Every man, woman, child and otherwise expert will pick Dale Earnhardt Jr to snap a 100-race winless streak this weekend at Talladega, and I can’t blame them. Heck, I’ll have Jr. on my fantasy racing team this weekend, because it’s smart to pick him at restrictor plate tracks.
That being said, this may be the biggest pressure cooker Earnhardt Jr. has been under since he started at Hendrick Motorsports in 2008 (OK, maybe minus the Nationwide race in Daytona last year where he was running the No. 3 car). He’s practically supposed to win this weekend. If he doesn’t, then everyone, and I mean (mostly) everyone will be disappointed.
Earnhardt Jr. has one win in 115 races at Hendrick Motorsports. His win in June of 2008 at Michigan snapped a 76-race winless streak. So, if my math is correct, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won one race in his last 191 attempts. (I’m not a math expert, so someone double check me there)
Now, that’s nothing, as Stephen Hawkins of the AP pointed out after last week’s race.
He noted that a few drivers have longer “non-winning” streaks than Earnhardt, including 2000 Winston Cup champ Bobby Labonte.
“Bobby Labonte has started 259 races since his last victory in 2003, while Robby Gordon has made 255 starts since also winning that year,” he wrote. “Dave Blaney has never won in 369 races since his 1992 Cup debut.”
My opinion: put them in Hendrick equipment over 115 races and see how many they win. Chances are they’ll put a ‘W’ or two on the board.
Labonte’s last victory in 2003 came in the No. 18 car for Joe Gibbs Racing, and he drove that car for two more seasons before heading to what was then called Petty Enterprises in 2006. So only he really had a car comparable to what Earnhardt has sat in since the 2008 season.
Will the “Jr. Nation” be celebrating a victory for the first time since 2008 on Sunday night? Chances look good, but then again, we are talking about Talladega, the same place that two season ago put Brad Keselowski in victory lane in a part-time ride.
Anything can happen in Alabama. While it’s a safe bet to go with Jr. this weekend, I wouldn’t bet the mortgage on him. After all, he’s only one for his last 115.
Showing posts with label Rick Hendrick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rick Hendrick. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Mark Martin’s bad weekend ends in wreck
“Impatience is a real hard thing to deal with and to work with,” Mark Martin said in October of 2007. “Impatience is waste of time. It’s a diversion. If you're impatient, you're worrying about things you can't control.”
He was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time on Saturday night, and the bashed in hood of the GoDaddy.com car signaled the early end to an otherwise forgettable evening in Texas for Mark Martin. Up to this point in the year, Martin and crew chief Lance McGrew had fought through little scrapes and minor damage to compile finishes no better than 10th but no worse than 20th.
On Saturday though, it sounded like Martin and McGrew couldn’t agree on what was best to help the car out, and they fell behind quickly. However, as I’ve noted numerous times in the past few weeks, not all is lost for fans of the No. 5 Chevy. Jeff Gordon didn’t do too well either, finishing 23rd on the evening.
When Rick Hendrick decided to make the monster move after the Homestead race last season, the main reasoning behind it was to help all four teams be more competitive. In 2009 Hendrick owned the three cars that finished 1-2-3 in the points standings. In 2010 that was far from the case.
The driver that was going to benefit the most from the move was Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was moving from his shop with Mark Martin across the campus of HMS to the shop that houses now five-time champion Jimmie Johnson. In turn, Jeff Gordon moved over to Mark Martin’s shop.
The results of that switch were very evident this weekend when the Nos. 48 and 88 were in the top ten while the Nos. 5 and 24 hung out in between 18th and 25th place. At some point someone with more credibility and access to these problems will raise a question on whether or not the move helped all four Hendrick teams.
As a fan I say heck no, and as an impartial observer, I say there’s still a lot of time for ground to be made up.
Last season, Jenna Fryer, of the Associated Press, noted that Alan Gustafson—who was then Mark Martin’s crew chief—was the most loyal Hendrick worker. He gave up some of his team that pushed Martin to the runner-up spot in points in 2009, to benefit the entire 5/88 shop in 2010.
Earnhardt Jr. told Fryer one year ago that he felt it helped both teams. “I think it helped us,” he said. “I know Mark is struggling compared to last year. But it helped us as a team. (Engineer) Chris Heroy come over was a big deal for me and Lance both. I think he’s enjoyed being part of our group.”
Gustafson agreed. In the same article from last year he said, “If I was somebody who was not involved in this everyday, that is what I would say because that is the most obvious and makes the most sense. I think it’s wrong. I do think our shop has made a net gain, even though we haven’t won any races. The 88 is significantly better than what they were. So I think the team strength is a lot better.”
