we expected. We were looking better than that, but it just didn't hook up. We've got tomorrow to work on it. We felt pretty good about it in race trim and actually pretty good about it in qualifying trim, but it was a little slippery for me out there. I'm not sure exactly why that is, but it's decent in race trim. Really, to be honest with you, I don't know how much we're gonna gain on it. I was pretty satisfied with the way it drove in race trim."
HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Mark Martin drives the #6 AAA Ford, during practice for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Ford 400, on November 18, 2006 at Homestead-Miami Superspeedway in Homestead, Florida.
(Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR)
HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Mark Martin drives the #6 AAA Ford, during practice for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Ford 400, on November 18, 2006 at Homestead-Miami Superspeedway in Homestead, Florida.
(Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Mark Martin has been ranked No. 1 among the "25 Greatest NASCAR Busch Series Drivers" in Internet polls on NASCAR.COM and NASCARMedia.com in conjunction with the season-long celebration of the 25th anniversary of the NASCAR Busch Series and its association with series sponsor Anheuser-Busch.
Martin, the all-time series leader in wins (47) and Busch Poles (30) despite having run only one full season (1987) throughout his 220 starts, received the most votes in both polls, which allowed fans and media to rank their top 25 selections from a list of 41 nominees. A write-in candidate also was permitted among the 25 choices. One vote per Web site was allotted per fan or media member.
"We had a lot of fun racing in the Busch Series," Martin said. "There has been a lot of talent in that series over the years, both with the full-time Cup guys and some of the Busch regulars, so to be voted at the top of the top 25 really does mean a lot to me.
"I'd just like to say thanks to both the fans and the media. We've always gone out and given 100 percent to whatever we were doing and to be recognized for our effort means as much as any of the wins or any trophies."
The series' first two-time champion, Sam Ard, finished second in the NASCARMedia.com poll; followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in third, another multiple champion; Jack Ingram, the first series champion in 1982 (he won again in '85) in fourth and Dale Earnhardt, who won the first NASCAR Busch Series race at Daytona International Speedway in 1982, in fifth.
The NASCAR.COM fan poll ranked Earnhardt Jr. second. Kevin Harvick, the newest multiple champion following his 2006 title, finished third. Earnhardt was fourth and Martin Truex Jr., the 2004-05 series champion, was fifth.
Drivers with one or more Busch Series titles were automatically among the list of nominees. Other criteria included a minimum of 150 series starts and/or top percentages of wins versus starts, top fives versus starts and top 10s versus starts.
More than 152,000 fans voted in the NASCAR.COM poll, while more than 160 individuals voted in the NASCARMedia.com poll. Voting began on Oct. 16 and ended Nov. 12.
The 25th anniversary NASCAR Busch Series season culminates Saturday with the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The race begins at 7:10 p.m. ET and will be televised on TNT.
AAA to Run Special "Salute To Mark Martin" Scheme This Weekend at Homestead
Special paint scheme to honor Martin's final run in No. 6 AAA Ford FusionCONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 13, 2006) - The No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion will run a special paint scheme this weekend to commemorate the final run of Martin behind the wheel of the car he has driven since 1988. The AAA car will be colored in a predominately black scheme when it takes to the track this Friday for what will be Martin's last Nextel Cup weekend in the car.
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich., based Roush Enterprises that operates 14 motorsports teams; five in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, six in the Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, Todd Kluever and Danny O'Quinn, Jr., and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Martin, David Ragan, Erik Darnell and Michel Jourdain, Jr.
After 19 Years, Martin Set For Final Ride in No. 6
Martin will exit the No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion after Sunday's race at HomesteadCONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 14, 2006) - Can you recall where you were and what you were doing on Feb. 14, 1988? Mark Martin can. He was behind the wheel of the Roush Racing No. 6 Ford, forging forward on what would become one of the most successful runs in not only NASCAR, but all of sports history. Martin has spent the majority of his days since behind the wheel of the No. 6; 19 years worth to be exact. That will all come to an end this weekend, when Martin takes his final ride in the Roush Racing No. 6 Ford.
"It's actually hard to believe that it's actually here," said Martin in reference to Sunday's race at Homestead. "It's one of those things where you know it has been coming for a while, but you still can't believe that it's almost here. I've been in that car for a long time - 19 years to be exact. It's a part of me and I'm a part of it. Now the time has come for me to hand that over to someone else, but it's going to be a different feeling for sure."
To put Martin's 19-year run in the same car in perspective, seven other current drivers, who are on the preliminary entry list for this weekend's race at Homestead, also started that Daytona 500 in 1988. Of those seven drivers, all have raced for at least four different owners since that time. In fact, the seven combined have driven for 55 different owners and driven cars with a total of 57 different numbers. All while Martin forged on in the No. 6.
On that day Ronald Ragan was president, a gallon of gas cost 96 cents, the average price of a car was just over $14,000, a loaf of bread would run you a whopping 61 cents, and a young driver from Batesville, Arkansas was determined to make the most of a second chance. Martin's tenure in the No. 6 was of humbling if not almost comical beginnings.
"We made the race on time," said Martin recalling that first speed weeks with Roush Racing. "Then we got wrecked in the Twin-125's and we didn't have a backup speedway car, so we used the Atlanta car for the race. We didn't last 20 laps before we lost the engine."
When Martin climbed into that backup No. 6 car on that day, it was highly unlikely he could have envisioned the success he would go on to have in the No. 6. Six-Hundred and sixteen consecutive starts, 35 wins, 230 top-five finishes, 361 top-10 finishes, 39 poles, 181,163 laps, 11,100 laps led and 228,456.2 miles later, Martin prepares to get behind of the wheel of the No. 6 for the final time this Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Martin's time in the No. 6 car has seen four different Presidents of the United States, two different series' sponsors, three different Ford makes and numerous changes to the business of NASCAR and Roush Racing. The No. 6 team was the first step of team owner Jack Roush into NASCAR. Since that time Roush has added four more Cup teams, with two of those teams claiming championships, and Roush has grown into one of the largest and most successful motorsports operations in the world.
"We've been at this for a long time and there is a sense of accomplishment for what we've been able to do," said Martin. "It's been a great ride and I'm so thankful to Jack Roush for having given me the opportunity to really live out my dreams behind the wheel of the No. 6 car. It's really been a great ride and I would not change it for anything. We've always went into it giving everything that we had and really going at it no less than 100 percent and hopefully that showed over the years."
