On the Loose Side

A NASCAR BLOG BY Kenny Bruce

Martin deserved better Phoenix finish

Apr 15
Dale Earnhardt Inc. officials, specifically those on the No. 8 team, made a major blunder when calling driver Mark Martin in for gas with just a handful of laps remaining at Phoenix.

With Martin leading the race, they elected to play it safe, and go for the probable top-five finish. Martin pitted for fuel and right-side rubber. Jimmie Johnson stayed out, as did Clint Bowyer, and  those two drivers finished 1-2, respectively.

Martin, who is splitting seat time with Aric Almirola in the team’s No. 8 Chevrolet, isn’t racing for driver points, and the team is safely inside the top 35 in owner points. Martin, 49, is racing for wins.

Team officials apparently had conflicting information regarding how much fuel Martin did or did not have. But that shouldn’t matter. Sure it was close. As it was for everyone. But Martin, who has been racing at NASCAR’s Cup level for nearly three decades, knows a thing or two about conserving gas. When it came down to crunch time, the smart thing to do would have been to let Martin make the call. Give a guy with 35 career wins and a ton of experience the chance to decide. The guys in the pits might know how much gas went in the tank on the previous stop, but they have no way of knowing how much Martin conserved while on the track.

To his credit, Martin didn’t moan and complain afterwards. He was upset, but for whatever reason he kept the disappointment to himself. (A lot of drivers – young and old – could have learned quite a lesson by just watching and listening to Martin after the race).

Throughout his career, he has given away wins and had them taken from him. It’s tough to see that happen to anyone. It’s especially disappointing, though, to see it happen to Martin.

Average Rating: 5.0

Comments

7 responses to "Martin deserved better Phoenix finish"
  1. 1
    Worm Dirt said:
    Apr 16, 2008 at 11:41 AM

    I don't understand.... Wasn't Martin the one driving the car? If he is so sure that he had enough gas, then he should have manned-up and stayed on the track!! I know the media wants to gush about Martin's nobility and remind us how he always does the "right" thing and how he takes the "high road", blah blah blah. But Martin is a politician.... He stood in the pits after the race and threw his team under the bus for the decision to come in for gas. BUT... because he did it with a smile and an even-tempered voice, somehow that makes it alright. Just like i guess its alright for him to punt someone out of the way to win a race as long as he apologizes for it in victory lane. Whatever. Wake up!

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  2. 2
    Timothy Schultze said:
    Apr 17, 2008 at 8:11 AM

    Well said mark gets to the point of whining and sniveling i like the guy but give me a break and for all the martin protectors out there that's MY opinion so get over it.

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  3. 3
    Rose Sweeney said:
    Apr 17, 2008 at 8:47 AM

    As a long time Nascar fan I do respect Mark for his past accomplishments but ENOUGH ALREADY. Mark should decide to race in all the races or find something else to do & stop cherry picking which races he wants to run. Mark make up your mind-in or out.

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  4. 4
    said:
    Apr 17, 2008 at 10:12 PM

    A Martin fan #1 since Harry Gant retired, I gotta concede that I've had some thoughts about the seat time he's taking from Almirola now. As for Phoenix, I'd love to know what WOULD have resulted if he'd stayed out instead of pitting. At this point in his career he shoulda done it, sez I.

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  5. 5
    Valeri Leist said:
    Apr 19, 2008 at 10:39 AM

    I am sick to death of hearing about poor Mark Martin. As someone else said...ENOUGH ALREADY!!!! He made specific choices in his career that led him to his situation now. He was the one in the press praising DEI and the equipment and the staff and Teresa Earnhardt. He made his bed by staying at DEI and now he is going to have to muck through ALL THE MUD that Dale Jr. had to muck through!!! I'm sure Mark will find out that it 'ain't a bed of roses!'

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  6. 6
    Helena Holcomb said:
    Apr 22, 2008 at 11:07 AM

    I am the first person to get sick from time to time of the Mark Martin mantra, but I was a PIR and the 8 team should have stayed out, he had nothing to lose, they gave away his opportunity for the win, who cares if he would have finished 20th if they ran out. You don't get the opportunity to win and he was running so strong all weekend. If I were Mark I would have stayed out and if he ran out of gas, I would have respected the fact that they threw caution to the wind and went for the win. That's what racing is all about! They gave it away for sure, if your going to lose go down taking every opportunity in front of you. His team should have at least given him the benefit of the doubt and gone for it. There was really nothing to lose by staying out.

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  7. 7
    g man said:
    May 9, 2008 at 7:53 PM

    what a bunch of crybaby junior fans crying cause they're scared the old man is gonna win before their silverspoon-fed golden boy gets one at hendricks. get over it...tony jr. is still making the same lame calls from the pit box that he made with dei.

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