Mark Martin - Homestead-Miami Fast Facts
Official Team Report
MARK MARTIN FAST FACTS
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 Homestead
CONCORD, 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."
Note:
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.
MARTIN'S STATS IN THE NO. 6
SEASONS: 19
STARTS: 616
WINS: 35
POLES: 39
TOP-FIVE'S: 230
TOP-10's: 361
LAPS: 181,163
LAPS LED: 11,100
MILES: 228,456.2
TOP 10 POINT FINISHES: 16
TOP FIVE POINT FINISHES: 12
TOP 15 POINT FINISHES: 15
MARTIN MILESTONES IN THE NO. 6
Race # Date Track Start Finish
1st Feb 14, 1988 Daytona 38 41
56th Oct. 22, 1989 Rockingham(1st win) 7 1
100th June 16, 1991 Pocono 1 3
200th Sept. 18, 1994 Dover 4 19
300th Nov. 16, 1997 Atlanta 9 3
400th Nov. 12, 2000 Homestead 11 3
500th Sept. 14, 2003 New Hampshire 33 28
600th July 16, 2006 New Hampshire 13 4
617th Nov. 19, 2006 Homestead (Final Run)
MARK MARTIN CAREER MILESTONES
* First Cup Race - April 5, 1981, North Wilkesboro Speedway - Started 5, Finished 27
* First Pole - Sept. 13, 1981, Wrangler 400, Richmond - Started 1, Finished 7
* 100th Cup Start - June, 25, 1989, Miller High Life 400, Michigan - Started 4, Finished 12
* First Win - Oct. 22, 1989, AC-Delco 500, Rockingham, Started 7, Finished 1
* 200th Cup Start - Oct, 25, 1992 - AC Delco 500, Rockingham - Started 2, Finished 30
* 300th Cup Start - March 31, 1996 - Food City 500, Bristol - Started 1, Finished 3
* 400th Cup Start - May 2, 1999 - California 500, Fontana - Started 3, Finished 38
* 41st Cup Pole - May 5, 2001, Pontiac Excitement 400, Richmond, Started 1, Finished 13
* 500th Cup Start - March 24, 2002 - Food City 500, Bristol - Started 37, Finished 11
* 500th Consecutive Cup Start - Sylvania 300, New Hampshire - Started 33, Finished 28
* 600th Cup Start - Checker Auto Parts 500, Phoenix Int'l Speedway - Started 22, Finished 15
* 35th Cup Win - Oct. 9, 2005, Banquet 400, Kansas, Started 19, Finished 1
* 650th Cup Start - Coca-Cola 600, Lowe's Motor Speedway - Started 21, Finished 4
* 600th Consecutive Cup Start - July 16, 2006 at New Hampshire Int'l Speedway
No. 6 AAA Racing Team:
Name Track Duty Shop Duty
PAT TRYSON Crew Chief Crew Chief
TODD ZEIGLER Car Chief/Front Tire Changer Car Chief
MIKE JANOW Team Engineer Team Engineer
RICK MACHCINSKI Motor Man/Gas Man Engine Tuner
DAVE NICHOLS Tire Specialist/Catch Can
ANDY RUEGER Jack Man Mechanic
WILL SMITH Rear Tire Carrier Mechanic
MIKE SENYITKO Shock Specialist/Spotter Shock Specialist
SCOTT BOWEN Front Tire Carrier Purchasing
RICKY DOYLE Hauler Driver Hauler Driver
RICK TESTERMAN Hauler Driver/Pit Support Hauler Driver
BARRY BOECKENSTEDT Rear Tire Changer
TREVOR FALLS Pit Support Paint Shop
GENE HOPKINS Pit Support Suspension
DALE MERWIN Second Gas Can Parts Shop
CHUCKY ALMOND Pit Support Mechanic
JOE SMITH Pit Support Mechanic
RYAN DEXTRAZE Pit Support Mechanic
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