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich., based Roush Enterprises that operates 14 motorsports teams; five in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, six in the Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, Todd Kluever and Danny O'Quinn, Jr., and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Martin, David Ragan, Erik Darnell and Michel Jourdain, Jr.
ALSO:
The No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion will run a special paint scheme this weekend to commemorate the final run of Martin behind the wheel of the car he has driven since 1988. The AAA car will be colored in a predominately black scheme when it takes to the track this Friday for what will be Martin's last Nextel Cup weekend in the car.
Roush Racing Announces Kvapil To Drive No. 6 Ford F-150 In NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
CONCORD, N.C. (November 14, 2006) – With the departure of Mark Martin, Roush Racing was presented with the question of who would fill his shoes in the No. 6 Roush Racing Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. That question was answered this week when Roush signed former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil to pilot the Ford F-150 that Martin drove to five victories in 13 attempts this season.
“We are pleased beyond measure that we were able to get a driver the caliber of Travis Kvapil to be our veteran championship contender in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Roush Racing and Ford Motor Company,” said team owner Jack Roush. “At only 30 years old with a truck championship and two years of Nextel Cup experience under his belt, Travis brings great long and short term potential to and for Roush Racing.”
In addition to claiming the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series title in 2003, he also earned the Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year honor in 2001. He compiled five wins, 40 top-five finishes and 64 top-10 finishes in his four full seasons in the truck series and looks to add to that record with Roush Racing.
“It’s a great opportunity to join an organization that constantly demonstrates its ability to compete successfully in all areas of competition,” said Kvapil. “I’m looking forward to reestablishing a record of excellent competitive results in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and hope that I can continue competing successfully for a long time with Roush Racing.”
At this point the No. 6 Roush Racing F-150 is without a sponsor but Roush Racing president Geoff Smith believes that now that a driver has been chosen for the truck, a sponsor announcement will likely follow.
“Our sponsor prospects have been waiting for us to settle on the driver and now that Travis is on board, we expect to close on a sponsorship shortly,” said Smith.
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich., based Roush Enterprises which operates 14 motorsports teams; five in NASCAR Nextel Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, six in the Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, Todd Kluever and Danny O'Quinn, Jr., and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Martin, David Ragan, Michel Jourdain Jr. and Erik Darnell.
Motorsport.com: News channel - Complete info at web site MB2's 2007 lineup of drivers/crew chiefs will be as follows:
Nextel Cup Series
MB2 will field three Nextel Cup teams. MB2 newcomers Mark Martin (47-years-old) and rookie Regan Smith (23) will co-drive the No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet. Martin will drive in 20 point races plus the Bud Shootout and Nextel All Star Challenge. Smith will drive in the remaining 16 point races. Ryan Pemberton will continue to serve as crew chief on the 01 car.
Motorsport.com: News channel: Ricky Carmichael Sunday media visit - Complete interview at web site ON NASCAR TIME TABLE
“December I will start testing down in Florida running some of Mark Martin's late models. Then up in Charlotte with an MB2 race car. It is going to be a long process and try to make it the right process."
ON HAVING MARK MARTIN AS A MENTOR AND INSTRUCTOR
"It is going to be a huge advantage. I can't believe it. It was icing on the cake when I heard he was coming. I had actually already signed my deal and they said he was coming in. They (MB2 Motorsports) did a good job of keeping it secret. It just made my decision that much better."
ON RECEPTION BY OTHER DRIVERS WITH EXTRODINARY CREDENTIALS IN MOTOCROSS
"It is funny, I think it is the opposite. I feel humbled. When Jay Frye (owner and general manager of MB2 Motorsports) gave me Mark Martin's number, I was scared to death to call him. The guy's a legend man, and I was scared. We ended up talking and I told him 'To be honest Mark, I was scared to talk to you, very nervous' and he was awesome. We are all normal, we all put our pants on the same way."
ON WHAT TESTING SCHEDULE IS SET TO BE
"I don't know exact, but as much testing as possible. That is the biggest thing for me. I would hope every other week in a car. That is the one good thing about Mark Martin coming to the organization, is he lives in Florida and I do too so it is just a short drive away."
2006 Mark Martin Nextel Cup Track Notes – Sunday, November 19, 2006
Ford 400 / Homestead-Miami Speedway
No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion
November 16, 2006DRIVER: Mark Martin
TEAM: No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion
OWNER: Jack Roush
CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson
THE CAR
Chassis: RK-315 finished 22nd at Texas in its last run, after being pulled off the truck as the backup and starting the race with no practice. The car has posted top-10 runs at Darlington, Fontana, Dover and Las Vegas this season, and it won last season at Kansas. It finished second at Homestead last season.
MARTIN CLOSES OUT 19 YEARS IN THE NO. 6 CAR THIS WEEKEND
Martin will take the steering wheel of the No. 6 Ford for the final time when the green flag drops this Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. After 19 years behind the wheel of the Roush Ford, Martin will look for his 36th and final victory in the No. 6 this weekend in the 2006 season finale.
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
Martin's tenure in the No. 6 Roush Racing Ford dates back to Feb. 14, 1988 when he made his first Cup start with Jack Roush at Daytona International Speedway. Since then the two have built one of the most long running and successful relationships in sports history, accumulating 35 wins, 230 top-five finishes, 361 top-10 finishes, 39 poles and 16 top-10 Cup point finishes.
MARK MARTIN – FAST FACTS - HOMESTEAD
Mark Martin has four top-five finishes in seven starts at Homestead.
Martin's best finish at Homestead came last season when he finished second by inches to Roush teammate Greg Biffle.
Martin has led a total of 30 laps in seven races at Homestead.
Martin has competed in seven Busch races at Homestead, turning in six top fives in those starts.
Martin will make his 616 consecutive and final run in the Roush Racing No. 6 car this weekend at Homestead.
The No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion will run a special paint scheme this weekend to commemorate the final run of Martin behind the wheel of the car he has driven since 1988.
QUOTING MARK MARTIN AND CREW CHIEF PAT TRYSON ON RACING AT HOMESTEAD – NEXTEL CUP
Mark Martin:
"Homestead has been a pretty good track for us over the years. They have changed the track a lot in the last couple of years, but it's still a fun place to race. We had a great race there a year ago when we came up just short of the win in a great duel with Biffle at the finish line. Hopefully we can go there and give them another run for their money and close this thing out strong.
