| Mark Martin is one of NASCAR's greatest drivers. He | | | | year racing, rather than his 35th. |
| is still racing full circuit on the Sprint Cup at age 50. He | | | | Mark start the chase for the NASCAR circuit at 17 |
| is a wiry 5-foot 6-inch, 135 pounds and extremely fit. | | | | when he made up his mind that he wanted to drive for |
| He works out at a gym several times a week and | | | | NASCAR. It wasn't until 1981, when he drove the |
| had the body of a 35 year old. His long time friends | | | | Winston Cup circuit, driving part-tme as a rookie. He did |
| admire his humble demeanor and rock-solid work ethic. | | | | quite well for a rookie but had a personally |
| He drrove his first fast car at age 15 and knew from | | | | disappointally year in 1882. At the end of that season, |
| that moment on that racing was his future. He started | | | | he was fired and he hit a crossroads. |
| driving on dirt tracks, winning the 1974 Arkansas State | | | | He took a three year break, not sure if he would ever |
| Championship in Benton, Arkansas. His father owned a | | | | return to NASCAR. He returned to ASA racing and |
| trucking company and built Mark's first dirt track car. | | | | won his fourth title. In 1987, his luck turned when he |
| There were four or five dirt tracks within a 100 mile | | | | was asked to join the Rousch team. The Martin |
| radius of Batesville, where he and the other drivers in | | | | Rousch team was together for the next two decades |
| the area could go and get experience on several | | | | and what a time it was. A great union of two of the all |
| types of tracks. | | | | time greats in the NASCAR era, with Mark winning 35 |
| His career has been varied and exciting; from the 1974 | | | | Winston Cup Victories, a record 48 wins on the Busch |
| State Championship and the three consecutive | | | | Nationwide Series and 4 runner-up Cup titles. |
| championships between 1978 and 1980, to the trophies | | | | This is a NASCAR driver that is Great with a capital |
| of NASCAR Winston/Sprint Cup, Busch/Nationwide | | | | G, a man who is respected and admired by his peers |
| Circuit and the Craftsman Truck Series. He is driving | | | | in the NASCAR Circuit and out. A man of infinite calm |
| for the team of dreams this year and next and is so | | | | and determination, a winner in all walks of life. |
| excited to be there, you would think it was his first | | | | |