I’d be interested to see where this goes if Martin and Gordon are still sitting outside the top 12 in points when we head into June or July. We know Alan Gustafson, Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin probably won’t trash the boss that has put them in their current predicament, but as fans looking from the outside in, we all sit back and wonder if the move has paid off so far.
In my opinion it hasn’t, but I’m willing to be patient. Because impatience is something that Mark Martin cannot tolerate.
He was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time on Saturday night, and the bashed in hood of the GoDaddy.com car signaled the early end to an otherwise forgettable evening in Texas for Mark Martin. Up to this point in the year, Martin and crew chief Lance McGrew had fought through little scrapes and minor damage to compile finishes no better than 10th but no worse than 20th.
On Saturday though, it sounded like Martin and McGrew couldn’t agree on what was best to help the car out, and they fell behind quickly. However, as I’ve noted numerous times in the past few weeks, not all is lost for fans of the No. 5 Chevy. Jeff Gordon didn’t do too well either, finishing 23rd on the evening.
When Rick Hendrick decided to make the monster move after the Homestead race last season, the main reasoning behind it was to help all four teams be more competitive. In 2009 Hendrick owned the three cars that finished 1-2-3 in the points standings. In 2010 that was far from the case.
The driver that was going to benefit the most from the move was Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was moving from his shop with Mark Martin across the campus of HMS to the shop that houses now five-time champion Jimmie Johnson. In turn, Jeff Gordon moved over to Mark Martin’s shop.
The results of that switch were very evident this weekend when the Nos. 48 and 88 were in the top ten while the Nos. 5 and 24 hung out in between 18th and 25th place. At some point someone with more credibility and access to these problems will raise a question on whether or not the move helped all four Hendrick teams.
As a fan I say heck no, and as an impartial observer, I say there’s still a lot of time for ground to be made up.
Last season, Jenna Fryer, of the Associated Press, noted that Alan Gustafson—who was then Mark Martin’s crew chief—was the most loyal Hendrick worker. He gave up some of his team that pushed Martin to the runner-up spot in points in 2009, to benefit the entire 5/88 shop in 2010.
Earnhardt Jr. told Fryer one year ago that he felt it helped both teams. “I think it helped us,” he said. “I know Mark is struggling compared to last year. But it helped us as a team. (Engineer) Chris Heroy come over was a big deal for me and Lance both. I think he’s enjoyed being part of our group.”
Gustafson agreed. In the same article from last year he said, “If I was somebody who was not involved in this everyday, that is what I would say because that is the most obvious and makes the most sense. I think it’s wrong. I do think our shop has made a net gain, even though we haven’t won any races. The 88 is significantly better than what they were. So I think the team strength is a lot better.”
I’d be interested to see where this goes if Martin and Gordon are still sitting outside the top 12 in points when we head into June or July. We know Alan Gustafson, Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin probably won’t trash the boss that has put them in their current predicament, but as fans looking from the outside in, we all sit back and wonder if the move has paid off so far.
In my opinion it hasn’t, but I’m willing to be patient. Because impatience is something that Mark Martin cannot tolerate.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Martin’s 2011 Goal: “Have fun and get it in done”
Mark Martin’s plan in his final year at Hendrick Motorsports is quite simple.
“My goal in 2011 is to have fun and get the job done,” Martin said last Thursday on NASCAR.com media day. “I’m going to have fun doing it. I’m determined to and so I look forward to it. It’s a great challenge.”
Martin, who came to Hendrick in 2009, has a new crew chief this year in Lance McGrew. Martin is excited for the challenge of working with a new crew chief. But, he’s worked with McGrew before, and it turned out nicely.
“Lance crew chiefed one race for me in 2007—a Nationwide race. I went in an hour early, sat in the trailer, we talked about dirt track racing, got to know each other. We went out there and won the race,” Martin said.
McGrew, who has been working with Dale Earnhardt Jr. the past season and a half, was moved to the No. 5 team as a part of the offseason’s big crew chief swap at HMS. McGrew moved to the No. 5 team with Martin. Martin’s former crew chief Alan Gustafson was paired with four-time Cup champ Jeff Gordon, and Gordon’s former crew chief Steve Letarte was paired with Earnhardt Jr.
Rick Hendrick’s goal for the swap was to make his whole organization better. Sure Jimmie Johnson’s fifth consecutive Sprint Cup title was great, but Gordon and Martin had trouble replicating their 2009 season, where Hendrick Motorsports finished 1-2-3 in the final point standings.
