Martin tested at Kentucky but did not talk

I must apologize for all you fans of Mark Martin that looked forward to hearing what the 52-year-old Batesville, Ark., native had to say about running laps around Kentucky Speedway during Wednesday’s Goodyear tire test. I’m as disappointed as you are.

Every time I’ve heard Mark Martin speak he has dropped a nugget of wisdom that has made me re-consider some portion of my life. I was robbed of that chance on Wednesday afternoon.

I’m not here to spread the blame, but according to a Kentucky Speedway official, Goodyear cut the amount of time drivers had for a lunch break down to half an hour from the originally scheduled hour. In the originally scheduled hour Mark, along with Joey Logano and Greg Biffle, were all scheduled to meet with the media for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Biffle and Logano were able to talk, but Martin couldn’t. And while I loved Biffle and Logano’s takes on the speedway in Sparta, everyone and anyone who has read the blog knows I was most looking forward to seeing the man I’ve called my childhood idol and role model, speak about Kentucky.

Logano talks about Kentucky, a place he's never "lost" at. "I'm undefeated here," he said on Wednesday

Goodyear already made me sit through a race where it was too unsafe to run more than ten laps on the tires they brought to the racetrack, and now they robbed me of a chance to ask Mark Martin some questions about Kentucky Speedway.

Am I miffed? Only a little.

However, I was lucky that I had the opportunity to even see the tire test. Goodyear is very secretive with the tests and they don’t normally allow any media coverage of the tests. With this being the first-ever Cup race in Kentucky, Goodyear officials allowed the drivers to meet with the media in the press conference room of the media center and also allowed photographers (still and video guys) to take photos and video of the test from the grandstands.

The bight green GoDaddy.com car zips around Kentucky Speedway on Wednesday

Since Kentucky’s grandstands are under construction, no fans were allowed in the facility, but fans were able to gather outside of turn three for a small glimpse of the test.

When we were working on pieces for the news I was lucky enough to get a photo of Mark Martin driving through turn three at Kentucky

So while I didn’t get to hear from Mark Martin, I was lucky enough to hear Joey Logano say he can’t dance, and Greg Biffle banter back and forth with Marcus Smith about that very big TV that was just installed at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It was entertaining, no doubt.

Marcus Smith (left) and Greg Biffle chat about Kentucky Speedway. Smith is the son of Bruton Smith, owner of Kentucky Speedway

It just wasn’t Mark Martin.

I think I’ll get over it though. In a few weeks no one will be able to stop me from listening to Mark Martin speak about his No. 5 Quaker State Chevy. And that will make me happy once again.