On the Loose Side
A NASCAR BLOG BY Kenny Bruce
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Is Martin NASCAR's best all-around racer?
May
6
Talent is more than just mashing the gas pedal. Success can’t be measured by wins alone.
And there’s no better proof of that than Mark Martin.
Overlooked amid all the bedlam that was the end of Saturday night’s Crown Royal 400 at Richmond was yet another strong finish by the veteran racer.
The old guy. The part-timer. Perhaps the best all-around driver NASCAR’s Cup Series has to offer. Hands down the most humble.
Martin finished third at Richmond, and if I were an official at Dale Earnhardt Inc., I’d be going to whatever lengths were necessary to keep the 49-year-old behind the wheel as much as possible this year.
His most recent top-five finish wasn’t an anomaly. He finished fifth earlier this year at Phoenix – a race he might have won if not for stopping for gas in the late going – and eighth a week earlier at Texas. The No. 8 Chevrolet was 10th at Las Vegas.
Martin, who has started seven of this year’s races, has finished worse than 16th only twice – at Daytona and Atlanta. At this rate, he could wind up in the winners circle before Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., two drivers who we’re told should be stacking up wins like cords of wood any day now.
But best of all is that Martin, who has every reason to brag about his accomplishments this season, as well as throughout his career, would be the last person to tell you how good he truly is.
He doesn’t brag, and he doesn’t place blame.
Tires a problem? Chances are Martin will just shrug his shoulders and say his team deserves his best effort.
That new car a handful on the track? Martin will probably say his car is the best he’s ever driven.
A bad call by NASCAR, a problem with lapped traffic, a bad pit stop?
Martin knows he gave it everything he had.
You can’t ask for more than that from a driver. And with Martin, you don’t have to.
And there’s no better proof of that than Mark Martin.
Overlooked amid all the bedlam that was the end of Saturday night’s Crown Royal 400 at Richmond was yet another strong finish by the veteran racer.
The old guy. The part-timer. Perhaps the best all-around driver NASCAR’s Cup Series has to offer. Hands down the most humble.
Martin finished third at Richmond, and if I were an official at Dale Earnhardt Inc., I’d be going to whatever lengths were necessary to keep the 49-year-old behind the wheel as much as possible this year.
His most recent top-five finish wasn’t an anomaly. He finished fifth earlier this year at Phoenix – a race he might have won if not for stopping for gas in the late going – and eighth a week earlier at Texas. The No. 8 Chevrolet was 10th at Las Vegas.
Martin, who has started seven of this year’s races, has finished worse than 16th only twice – at Daytona and Atlanta. At this rate, he could wind up in the winners circle before Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., two drivers who we’re told should be stacking up wins like cords of wood any day now.
But best of all is that Martin, who has every reason to brag about his accomplishments this season, as well as throughout his career, would be the last person to tell you how good he truly is.
He doesn’t brag, and he doesn’t place blame.
Tires a problem? Chances are Martin will just shrug his shoulders and say his team deserves his best effort.
That new car a handful on the track? Martin will probably say his car is the best he’s ever driven.
A bad call by NASCAR, a problem with lapped traffic, a bad pit stop?
Martin knows he gave it everything he had.
You can’t ask for more than that from a driver. And with Martin, you don’t have to.
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Comments
4 responses to "Is Martin NASCAR's best all-around racer? "
david larison said:
May 8, 2008 at 8:17 AMThe best driver never to win a championship. But still a champion.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportrae said:
May 8, 2008 at 1:08 PMHow can we not like/love Mark Martin? He is a true gentleman. I enjoy watching him race. I have a few favorite drivers but if any one of them is not close to winning and Mark is up near the front he's the one I'm cheering on to victory. I hope he continues to race in NASCAR. Even if he cuts back to one race a year I'll still be watching and cheering him on. We love you Mark!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWorm Dirt said:
May 9, 2008 at 11:54 PMI saw Mark Martin in the sportng goods section of a Witchita K-Mart once.... I had many questions I needed answered.....but......alas.... there were blatant signs of tornadic activity...i'm talkin level 5's........and so i left him be.....realizing that soon he would be in formation with the rest of the winged monkey-army defending OZ. I did get a cherry slurpee and some abnormally yellow popcorn though.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportrandy hayes said:
Jun 17, 2008 at 3:29 AMmaybe but wins are still the measuring stick. Don't forget Teresa's stupid self still lurks around every corner at DEI.
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