“In my opinion working with the same group all the time is overrated. Because you get comfortable,” the 52-year-old Martin said. “I’m on my toes, Lance is on his toes. We’ve never worked harder than we will right now for this first few weeks.
“We want this bad and one of my goals for 2011 is to help Lance get the success that he’s capable of, and this team is capable of. Same as it was when I went to the No. 5. All I wanted was for Alan [Gustafson] to get the recognition that I thought he deserved.”
Gustafson and Martin’s first season in 2009 was a career year for Martin. At 50 years old no one expected Martin to win five races, and lead the point standings as late as the Kansas race.
In 2010, Martin didn’t win one time. He’s not going to predict what his chances are to win in 2011, but knows the formula for his team’s success this season.
“I don’t put success on numbers,” he said. “I can’t say how many wins and top 5s and making the Chase and all that stuff is any particular goal for 2011. Man, let’s just go out there and reach our potential and if we do that, then we will be successful.”
No one knows how many races Martin and McGrew can win in their only season together. Martin has remained loyal to owner Rick Hendrick, and wants to do nothing more than to put another trophy on his owner’s mantle.
Martin has 40 career Cup victories, and 49 career poles. He wants to add to that this season, and knows that his team has the passion and energy to put the No. 5 car in victory lane. He can feel it.
“That race team is so excited. I feel the same energy that I felt at the 5 car when I went there in 2009,” he said. “They’re so excited and it’s so much fun to go to the racetrack and go to work with a race team that is excited. So, we just have to go out and do it.”
“My goal in 2011 is to have fun and get the job done,” Martin said last Thursday on NASCAR.com media day. “I’m going to have fun doing it. I’m determined to and so I look forward to it. It’s a great challenge.”
Martin, who came to Hendrick in 2009, has a new crew chief this year in Lance McGrew. Martin is excited for the challenge of working with a new crew chief. But, he’s worked with McGrew before, and it turned out nicely.
“Lance crew chiefed one race for me in 2007—a Nationwide race. I went in an hour early, sat in the trailer, we talked about dirt track racing, got to know each other. We went out there and won the race,” Martin said.
McGrew, who has been working with Dale Earnhardt Jr. the past season and a half, was moved to the No. 5 team as a part of the offseason’s big crew chief swap at HMS. McGrew moved to the No. 5 team with Martin. Martin’s former crew chief Alan Gustafson was paired with four-time Cup champ Jeff Gordon, and Gordon’s former crew chief Steve Letarte was paired with Earnhardt Jr.
Rick Hendrick’s goal for the swap was to make his whole organization better. Sure Jimmie Johnson’s fifth consecutive Sprint Cup title was great, but Gordon and Martin had trouble replicating their 2009 season, where Hendrick Motorsports finished 1-2-3 in the final point standings.
“In my opinion working with the same group all the time is overrated. Because you get comfortable,” the 52-year-old Martin said. “I’m on my toes, Lance is on his toes. We’ve never worked harder than we will right now for this first few weeks.
“We want this bad and one of my goals for 2011 is to help Lance get the success that he’s capable of, and this team is capable of. Same as it was when I went to the No. 5. All I wanted was for Alan [Gustafson] to get the recognition that I thought he deserved.”
Gustafson and Martin’s first season in 2009 was a career year for Martin. At 50 years old no one expected Martin to win five races, and lead the point standings as late as the Kansas race.
In 2010, Martin didn’t win one time. He’s not going to predict what his chances are to win in 2011, but knows the formula for his team’s success this season.
“I don’t put success on numbers,” he said. “I can’t say how many wins and top 5s and making the Chase and all that stuff is any particular goal for 2011. Man, let’s just go out there and reach our potential and if we do that, then we will be successful.”
No one knows how many races Martin and McGrew can win in their only season together. Martin has remained loyal to owner Rick Hendrick, and wants to do nothing more than to put another trophy on his owner’s mantle.
Martin has 40 career Cup victories, and 49 career poles. He wants to add to that this season, and knows that his team has the passion and energy to put the No. 5 car in victory lane. He can feel it.
“That race team is so excited. I feel the same energy that I felt at the 5 car when I went there in 2009,” he said. “They’re so excited and it’s so much fun to go to the racetrack and go to work with a race team that is excited. So, we just have to go out and do it.”