"It's kind of hard to believe that this is the last weekend in the No. 6 car. We've fought hard in this thing for 19 years now, and we aren't going to change anything for this last race. We'll go out fighting just as hard for the win as we did in 1988 when we started this thing. I just want to make sure that I thank all of the guys that gave so much to the No. 6 car during that time. We had a great run and I'll always be thankful for the opportunity."
Pat Tryson:
"We've had some pretty good runs at Homestead and hopefully we'll be able to go there this weekend and close out the season with another strong run. It has been an honor to work with Mark, and we'd like nothing more than to send him out with a win."
2006 Mark Martin Craftsman Truck Series Track Notes – Friday, November 17, 2006
Ford 200 / Homestead-Miami Speedway
No. 6 Scotts Miracle-Gro Ford F-150
November 16, 2006DRIVER: Mark Martin
Team: No. 6 Scotts Miracle-Gro Ford F-150
OWNER: Jack Roush
CREW CHIEF: Mike Beam
THE TRUCK
Chassis: No. 50 is a brand new truck.
QUOTING MARK MARTIN AND CREW CHIEF MIKE BEAM ON RACING AT HOMESTEAD – CRAFTSMAN
Mark Martin:
"I love driving that No. 6 Scotts Ford F-150 for Mike Beam and those guys. It's just an awesome team and they give me great trucks each week. Driving that truck this season is some of the best fun I've ever had in racing and I really appreciate the opportunity to work with these guys and I really appreciate all the hard work that each of the guys on the team have put into this season. Hopefully we can go to Homestead and finish up our season with another trip to victory lane."
Mike Beam:
"It's always great to work with Mark, especially in the Scotts truck and we are excited about the chance to go out and hopefully compete for another win. We had a good run in the Busch car last weekend and we have two more races with Mark in the Scotts Ford F-150, so hopefully we'll be able to give him a truck capable of going out and winning our last race of the season."
Mark Martin Post Race Notes and Quotes – Checker Auto Parts 500
Ford Racing: News
November 12, 2006MARK MARTIN - No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion (Finished 6th)
YOU TOOK TWO TIRES THERE AND TOOK A CHANCE.
"Yeah, we had a pretty good car. It was awesome on long runs and we didn't get none of that in the second half, but in the first half we were mowing 'em down. It wasn't real good on restarts with new tires and stuff, so we made the most of it. I'm really proud of this team and proud of our run. We could hold our own against those guys once everything settled in and we might have even done a little better with more green flag, but it was a great team effort by a great team."
DID THE YELLOWS HELP YOUR TIRES STAY COOL?
"It wasn't so bad. Our car was actually better than it showed all day. We were pretty competitive there on speed at the end. If we hadn't have gotten some of those last cautions, I think we would have been able to keep Denny behind us."
WHAT DOES MATT HAVE TO DO NEXT WEEK?
"He just needs some luck. That's what he needs. I believe the 48 is gonna be fast, but it's long from over. They've done their deal. They just need to keep doing their deal. They go down there and wish to have some luck."
Martin, No. 6 AAA Team Fight to Scrappy 6th-Place Finish
Martin breaks out of spell of bad luck with top-10 finish at Phoenix, looks to season finale at Homestead
Mark Martin and the #6 AAA Ford Fusion Racing Team
Phoenix International Raceway/November 12, 2006“I’m really proud of this team and I’m proud of our run…it was a great team effort by a great team.” - Mark Martin after Sunday ’s race at Phoenix
PHOENIX, ARIZ. – Running in 15th position, Mark Martin and crew chief Pat Tryson gambled after a caution on lap 252, taking two tires only and returning in first place as the field returned to green. The gamble would pay off with Martin hanging on to the lead for 26 laps, before settling into a sixth-place finish in the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
"We had a pretty good car today,” said Martin. “It was awesome on long runs and we didn't get much of that in the second half, but in the first half we were really mowing them down. The car wasn't real good on restarts with new tires and stuff, so we made the most of what we had. I'm really proud of this team and proud of our run. We could hold our own against those guys once everything settled in and we might have even done a little better with more green flag, but it was a great team effort by a great team."
Martin and Tryson were unhappy with the car’s performance in happy hour on Saturday and opted for wholesale changes in the car’s setup for the race on Sunday, so the team went into the race, uncertain of how the car would perform.
“We thought after the last practice that we had a car good enough to run somewhere around the top 10,” said crew chief Pat Tryson. “But we really aren’t point racing anymore, so we basically went in and changed everything, so we could come out and hopefully contend for the win. It was definitely a ‘role the dice’ move, but we figured we had nothing to lose so we went for it. In the end, I think we were better than we would have been with the old setup.”
Martin started 21st in the race, and his car was loose at the start. However, as the race progressed the No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion settled in for the long run. Martin was running in 20th on lap 40, but had moved all the way to 14 by lap 60. After taking four tires and fuel under caution on lap 71, Martin broke into the top 10 for the first time of the race on lap 114, before moving all the way to eighth on lap 148 before the day’s second caution was issued just one lap later.
The team came into the pits under green for four tires and fuel and an air pressure adjustment, and returned in eighth place when the field went green on lap 156. The adjustment would backfire, making the car too loose on the run, and Martin would drop to 11th position by the time the day’s third caution was issued on lap 186. The team would come into the pits for four tires and fuel and to make air pressure and wedge adjustments in hopes of improving the car’s handling. The adjustment would do little to help the car’s handling issues and Martin fell to 14th position by lap 101.
Running 13th, Martin brought his Fusion down pit road under caution on lap 227 for four tires and fuel and after a 13.5-second stop by the AAA Team, returned in 12th-place when green flag racing resumed. With the car still handling loose, Martin fell back to 15th by the time the race’s fourth caution was called on lap 227. The team then opted for the two-tire stop and Martin took over the lead on lap 255.
Martin was able to fend off point leader Jimmie Johnson for the lead on the ensuing restart. He held the lead through a pair of cautions on laps 264 and 272, before eventually giving way to eventual race-winner Kevin Harvick on lap 282. Martin would eventually settle into sixth on lap 298, fighting off the No. 9 car of Kasey Kahne for the position. The race was red flagged after a multi-car accident on lap 305, and Martin restarted in sixth on lap 309 with only three laps remaining. He was able to hold off Kahne for the position and earn his 15th top-10 finish of the season.
