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DAYTONA BEACH, Florida.
Jeff Gordon grabbed the lead from Dale Earnhardt Jr., then held off Kurt Busch and Earnhardt in extra laps to win his third Daytona 500 on Sunday. |
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Tickets - Races - Concerts |
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| Summer 2005 Concerts: |
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Order Tickets Online or
Call
1-888-638-1800 |
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Mark Martin Driver Profile
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 Born: January 9,1959, in Batesville, Ark.
Lives in: Daytona Beach, Fla.
Height, weight: 5-6,135
Car: No. 6 Ford
Car owner: Jack Roush
Crew chief: Pat Tryson
Engine builder: Mike Kasch
First NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race:
April 5,1981, at North Wilkesboro; started
5th, finished 27th
Career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup wins: 34
2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup wins: 1
First NASCAR NEXTEL Cup win: October 22,
1989, at Rockingham; started 7th Career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup poles: 41 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup poles: 0 Last NASCAR NEXTEL Cup pole: May 4, 2001,
at Richmond; finished 13th Best points finish: 2nd (1990,1994,1998, 2002)
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WHERE HE'S FAST: After two decades on the tour, Martin is fast everywhere. His 34 wins have come on a variety of tracks, from the shortest (Martinsville 1991, 2000) to the longest (Talladega 1995,1997) and on both road courses. In 2004, he won his fourth race at Dover in June and finished second in the fall. Martin also tamed Darlington with an average finish of 4.5. He finished third at Watkins Glen and scored a top 10 at Infineon.
WHERE HE'S SLOW: Martin has won at three of the six 1.5-milers but not at the recent additions-Homestead-Miami, Kansas and Chicagoland-where his average finish was 18th in 2004. Although Martin had an average finish of sixth at Richmond, he failed to post top 10s at Bristol, Martinsville, New Hampshire, Phoenix and Indianapolis.
STRENGTHS: Despite Martin's hard-charging style on the track, no one conserves equipment as well as he does. Martin is well conditioned and almost always is there at the end. Because Martin races his fellow competitors cleanly, it would be hard to find a driver who is as well respected on and off the track.
WEAKNESSES: Although Martin has been a solid qualifier in the past, he started among the first five rows just 10 times in 2004 and failed to win a pole for a third-straight season. He led laps in one-third of the races, including half of the events in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, but only 465 laps all season.
IN THE PITS: The relationship between crew chief Pat Tryson and Martin blossomed last year, and the respect between chief and driver is unmatched on pit row. That trust is communicated between the two throughout races and helps in strategy and when split-second calls must be made. Martin's pit crew matches his enthusiasm and never-give-up attitude. The harder Martin drives, the harder the No. 6 crew works.
BOTTOM LINE: Martin admits that making the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup was the hardest challenge of his career. Now for another challenge: This season will be Martin's last in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and his final opportunity to win a championship. He has finished second four times and third four times. Last year, Martin's cars were much better than they were in 2003, but often the results didn't show it because the new Ford engine was being developed during the season. Going into 2005, the engines shouldn't be an issue. Expect Martin to driver harder than ever. He loves his crew chief and his team, and the equipment should be the best overall that he has had in years. He will be determined to make the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, and a championship isn't out of the question. If he doesn't win it, it won't be for lack of effort. |
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Crew chief Pat Tryson Team: Roush Racing.
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