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Hendrick Motorsports swap pairs 3 drivers with new crew chiefs for ’11
Rick Hendrick must love that old ABC show “Wife Swap,” because he’s now making his team into “Crew Chief Swap” central. On Tuesday, the so-called “superteam” of NASCAR announced new driver-crew chief pairings for the upcoming season, just two days after Jimmie Johnson won his fifth straight title driving for Hendrick.
“I think that after the championship we decided that these moves would make all four teams better,” NASCAR’s most-recognized team-owner said. “The excitement inside the organization yesterday afternoon and last night, I think everybody is pumped, excited, and I think we have a kind of new energy level to attack and get ready to go into 2011.”
The most dramatic move Hendrick says he’s ever made involves swapping three crew chiefs and moving two drivers to new shops. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will now be paired up with crew chief Steve Latarte and Jr.’s No. 88 cars will be prepped with Johnson’s in the new 48/88 shop. Jeff Gordon now gets to work with Alan Gustafson, former crew chief for Mark Martin, and Martin will get to work with crew chief Lance McGrew, who formerly was Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief. Also, Martin and Gordon will be paired in the new 5/24 shop at Hendrick.
“The only things we changed were the seat, the drivers, the sponsors and the numbers,” he said.
Hendrick started putting the wheels in motion after the Texas race three weekends ago. He asked everyone in his two shops (at the time the 5 and 88 cars and 24 and 48 cars were paired together) to write brief reports on how they feel the overall team could get better. And this was his plan.
Now, I know at first fans of each driver seemed to be in an uproar, but I feel this move will help everyone at Hendrick. Fans of Mark Martin were especially angry that their driver would be losing his crew chief of the past two years, Alan Gustafson, but with the new pairing of Gordon and Martin, Gustafson will still be in the same shop as Martin. So, not a big loss for the 51, soon to be 52-year-old.
Martin had a lackluster year this past season, but ended strong with Gustafson. He now gets McGrew, who had trouble clicking with Earnhardt Jr. in their year-and-a-half partnership. Earnhardt Jr.’s move to the No. 48 shop will pair him with Letarte, who couldn’t exactly get clicking with Gordon, and with the help of five-time champ crew chief Chad Knaus, Earnhardt may finally get rolling again.
There are about 10 weeks before the cars hit the track in Daytona, but I’m fired up to see how this will work out. Although I’m bummed myself that Martin and Gustafson have been split, I’m excited to see what the new crew chief/driver pairings will do for the so-called “superteam”.
As for speculation about 2012, well, just don’t ask Mark Martin ahead of time. I don’t want another Indianapolis to occur again (http://www.fox19.com/Global/story.asp?S=12861787).
However, Hendrick seemed to be optimistic that he wasn’t putting Martin in a lame-duck situation, going so far as to say, “You gotta look at the future, and you gotta know that Mark's got one more year, but my commitment to Mark and my sponsors and everybody else, we're not going to have a lame duck situation. We're going to go for wins and championships, and Mark can do that.”
But, is it believable? You tell me.
This certainly sounds believable: “Mark's got one more year in our organization, and we have to look down the road. I have made a commitment to Mark Martin, and I think when you talk to him, he will tell you that the makeup of what he is going to have next year is mostly what he had in '09 -- a lot of it. We are going to do whatever it takes with people, with equipment, whatever it takes for Mark Martin to win races and have the opportunity to go for the championship again…. Mark's not getting the short end of the stick. He is going to get all the stick he wants, and that comes from me.”
So, the onus is now on the three new pairings, and Rick Hendrick. Will HMS get back to championship form on all four teams? Will Dale Jr. finally get back to his prime form? Will Mark Martin’s finals season at Hendrick Motorsports be like his first (2009)? Will it finally be the year someone not named Jimmie Johnson wins a title? Will Jeff Gordon finally get his fifth Cup?
I think I’ll have some more to say on those questions as the off season rolls along.
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Join me tomorrow for some comments and photos about the UC/UConn game and what song should be playing on the speakers in the Lindner Center (the UC athletics building) today? I’d tell you, ‘if only in my dreams.’ Have a good Sunday.
“I think that after the championship we decided that these moves would make all four teams better,” NASCAR’s most-recognized team-owner said. “The excitement inside the organization yesterday afternoon and last night, I think everybody is pumped, excited, and I think we have a kind of new energy level to attack and get ready to go into 2011.”