“Our car was actually better than it showed all day,” said Martin. “We were pretty competitive there on speed at the end. If we hadn't have gotten some of those last cautions, I think we would have been able to keep Denny (Hamlin) behind us for the top five.”
The team will return to action for the season finale next weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where Martin will make his final start in the No. 6 Roush Racing Ford, after driving the car for the past 19 years.
“In 1988 we came into this thing fighting for wins,” said Martin. “After 19 years behind the wheel of the No. 6 I intend to go out the exact same way.”
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich., based Roush Enterprises which operates 14 motorsports teams; five in NASCAR Nextel Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, six in the Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, Todd Kluever and Danny O'Quinn, Jr., and two in the Craftsman Truck Series with Martin, David Ragan, Michel Jourdain, Jr. and Erik Darnell.
Mark Martin Friday Ford Interview
Ford Racing: News
November 10, 2006Mark Martin has two races remaining as driver of the No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion. Martin spoke about the changes announced at Roush Racing for next season after Friday's practice.
MARK MARTIN - No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion
YOUR THOUGHTS ON PAT MOVING TO GREG'S TEAM NEXT YEAR?
"I think they'll be king. Pat is really, really an incredible individual and, of course, Greg Biffle, I think, is well known in the garage as being an unbelievable wheel man. When you put good stuff under and unbelievable wheel man, you're gonna really get some special results. I'm happy for Pat and I think Greg will be very happy with the results they get."
DID GREG'S TEAM NEED A CHANGE?
"I personally thought they did well this year. He won a race and the rest of us didn't. He won about six races last year and the rest of us didn't win six. Matt's situation is a little different. They were able to hold their deal together a little bit more because of family ties, regional ties - all those things. They kept their deal together a lot better than most teams, so I think Greg's deal has been good. As a whole, I don't have to tell you what our results look like versus what they did last year. I think that he experienced the same as the rest of us did. We were on an all-time high last year and we're not quite as high this year."
WHAT ABOUT JIMMY WORKING WITH DAVID NEXT YEAR?
"That's a perfect combination sort of like Jimmy and Kurt Busch was. Jimmy is a fantastic teacher and David is really fast and needs to be whoa'd up from time to time, so I think that will be a really special combination."
HOW IS THE CAR THIS WEEKEND?
"I think we're gonna be good this weekend. We're not qualifying specialists. We had an incredible car here last time and I think we qualified around 20th. I don't know. I expect to be around the same and I expect to have the same kind of car to race based on practice. Last time we struggled through practice to find that setup. This time we started right out with it and it's working well, so I feel good about how we're gonna run this weekend."
MATT SEEMED FRUSTRATED WITH THE CHANGES ANNOUNCED. CAN YOU COMMENT ON THAT?
"I don't really want to get in the middle of all that for obvious reasons. You put me in a position to criticize something and I'm not criticizing nothing. I'm thankful that I've had 19 years of great race cars and great relationships with great people and I'm not taking any sides right now. I'm just happy to have the experience that I've had."
HAS THE EQUIPMENT BEEN AS GOOD THIS YEAR?
"The effort has been as good. The result hasn't, obviously. You don't need me to tell you that. The 17 has had as good or better result, but they have had less turnover in their team than most teams and they've been able to hang on to it better. For the rest of us, we've had to deal with shuffling. We lost critical people with the 6 car last year and it was a while for us to patch that up and a lot of us at Roush Racing experienced that. Our tools maybe haven't been quite as sharp as they were last year. The effort has been the same and I think Roush Racing hopes that next year they'll be back with the tools as sharp as they were, but last year was a very special year for us. All of our stuff was really good and then we got passed up by some of the competition."
JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS BEEN RUNNER UP A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT NOT AS MANY AS YOU. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO FINISH SECOND SO OFTEN?
"You know what, it never tore me up because I was sure happier to be second than third or 33rd. It feels pretty good to be close. It feels a lot better to have a shot than not. I don't think it's agonizing. A lot of people in the garage would trade places with me over the years or with Jimmie Johnson right now. As a matter of fact, I'd trade places with Jimmie Johnson right now."
JIMMIE HAS BEEN TRYING FOR FIVE YEARS TO WIN A TITLE. WHAT'S HE GOING THROUGH?
"He's run really good, but you know what? There's only one winner every year. It's not like a race. You can be good enough to win a race and not win a race and hope that next week it works out, but on a championship it goes year by year. I've seen those races go a long, long time and not work out when you were good enough. All I can say is I've had a great career and the fans have given me something that means more to me than any Nextel Cup trophy. I've got mine. I'm full. I'm all the way up to the brim. I couldn't ask for a greater life and a greater career and a better following and more support. I'd be ashamed to."
YOU'VE SUPPORTED JAMIE. WHAT'S HE GOING TO NEED?
"Jamie needs someone that will really give him a lot of confidence. I was hoping that Pat Tryson and the 6 car guys were gonna wind up over there because I think that would have been the answer to Jamie's troubles because Jamie is looking for someone to work with that was similar to what he had over there with Donnie (Wingo). That's all he needs to have is a relationship. He's a great race car driver and a really good person. We at Roush Racing have failed to give him what he needed to really succeed, so they'll just have to continue to keep looking for that opportunity for him."
WHY HAVE THERE BEEN SO MANY CHANGES IN JUST ONE YEAR AT ROUSH?
"It looks so simple when you look from this side looking back, but when you're on the other side looking forward before it all happens, Kurt Busch was the catalyst to all that. Jamie is supposed to be in the 6 car. It's not as simple as it looks today. If you scoot way back, the whole world could have been different by one decision - the whole Roush world could have been different by one decision. Kurt Busch moved on and that moved Jamie over there. My team stayed intact, except for two key players. We suffered from that but overcame it and Jamie still didn't click. I'm not defending or criticizing, I'm saying that if you just look back, it looks different if you look from a perspective as it came to us. Now we look back and say, 'Wow, that's a lot,' but it was all really started with Kurt making his change. I really should be driving a truck and 12 Busch cars this year - what I wanted to do (laughing). Thank goodness things worked out so great for us. I'm very proud that we made the chase. We were within 10 points of the lead with five to go, man. How could you ask for more? That's wonderful. How could you ask for more? I wish that it would have lasted longer. I wish we could have gone into the last one like that, but things haven't turned out since before the green flag at Charlotte. I'm thankful and grateful for all the good things and for the cheers that I've heard at intros that had to come from Jeff Gordon fans and Dale Jr. fans and Tony Stewart fans because I don't have that many. That means a lot to me."
BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL JUST SEE ALL THE CHANGES BEING MADE.
“There were changes that happened before those changes. We've lost some people and we got a little bit behind the curve on our own competition and we weren't as good as we were the year before because of change, because of competition, because of all these factors we weren't quite as good as a group as we were. We're just trying to make it good again. The changes made today, you've got a rookie coming in and I think Jim Fennig is the best man for the job. I think Pat Tryson would have been wonderful for Jamie McMurray, but I think Greg Biffle and Pat Tryson will be king in '07 and I think Carl will be king with Bob back. I don't expect to see any changes in the 17 because they never do, so we've got three that I can name for sure that I say are gonna be king - they're gonna be fighting to be king. Everything looks pretty good right there and you've got a great rookie program with Jimmy and David - fabulous - and we've still got to get Jamie's deal worked out. I'd have to say that everything looks good to me. It looks like a good plan."
Mark Martin Post Race Notes and Quotes – Casino Arizona 150
Ford Racing: News
November 10, 2006MARK MARTIN -6-Scotts Ford F-150 (Finished 2nd)
"We had a great truck all through practice and looked like Johnny was the other strongest truck out there. It kinda showed tonight. Our truck was awesome on long runs and it took a little while to show its true strength, and Johnny just put it on us. He smoked everybody qualifying. He came from the back of the pack. He passed us, and we didn't get much green flag in the last part of the race. That's where my truck was the strongest, so we came up one spot short."
2006 Mark Martin Nextel Cup Track Notes – Sunday, November 12, 2006
Checker Auto Parts 500 / Phoenix International Raceway
No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion
November 9, 2006DRIVER: Mark Martin
TEAM: No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion
OWNER: Jack Roush
CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson
THE CAR
Chassis RK-221: Dominated the spring race at Phoenix this year, leading 111 laps, despite finishing 11th after late-race problems. Ran at Martinsville in October and finished 24th after getting caught up in an accident. It is the same car Martin used to win the 2005 All-Star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
MARK MARTIN FAST FACTS - PHOENIX
- Mark Martin has finished inside the top 10 in 65 percent (13) of his Phoenix Cup races.
- Martin won at Phoenix on Oct. 31, 1993.
- Martin has finished inside the top 10 in 11 of the last 16 races at Phoenix.
- Martin has finished second or better in six of 20 races at Phoenix.
- Martin has posted one win (Phoenix, '93), 12 top fives and 17 top 10's at the two remaining tracks that make up the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup. He has a 10.5 average finish at those tracks and he has led 612 laps at the remaining tracks, including 612 at Phoenix, where in addition to his 1993 win, he has posted eight top fives and 13 top-10 finishes in 20 starts.
- Martin led 111 laps at Phoenix in the spring.
- Martin will run the special "Insurance" Paint scheme for the final time this season at Phoenix this weekend.
QUOTING MARK MARTIN AND CREW CHIEF PAT TRYSON ON RACING AT PHOENIX
Mark Martin:
"I enjoy racing at Phoenix and we've had a lot of success there over the years. We've been off a little there the last few years, but we got that corrected and had a car that was just awesome there in the spring and we really should have probably won that race. We'll go back there this weekend hoping to pick up where we left off and hopefully we'll be able to go out and compete for the win again.
"We've had an awful string of bad luck lately. We've wrecked in races, we've wrecked in practice, and we've wrecked in practices and then the races. Sometimes that's just the way racing works, you start getting caught up in a lot of other peoples' messes and there really just isn't a lot you can do about it. Hopefully we are finished with the bad luck and we'll be able to go out and compete for the win at the next two races and close this thing out on a strong note. I've been in this car for 19 years and I'm not going to quit until the last lap is run."
Pat Tryson:
"We are excited about going back to Phoenix. We were really strong there in the spring and we are taking the same car that we used there when we led a lot of laps and were probably the class of the field. We've had a tough couple of weeks and nothing would be better than to go to Phoenix and Homestead and close out the year with a couple of solid runs and hopefully a win or two. The guys on this team have given everything they have this year and Mark's really been on the wheel. There really isn't a lot we could have done about some of the things that have happened, but we are going to keep moving forward, and we are going to keep trying to win races."
2006 Mark Martin Craftsman Truck Series Track Notes – Saturday, November 10, 2006
Casino Arizona 150 / Phoenix International Raceway
No. 6 Scotts Miracle-Gro Ford F-150
November 9, 2006DRIVER: Mark Martin
Team: No. 6 Scotts Miracle-Gro Ford F-150
OWNER: Jack Roush
CREW CHIEF: Mike Beam
THE TRUCK
Chassis No. 46: Finished fourth in its last run at Martinsville three weeks ago.
QUOTING MARK MARTIN AND CREW CHIEF MIKE BEAM ON RACING AT PHOENIX
Mark Martin:
"I love driving that No. 6 Scotts Ford F-150 for Mike Beam and those guys. It's just an awesome team and they give me great trucks each week. Driving that truck this season is some of the best fun I've ever had in racing and I really appreciate the opportunity to work with these guys and I really appreciate all the hard work that each of the guys on the team have put into this season. They are just a great team to work with and hopefully we can go to Phoenix and get us another win."
Mike Beam:
"It's always great to work with Mark, especially in the Scotts truck and we are excited about the chance to go out and hopefully compete for another win. We had a good run in the Busch car last weekend and we have two more races with Mark in the Scotts Ford F-150, so hopefully we'll be able to give him a truck capable of winning each of the next two races."
Martin hopes to take up where he left off and finish the job at Phoenix
Martin, No. 6 AAA team experience best of both worlds in spring Phoenix raceCONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 7, 2006) -- It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was Mark Martin's last trip to Phoenix International Raceway. The weekend certainly did not seem to have the makings of greatness when Martin qualified 18th, and on paper it looks simply like a one-lap down, 11th-place finish. But what transpired in between the race's 312 laps would run the scale of emotion for Martin and the team. Martin would turn in one of his most dominating performances in recent history, twice coming through the field, before eventually coming up short of fuel and still finishing just one place back of a top 10.
