Mark Martin to make 800th career Sprint Cup start at Martinsville

When Mark Martin hunkers down into his No. 5 Quaker State Chevy on Sunday, he’ll do so for the 800th time in his Sprint Cup career. For fans of the 52-year-old driver, this start will be like any other, but it’s still an opportunity to see the man we idolize do what he loves to do.

How often do you get to do that?

NASCAR fans are a special breed or folks. Often we’re classified as “hillbillies,” “rednecks” and just plain stupid. While I enjoy the stereotypical NASCAR fan banter, what those blinded by their own myopic views fail to see is the passion and dedication that NASCAR fans have for the sport.

And few NASCAR fans are more passionate about their driver than the fans of Mark Martin, who affectionately refer to themselves as “Markaholics.”

So, on Sunday, as NASCAR celebrates another race at its oldest track (I know Indianapolis Motor Speedway is older, but NASCAR has been at Martinsville for a lot longer) we, the Markaholics, celebrate another start for our hero, our role model, our favorite driver.

I count meeting Mark Martin as one of the coolest things I’ve ever gotten to do in my life. Someone once asked me, “Why do you enjoy going to Indianapolis and watching all these cars go in circles?” The answer was easy: “Have you ever met your hero and role model that you idolized when you were growing up?”

If you have, then it’s easy to understand why I feel the way I do about Mark Martin and meeting him. If you’ve never had the opportunity to meet the man or woman who so deeply impacted your life, you may not understand my position.

And I’ve gotten to do it more than once. I consider myself very lucky.

Mark Martin making start No. 800 at Martinsville seems very poetic. A win at the half-mile track would be even better. The last time Martin won at Martinsville was in April of 2000.

Last year in October, Mark finished second to Denny Hamlin at the track nicknamed the “paperclip.” If he wins this weekend I can point you toward a group of fans who will be more than excited that their favorite driver finally got back to victory lane.

It’s a place he’s visited 40 times in 799 races. I’d have no problem with 41 in 800 races.

Record books are being re-written like crazy this weekend. Greg Biffle and Jamie McMurray will make their 300th start in the Cup Series this weekend as well. It should be an entertaining race to watch.

I’ll be watching, the Markaholics will be watching, and I’d suggest you tune in. Martinsville is a fun race to watch, especially for fans of Mark Martin. And congrats to our man on making start No. 800. It’s truly an awesome feeling knowing he’s doing what he loves on a weekly basis, and that it is fun for him.

How many of us get to say the same thing about ourselves?