The most dramatic move Hendrick says he’s ever made involves swapping three crew chiefs and moving two drivers to new shops. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will now be paired up with crew chief Steve Latarte and Jr.’s No. 88 cars will be prepped with Johnson’s in the new 48/88 shop. Jeff Gordon now gets to work with Alan Gustafson, former crew chief for Mark Martin, and Martin will get to work with crew chief Lance McGrew, who formerly was Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief. Also, Martin and Gordon will be paired in the new 5/24 shop at Hendrick.
“The only things we changed were the seat, the drivers, the sponsors and the numbers,” he said.
Hendrick started putting the wheels in motion after the Texas race three weekends ago. He asked everyone in his two shops (at the time the 5 and 88 cars and 24 and 48 cars were paired together) to write brief reports on how they feel the overall team could get better. And this was his plan.
Now, I know at first fans of each driver seemed to be in an uproar, but I feel this move will help everyone at Hendrick. Fans of Mark Martin were especially angry that their driver would be losing his crew chief of the past two years, Alan Gustafson, but with the new pairing of Gordon and Martin, Gustafson will still be in the same shop as Martin. So, not a big loss for the 51, soon to be 52-year-old.
Martin had a lackluster year this past season, but ended strong with Gustafson. He now gets McGrew, who had trouble clicking with Earnhardt Jr. in their year-and-a-half partnership. Earnhardt Jr.’s move to the No. 48 shop will pair him with Letarte, who couldn’t exactly get clicking with Gordon, and with the help of five-time champ crew chief Chad Knaus, Earnhardt may finally get rolling again.
There are about 10 weeks before the cars hit the track in Daytona, but I’m fired up to see how this will work out. Although I’m bummed myself that Martin and Gustafson have been split, I’m excited to see what the new crew chief/driver pairings will do for the so-called “superteam”.
As for speculation about 2012, well, just don’t ask Mark Martin ahead of time. I don’t want another Indianapolis to occur again (http://www.fox19.com/Global/story.asp?S=12861787).
However, Hendrick seemed to be optimistic that he wasn’t putting Martin in a lame-duck situation, going so far as to say, “You gotta look at the future, and you gotta know that Mark's got one more year, but my commitment to Mark and my sponsors and everybody else, we're not going to have a lame duck situation. We're going to go for wins and championships, and Mark can do that.”
But, is it believable? You tell me.
This certainly sounds believable: “Mark's got one more year in our organization, and we have to look down the road. I have made a commitment to Mark Martin, and I think when you talk to him, he will tell you that the makeup of what he is going to have next year is mostly what he had in '09 -- a lot of it. We are going to do whatever it takes with people, with equipment, whatever it takes for Mark Martin to win races and have the opportunity to go for the championship again…. Mark's not getting the short end of the stick. He is going to get all the stick he wants, and that comes from me.”
So, the onus is now on the three new pairings, and Rick Hendrick. Will HMS get back to championship form on all four teams? Will Dale Jr. finally get back to his prime form? Will Mark Martin’s finals season at Hendrick Motorsports be like his first (2009)? Will it finally be the year someone not named Jimmie Johnson wins a title? Will Jeff Gordon finally get his fifth Cup?
I think I’ll have some more to say on those questions as the off season rolls along.
-------------------------------------------
Join me tomorrow for some comments and photos about the UC/UConn game and what song should be playing on the speakers in the Lindner Center (the UC athletics building) today? I’d tell you, ‘if only in my dreams.’ Have a good Sunday.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Kasey Kahne to Red Bull in 2011, report states
A report from Thatsracin.com states that Kasey Kahne will drive for Red Bull Racing next season, and Mark Martin will remain in the No. 5 car at Hendrick Motorsports, just as Martin has said all along.
While at Indianapolis a few weeks back, Martin lashed out against a barrage of media questions (most notably from Bob Pockrass, of SceneDaily.com, and David Newton, of ESPN.com) and seemed extremely angry at the speculation that had surrounded him for weeks.
He said, “I understand it will all be put to rest when they announce what Kasey is going to do and you should be focusing on that. What’s Kasey going to do? Because I’ve told you what I’m going to do.”
For Martin, the No. 5 team, and Martin’s loyal fans, this saga coming to an end may finally give everyone associated with the GoDaddy.com team a little break from the constant speculation surrounding the 51-year-old and his future plans.
The move for Kahne is also rumored to come with an announcement that Red Bull Racing will switch from Toyota to Hendrick powered Chevrolet engines. And if Brian Vickers can return from his blood clot issue, Kahne will take over for Scott Speed, according to the reports.
For Mark Martin and his team it is a sigh of relief, just as they begin an important five race stretch toward the Chase. Currently, Martin sits 10 points ahead of 13th place Clint Bowyer in the point standings, hanging precariously onto the final spot in NASCAR’s playoff style Chase for the championship.