"That was a really tough night," said Martin. "The car was so fast and it was so good that it was one of those deals where it was our race to lose and unfortunately we lost it. But, you can't overlook the fact that the car was just awesome and driving that race has to be as much fun as I've had driving a car in a long time. From the start of the race you could just tell that we had a car capable of winning the race."
Despite the 18th-place starting position, Martin needed just 17 laps to move into the top 10, before taking the lead on lap 66. After that he lost and regained it through the various pit cycles. He would lead 111 laps and build as much as a six-second lead in the race. Then the roller coaster took a dive down the curve. A problem with the lug-nuts on the back of the car during a stop under caution on lap 200, would force Martin to come back into the pits the following lap to have the lug nuts tightened. Instead of the six-second lead he had once enjoyed, Martin would return in 16th-postion, the final car on the lead lap.
But on this night, Martin's No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion was the class of the field. Powering the same car that gave him the victory in the 2005 All-Star race, Martin needed just 30 laps to break back into the top 10. He continued to work his way around the other cars, on lap 297 he moved back inside the top five, but with three laps remaining he radioed the team he was running out of fuel. On this night, Martin was so quick, that despite the penalty and running out of fuel, he was still able to coast around the track to take an 11th-place finish at Phoenix. His best finish there since 2003.
Still, it was little consolation for Martin.
"You only have a car that good a few times in your entire career," said Martin, who will make his 634th Nextel Cup start this weekend. "We had the car to win the race and we were in position to do just that, it just didn't work out that night."
This weekend Martin and the No. 6 AAA team head back to Phoenix International Raceway looking to close their unfinished business. The team has fallen on hard luck, getting caught up in four accidents in four straight races, after heading in Charlotte right in the think of the "Chase" just a month ago. Martin knows that despite the team's greatly diminished championship hopes, nothing can bring a smile back like a trip to victory lane.
"This weekend, we'll go back and hopefully we can take up just where we left off and close the deal. Our luck has been just horrible the last few weeks and we could really use a good run and the chance to compete down the stretch for the win. If we can get the car a fraction of where it was in the spring, we'll do just that."
Mark Martin Post Race Notes and Quotes – Dickies 500
Ford Racing: News
November 5, 2006MARK MARTIN - No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion (Finished 22nd)
"We were behind from the start. The guys worked really hard on the car and we finished better than I thought we would. We got damage in the race and that didn't help us any either, but we did manage to run the whole race and we didn't crash out. I give the guys an A+ for this weekend."
YESTERDAY'S ACCIDENT DIDN'T ALLOW YOU TO GET ANY PRACTICE WITH THIS CAR SO THAT'S WHERE THE WEEKEND WENT SOUTH, RIGHT?
Yeah, we never got any laps with that car and it was off pretty bad. They got it closer and we got tore up a little bit, but we finished 22nd."
Martin Fights to 22nd-Place Finish at Texas
Mark Martin and the #6 AAA Ford Fusion Racing Team
Texas Motor Speedway/November 4, 2006“Pat Tryson and the AAA Team did a great job with the car and the setup, but unfortunately we found ourselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, once again.” - Mark Martin after Sunday’s race at Texas
FT. WORTH, TEXAS – The struggles and horrendous luck continued for Mark Martin and the No. 6 AAA team at Texas Motor Speedway. Martin was caught up in an accident late in Saturday’s final practice session, after Tony Raines lost control of his car. Raines’ car came sliding down the track, giving Martin no where to go before colliding with the car. The accident caused significant damage to the No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion – which was running 10th in the practice session – and Martin and crew chief Pat Tryson were forced to start Sunday’s race with a backup car and no practice. In addition to starting the race with a car that had no practice, going to the backup also forced Martin to give up his 28th-place starting spot and start Sunday’s race at the back of the 43-car field. The team would face an uphill battle for the entire race, but they would be able to forge on to a 22nd-place finish.
"We were behind from the start,” said Martin. “The guys worked really hard on the car and we finished better than I thought we would. We got damage in the race and that didn't help us any either, but we did manage to run the whole race and we didn't crash out. I give the guys an A+ for this weekend."
Martin started at the rear of the field, but used the race’s first 12 laps to advance to 34th position. The car handled poorly for the entire race and the team used several cautions to make a variety of wholesale changes to the No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion, including adding several spring rubbers, lowering the track bar and even changing the springs in the rear of the car during one long caution period. Martin was caught up in an accident on lap 173, completely spinning around in the infield after making contact with the No. 14 car, but the team was able to survive and continue to pick up position’s throughout the race. In the end when the dust settled, Martin found himself just outside the top 20.
“The guys really fought hard,” said Martin. “We were behind the eight ball from the beginning, but everyone dug in and we did the best we could do. Things don’t always go your way, but we kept fighting and I am truly proud of the AAA team’s effort today.”
The weekend marked the fourth straight week where Martin and the No. 6 AAA team have been caught up in a storm of bad luck. Martin has now left two of the last three tracks with severely damaged race cars, after getting caught up in accidents through no fault of his own.
“We never got any laps with that car and it was off pretty bad,” added Martin. “They got it closer and we got tore up a little bit, but we finished 22nd. We just haven’t had a lot of luck in the last few weeks, but all we can keep doing is going forward.”
Martin and the team fought throughout the race attempting to alter the integrity of an extremely loose race car, He went a lap down for the first time of the day just before the race’s second caution on lap 89, but he was able to claim the free pass and move back on the lead lap. Martin continued to fight, breaking into the top 30 on lap 179 and moving to as high as 22nd on lap 199. Still, the car was too loose for Martin to contend with the heavy traffic around him. He survived several late cautions, and was able to bring the car home in one piece in the end. Martin and the team will return to action next weekend at Phoenix where Martin dominated in the spring, leading 111 laps in the effort. With two races remaining, Martin is ninth in the Nextel Cup point race.
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich., based Roush Enterprises which operates 14 motorsports teams; five in NASCAR Nextel Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, six in the Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, Todd Kluever and Danny O'Quinn, Jr., and two in the Craftsman Truck Series with Martin, David Ragan, Michel Jourdain, Jr. and Erik Darnell.
Mark Martin Post Qualifying Notes and Quotes – Dickies 500
Ford Racing: News
November 3, 2006MARK MARTIN - No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion (Qualified 28th)
"That's good. I don't care if it is 30th because that was good for our car. That was a good lap. I was in the gas a lot and it certainly didn't handle bad. We'll just see what we can do racing. We were 29th-fastest in practice and I don't expect that to be much better than that. It's probably gonna be about the same."