And if he’s able to sit in front of those same media members this weekend and say, “I told you so,” no one would blame him. But Mark Martin has more class than that. And he’s been right all along about 2011.
While at Indianapolis a few weeks back, Martin lashed out against a barrage of media questions (most notably from Bob Pockrass, of SceneDaily.com, and David Newton, of ESPN.com) and seemed extremely angry at the speculation that had surrounded him for weeks.
He said, “I understand it will all be put to rest when they announce what Kasey is going to do and you should be focusing on that. What’s Kasey going to do? Because I’ve told you what I’m going to do.”
For Martin, the No. 5 team, and Martin’s loyal fans, this saga coming to an end may finally give everyone associated with the GoDaddy.com team a little break from the constant speculation surrounding the 51-year-old and his future plans.
The move for Kahne is also rumored to come with an announcement that Red Bull Racing will switch from Toyota to Hendrick powered Chevrolet engines. And if Brian Vickers can return from his blood clot issue, Kahne will take over for Scott Speed, according to the reports.
For Mark Martin and his team it is a sigh of relief, just as they begin an important five race stretch toward the Chase. Currently, Martin sits 10 points ahead of 13th place Clint Bowyer in the point standings, hanging precariously onto the final spot in NASCAR’s playoff style Chase for the championship.
And if he’s able to sit in front of those same media members this weekend and say, “I told you so,” no one would blame him. But Mark Martin has more class than that. And he’s been right all along about 2011.
Monday, July 26, 2010
A weekend recap of Mark Martin in Indy
After a busy weekend in Speedway, Ind., I’ve finally mustered up enough strength and energy to put some thoughts down on paper. Since I shorted my faithful readers of a proper Brickyard 400 countdown, I promise to bring you so many recap stories and opinions from the weekend that you’ll never want to watch another race: just replays of yesterday’s Brickyard.
“I’m going to do what I want to do for now. I’m going to drive the 5 car. That’s what we’ve said all along and I felt very disrespected when the media doesn’t accept that because what that means is that you make me look like I’m about to get fired and that’s very disrespectful and that’s what you all are doing and it’s very disrespectful and I deserve better than that because I’ve always been as straight as I can be.”
“And any bit of waffling I’ve ever done has been based on being asked questions before I was ready to answer them. And I should be able to do the things I want to. I ran a limited schedule because I wanted to. I came back because I wanted to drive the 5 car. I never said I was going to retire. I said I was not going to run the full schedule and I changed my mind so I’m going to have a hard time telling you guys what I’m going to do in ’12 and beyond because you guys pick at that like I’m indecisive. I’m at the point in my career where I get to do whatever the heck I want to do.”
“Rick Hendrick and Alan Gustafson indicated to me that they wanted me to drive their car as long as I wanted to drive it. And after thinking about that I told them I’d drive it through ’11 and that would be a long enough commitment for me and then I’d do something else. They wanted me to go further than that—that’s too far out. I don’t have a road map. I just want to do what I said I was going to do. That’s what we’re going to do. That’s what they want. That’s what I want, and I don’t know why everyone makes such a big deal out of this.”
“I understand it will all be put to rest when they announce what Kasey is going to do and you should be focusing on that. What’s Kasey going to do? Because I’ve told you what I’m going to do.”
Throughout all of this Mark was very, very upset and I could tell. As I talked with Kendra Jacobs, Mark’s media relations director, in his hauler on Friday, I could tell she was upset about it too.
“It’s wearing because you have to present yourself in the right way, and that’s my job. But in the same sense, I’m getting frustrated by it all too, and there are times when I lose myself in it and I have to remind myself, ‘Get yourself in check and be professional about this.’ You get frustrated because you’re in the middle of it but you have to step out and do your job.”
“It wears on me, it wears on everyone on this team and it’s really wearing on Mark and I just really think that when we have all the information in place, we’ll say what’s going on. We’re not sitting on information because that doesn’t do us any good either.”
“It’s coming. Information is coming, I’m told all the time. I want to know just as bad as everyone else.”
I told her that I could tell Mark was upset during the media visit and being a 17-year fan of Mark Martin that I was displeased with all the questioning he faced. However, the easiest way to shut up speculators is to show them why you’re so good, and on Saturday morning Mark Martin laid down a quick lap, putting him third in the final qualifying rundown.
After watching the No. 5 car zip around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 49.504 seconds (181.803 mph) I headed down to the media room to hear Mark and Jimmie Johnson talk about their laps. Johnson started second in the race.
Even though Mark went out later in practice when track temperatures were nearly 120 degrees, his lap was blazing fast. “This year we didn’t have a great draw, but we had a great car, and I feel we capitalized on that car,” he said.
Mark also stated that it’s not too late to catch Johnson and others, and make it into the Chase, but he did note that, “it’s not too late, but it’s close.”
Listening to Mark on the team radio all weekend was once again a treat for my ears, as well as anyone else listening in. Mark thanked the team numerous times and was one heck of a motivational speaker on Saturday afternoon.
He and Alan Gustafson got the car good enough to jump out to the lead on lap 39 when Juan Pablo Montoya pitted with a tire issue. Mark led for ten laps before pitting.
From the mid-point of the race on, Mark had trouble gaining spots but he and Alan Gustafson never lost faith and kept trying to tune the GoDaddy.com car to win.
Even though my dad and I discussed the pit stops after the race, I was surprised to open my media-issued trackside report to see that the only car who spent less time on pit road than Mark Martin was race winner Jamie McMurray.
Mark came on the radio as he crossed the finish line in 11th place saying he was proud of the team and apologized for screwing it up. The car was fast and he is glad that the team has made progress, just as he had mentioned all weekend.
All in all, it was yet another awesome Brickyard 400 race weekend for Mark Martin and his team. The No. 5 crew unloaded fast, Mark qualified third and was up front most of the day. Hopefully his luck has turned around and he can continue to make a climb toward the Chase.
Even though Mark lost points on 12th place, he climbed into 13th place. Heading to Pocono, a track Mark has been strong at in the past, he sits 62 points behind Clint Bowyer.
When I showed up the bright green No. 5 car was finishing tech inspections
Friday’s media visit with Mark Martin was uncomfortable to say the least. Last year was fun and exciting. Mark talked about winning at Chicago, and having a week off to recharge his batteries before the Brickyard.
This year was painful. Questions about Mark’s future were brought up by Bob Pockrass, of SceneDaily.com and David Newton, of ESPN.com.
Pockrass told Mark about Ray Evernham’s comments earlier in the day. Evernham met with media members to discuss ESPN’s coverage, which he is a part of, but also mentioned that Mark, “will realize Rick Hendrick has been very good to him, and...the best thing for Hendrick Motorsports is for Mark to make room for Kasey to come over there.” Evernham added that he expects Mark Martin to make an announcement within two weeks that he’ll step aside for Kahne in 2011.
Mark Martin was not happy, to say the least. Here’s his tirade.
“I don’t know why, I just don’t know why. I made myself perfectly clear over the last several weeks. There’s no inclination of any change but I will tell you this. There is no road map for me and my future so don’t even start thinking about criticizing what I’m going to do in 2012 and beyond, so don’t even ask what I’m going to do.”
This year was painful. Questions about Mark’s future were brought up by Bob Pockrass, of SceneDaily.com and David Newton, of ESPN.com.
Pockrass told Mark about Ray Evernham’s comments earlier in the day. Evernham met with media members to discuss ESPN’s coverage, which he is a part of, but also mentioned that Mark, “will realize Rick Hendrick has been very good to him, and...the best thing for Hendrick Motorsports is for Mark to make room for Kasey to come over there.” Evernham added that he expects Mark Martin to make an announcement within two weeks that he’ll step aside for Kahne in 2011.
Mark Martin was not happy, to say the least. Here’s his tirade.
“I don’t know why, I just don’t know why. I made myself perfectly clear over the last several weeks. There’s no inclination of any change but I will tell you this. There is no road map for me and my future so don’t even start thinking about criticizing what I’m going to do in 2012 and beyond, so don’t even ask what I’m going to do.”
Mark Martin answers questions on media day. Check out the guy holding the camera on the right side of the photo in the green shirt. (IndianapolisMotorSpeedway photo)
“I’m going to do what I want to do for now. I’m going to drive the 5 car. That’s what we’ve said all along and I felt very disrespected when the media doesn’t accept that because what that means is that you make me look like I’m about to get fired and that’s very disrespectful and that’s what you all are doing and it’s very disrespectful and I deserve better than that because I’ve always been as straight as I can be.”
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Find out what it means to Mark Martin
“And any bit of waffling I’ve ever done has been based on being asked questions before I was ready to answer them. And I should be able to do the things I want to. I ran a limited schedule because I wanted to. I came back because I wanted to drive the 5 car. I never said I was going to retire. I said I was not going to run the full schedule and I changed my mind so I’m going to have a hard time telling you guys what I’m going to do in ’12 and beyond because you guys pick at that like I’m indecisive. I’m at the point in my career where I get to do whatever the heck I want to do.”