Mark Martin Friday Interview
Ford Racing: News
November 3, 2006Mark Martin, driver of the No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion, finds himself in eighth-place, 201 points behind first, after being involved in an accident late in last weekend's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Martin spoke about his chase chances after practice on Friday.
MARK MARTIN - No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion
IS TOO MUCH BEING MADE OF THE BUMP IN ONE AND TWO?
"To get right to the problem, the problem is we're coil-binding springs so we have no suspension when we go across that bump. It becomes a problem when you don't have any front suspension, but on the old springs it wouldn't be much of a problem or wouldn't be a problem really to speak of because we're virtually zero suspension."
WILL IT AFFECT THE RACE?
"Not problems, but you have to work around that. I don't really think it'll cause anymore issues. If a guy is loose and he goes across that and the front scoots up and he doesn't know to release some steering wheel, then he'll spin out. But most of these guys are awfully sharp and awfully good and we find ways to spin out without bumps. The reason people are talking about it is we don't have any cushion for that."
DO YOU HAVE TO TIP-TOE THROUGH ONE AND TWO?
"I think we work on our cars and make it better. To be honest, I would hate to see them fix it because a new piece of asphalt across there, whew. I think everybody loves this asphalt, so, personally, I'll take the bumps. I'll take the great with the not-so-great."
IS THIS A VASTLY DIFFERENT TRACK THAN '97 AND '98?
"It's not even in the same area. It's not the same. It's a great race track and I would hate to see them pave on it right now. It's awfully good."
WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THE CHASE?
"The same as always pretty much. Obviously we're too far back now, but it's been a great year. I've got a great team and we're digging as hard as we can. We go out here and race for the front like we do every week and we'll see if we can come up with one."
HOW MANY POINTS DO YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO BE WITHIN TO HAVE A CHANCE GOING INTO HOMESTEAD?
"I don't know. You're reaching too deep. I'm not sure why you would even ask that question. Let's just go racing."
JUNIOR SAYS HE NEEDS TO BE WITHIN 20 AND JIMMIE SAYS WITHIN 30.
"Yeah, but 90 would work. You just have to be real lucky and nobody wants to have to be real lucky. It can work from anywhere within striking distance, but it all has to be just right for you. It all has to line up just right. Just look at Kurt Busch's win when the wheel came off, meaning he couldn't have steered it. He missed the wall by six inches and he won the championship. It was six inches or less from being fifth in the points, so anything can happen. Let's just watch and see what happens."
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE YEAR SO FAR?
"I think the fans have made it the year of my career, that along with being able to savor a great opportunity and having a shot at the championship, making the chase one more time and the time I've been able to spend with the competitors and savor all this time and all this history."
HOW MUCH FUN HAVE YOU HAD WITH THE TRUCKS?
"I've had a lot of fun in the trucks. I've had a good deal of fun in the Cup car. I've had my ups and downs and our frustrations have run as high as ever and our fun meter has been pegged at times this year, so it's all good."
DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE FORGOTTEN VICTIM OF THE ROLL BAR PADDING CAUTION?
"It's just unfortunate. You have to be just in the right place at the right time to either miss or be caught up in one. If I would have been 20 feet further forward or 20 feet further back, which is pretty incredible after 475 miles, I'd have been alright, but I wasn't so I accept it. I'm very grateful for the fans and how they've supported me this year. Their cheers the last half a dozen races have meant a lot more to me than a Cup trophy would."
ARCHIE MANNING IS ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED FORMER QUARTERBACKS AND HE SEEMS TO GET MORE POPULAR WITH THE FANS EVERY YEAR. DO YOU THINK YOU COULD HAVE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FANS AFTER YOU STOP RUNNING FOR TITLES?
"That would be incredible. I hate to see a decline. It's at an all-time high today. The cheers that I got the last half-dozen races has meant more to me than a Nextel Cup trophy would and we'll have to see what next year brings, but I think the fans appreciate the fact that no matter how many times I've got knocked down, I brush myself off and try not to complain too much and come right back at 'em. I love this sport and I'm not ready to be a spectator. I'm a big fan of this sport, but I'm not ready to be a spectator yet. I still have some good racing left in me and I want to get out there and do it. I appreciate the kind of support I've had, especially this year."
DO YOU KNOW ANYMORE ABOUT YOUR TRUCK SCHEDULE FOR NEXT YEAR?
"We're waiting on the Woods to come up with a sponsor. You know, you push too hard too soon for answers when there weren't answers, so I can't give you answers. I don't expect things not to work out. They're looking to secure a sponsorship and we're looking at Daytona to be the first one. I'm in the process of starting to assemble my Busch and Truck schedule at this time and as they come up with sponsorships, we'll see if we add more or less to the number of approximately five. It's possible to do more and I don't expect to do less than that."
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT TERRY LABONTE'S LAST RACE?
"I'll have a better perspective on that answer after Bristol because that's gonna be the first one that I sit out. I feel a lot of different emotions towards him and all that. He knows more of what he's approaching than I do because he's been on a limited schedule. I just want everybody to happy and I want Terry Labonte to be happy. I hope that he's able to do that because all of us here one day won't be able to do the thing that we most love and that's hard to come to grips with."
DID TERRY CALM THE WATERS AT HENDRICK IN YOUR OPINION AND BECOME A CATALYST FOR THEM?
"He very well could be because Terry is methodical, even-keeled and I'm sure he brought some stability to them. They were able to build strength and build momentum and really get on the right track and done a good job of staying near the top of their game, which is something no one can do in this business. Some can stay closer than others, but you can't always be at the top of your game because of the rate of competition in this sport."
WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF RUNNING A LIMITED SCHEDULE?
"The pros, obviously, is it's just a brutal schedule. I don't have to go into that and that applies to everyone, even the team members. It sometimes prevents you from preparing as thoroughly as you'd like to, but there are a lot more negatives or hardships created by that because it's hard to fund a team that races on a part-time schedule in any way, shape or form that can compete against the big ones that are rockin' and rollin' all the time. That's the real difficulty and the downside of it, trying to figure out how to be competitive with that, but we believe if you can do it with a full-time team and split the drivers up, then that's an opportunity for the best of both worlds for me. It's an opportunity for it to be at least.”
Mark Martin Post Race Notes and Quotes – O'Reilly Challenge 300
Ford Racing: News
November 4, 2006MARK MARTIN-6-Ameriquest Ford Fusion (Finished 4th)
"We were a fourth-place car, and these guys did a great job with it. We just didn't have it wired in quite good enough to run with those first three. It was a good run for us. These guys did a great job and we were a fourth-place car all day and that's where we wound up. We couldn't ask for better than that."
HOW MUCH OF A CONCERN WAS FUEL AT THE END OF THE RACE?
"I guess they miscalculated because we were super-early on pit road, way before everybody else and we still made it, so we were getting really gas mileage. So, we really pitted way too early the first time. I don't know how they miscalculated because as soon as I left they said I could go all the way."
WERE YOU IN A FUEL CONSERVATION MODE AT THE END?
"Well, we did, yeah, but we were going to run fourth no matter what, so the last 15 laps I slowed down a little bit and just brought it home."
Martin Wins Pole, Runs to Top-Five Finish in His Final Busch Race of the Season
Martin earns record extending 30th career Busch pole, runs in top five virtually entire race at Texas
Mark Martin and the #6 Ameriquest Ford Racing Team
exas Motor Speedway/November 4, 2006“We were a fourth-place car, and these guys did a great job with it.” - Mark Martin after Saturday’s O’Reilly Challenge 300 at Texas Motor Speedway
FT. WORTH, TEXAS – Mark Martin earned a record extending 30th career-Busch pole at Texas Motor Speedway and ran virtually the entire race inside the field’s top five, en route to his 104th career top-five Busch finish. Making his final Busch start of the 2006 season in the No. 6 Ameriquest Ford Fusion, Martin pitted for the third and final time of the race on lap 126 for four tires and fuel under green. Once the field cycled through its stops Martin was back in fourth, where he went on to finish the race.
"We were a fourth-place car, and these guys did a great job with it,” said Martin. “We just didn't have it wired in quite good enough to run with those first three. It was a good run for us. These guys did a great job and we were a fourth-place car all day and that's where we wound up. We couldn't ask for better than that."
Martin started the race on the pole and led the first nine laps before dropping back to third on lap 10. He remained in the race’s top four for the remainder of the race, with the exception of when the team pitted under green on lap 126. Once the stops cycled through, Martin was back in fourth place. Martin pitted early for fuel on the final stop and was able to conserve fuel for the top-five finish.
"We did conserve fuel, but we were going to run fourth no matter what,” added Martin. “So the last 15 laps, I slowed down a little bit and just brought it home."
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich., based Roush Enterprises which operates 14 motorsports teams; five in NASCAR Nextel Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, six in the Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, Todd Kluever and Danny O'Quinn, Jr., and two in the Craftsman Truck Series with Martin, David Ragan, Michel Jourdain, Jr. and Erik Darnell.
2006 Mark Martin Nextel Cup Track Notes – Sunday, November 5, 2006
Dickies 500 / Texas Motor Speedway
No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion
November 3, 2006DRIVER: Mark Martin
TEAM: No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion
OWNER: Jack Roush
CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson
THE CAR
Chassis: RK-231 - This car finished 19th in its last run at Pocono in July. RK-231 was caught up in an accident while leading this year's All-Star race. It has been one of Martin's strongest cars in recent years, and is nicknamed the "Batmobile," after running special Batman paint schemes at Michigan in '04 and '05.
MARK MARTIN - FAST FACTS - TMS - NEXTEL CUP
- Mark Martin posted a Cup win at Texas in the second race there in 1998.
- Martin has four top fives and six top 10's in 11 Cup starts at Texas.
QUOTING MARK MARTIN AND CREW CHIEF PAT TRYSON ON RACING AT TMS
Mark Martin:
"Texas is a great race track. It's the type of place that suits my driving style. I've always done pretty well on the 1.5-mile tracks and Texas has been pretty good for us in that mix. We won the second race there and we've been pretty good there ever since. We finished ninth there in the spring and we competed for the win there last year in a second-place finish.
"Our luck has really taken a turn for the worse in the last few races, but all we can do is just keep doing what we've been doing and keep moving forward. We've had really good cars and we've ran well in the Chase, it's just hard to come back from three straight weeks of that kind of luck and wrecks. Still that takes nothing away from this team and the outstanding job of Pat Tryson and the No. 6 AAA Team."
Pat Tryson:
"We really like going to Texas. Mark is always fast there and it is one of his best tracks. We led the race late there last fall and finished second to Carl (Edwards). We were top 10 in the spring and hopefully we can go there this weekend and build off of that and hopefully we can compete down the stretch for the win. Mark has done a great job driving the cars and the team had been really good in the pits the last few races. We haven't had the luck we needed, but we haven't given up just yet. We just have to keep giving Mark the cars that he needs to get the job done and we just have to keep pushing on. Our goal this week will be to go there and try to win the race."
2006 Mark Martin Busch Series Track Notes – Saturday, November 4, 2006
O'Reilly Challenge / Texas Motor Speedway
No. 6 Ameriquest Ford Fusion
November 3, 2006DRIVER: Mark Martin
TEAM: No. 6 Ameriquest Ford Fusion
OWNER: Jack Roush
CREW CHIEF: Mike Beam
THE CAR
Chassis: No. 378 - The team will run chassis No. 378 at Texas this weekend. The car finished third at Fontana and fifth at Michigan this season.
MARK MARTIN - FAST FACTS - TMS - BUSCH SERIES
- Martin has won three times in the Busch Series at Texas in only four races, including the inaugural Busch race there in 1997.
- Martin will take part in both the Busch and Cup races this weekend at Texas, marking his final Busch race of 2006.
QUOTING MARK MARTIN AND CREW CHIEF MIKE BEAM ON RACING AT TMS
Mark Martin:
"Texas has always been a really good track for us and we've won two or three races there in the Busch Series. In fact we won the first one there back in 1997 and we are looking forward to going back there this weekend and seeing what we have. Mike Beam and those guys do a great job with the Busch cars and this is the last time we'll be racing the No. 6 Ameriquest Busch car, so hopefully we'll go there and be able to compete for another win."
Mike Beam:
"This is just a great race team to work with. Mark is a great driver and we are excited about going back to Texas where he has a great record in the Busch car. We've had some good runs this year in the Busch car and hopefully we can close out our Busch season with Mark with a win at Texas."