“Rick Hendrick and Alan Gustafson indicated to me that they wanted me to drive their car as long as I wanted to drive it. And after thinking about that I told them I’d drive it through ’11 and that would be a long enough commitment for me and then I’d do something else. They wanted me to go further than that—that’s too far out. I don’t have a road map. I just want to do what I said I was going to do. That’s what we’re going to do. That’s what they want. That’s what I want, and I don’t know why everyone makes such a big deal out of this.”
“I understand it will all be put to rest when they announce what Kasey is going to do and you should be focusing on that. What’s Kasey going to do? Because I’ve told you what I’m going to do.”
Throughout all of this Mark was very, very upset and I could tell. As I talked with Kendra Jacobs, Mark’s media relations director, in his hauler on Friday, I could tell she was upset about it too.
“It’s wearing because you have to present yourself in the right way, and that’s my job. But in the same sense, I’m getting frustrated by it all too, and there are times when I lose myself in it and I have to remind myself, ‘Get yourself in check and be professional about this.’ You get frustrated because you’re in the middle of it but you have to step out and do your job.”
“It wears on me, it wears on everyone on this team and it’s really wearing on Mark and I just really think that when we have all the information in place, we’ll say what’s going on. We’re not sitting on information because that doesn’t do us any good either.”
“It’s coming. Information is coming, I’m told all the time. I want to know just as bad as everyone else.”
I told her that I could tell Mark was upset during the media visit and being a 17-year fan of Mark Martin that I was displeased with all the questioning he faced. However, the easiest way to shut up speculators is to show them why you’re so good, and on Saturday morning Mark Martin laid down a quick lap, putting him third in the final qualifying rundown.
Mark pulls into Gasoline Alley after qualifying third. Kyle Busch (in yellow to the right of the car) walks out onto the grid for his lap.
After watching the No. 5 car zip around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 49.504 seconds (181.803 mph) I headed down to the media room to hear Mark and Jimmie Johnson talk about their laps. Johnson started second in the race.
Even though Mark went out later in practice when track temperatures were nearly 120 degrees, his lap was blazing fast. “This year we didn’t have a great draw, but we had a great car, and I feel we capitalized on that car,” he said.
Mark also stated that it’s not too late to catch Johnson and others, and make it into the Chase, but he did note that, “it’s not too late, but it’s close.”
Listening to Mark on the team radio all weekend was once again a treat for my ears, as well as anyone else listening in. Mark thanked the team numerous times and was one heck of a motivational speaker on Saturday afternoon.
He and Alan Gustafson got the car good enough to jump out to the lead on lap 39 when Juan Pablo Montoya pitted with a tire issue. Mark led for ten laps before pitting.
From the mid-point of the race on, Mark had trouble gaining spots but he and Alan Gustafson never lost faith and kept trying to tune the GoDaddy.com car to win.
Even though my dad and I discussed the pit stops after the race, I was surprised to open my media-issued trackside report to see that the only car who spent less time on pit road than Mark Martin was race winner Jamie McMurray.
Mark came on the radio as he crossed the finish line in 11th place saying he was proud of the team and apologized for screwing it up. The car was fast and he is glad that the team has made progress, just as he had mentioned all weekend.
All in all, it was yet another awesome Brickyard 400 race weekend for Mark Martin and his team. The No. 5 crew unloaded fast, Mark qualified third and was up front most of the day. Hopefully his luck has turned around and he can continue to make a climb toward the Chase.
Even though Mark lost points on 12th place, he climbed into 13th place. Heading to Pocono, a track Mark has been strong at in the past, he sits 62 points behind Clint Bowyer.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Mark Martin needs strong Brickyard run to get into Chase contention
5 days until the Brickyard 400 There are already numerous parallels between the 2009 Brickyard 400 and the 2010 Brickyard 400 for myself on a personal level. I won two tickets to the ’09 version of the race by listening to a Cincinnati country music station, correctly identifying a song by Luke Bryan (“Do I”). In 2010, Luke Bryan is performing on Saturday at noon in the infield for fans. But will he be singing his newest hit “Rain is a Good Thing” while being drenched by rain?
The forecast calls for a 30 percent chance of precipitation on Saturday, and the temperatures will be through the roof as they normally are for NASCAR’s trip to Indianapolis.
But today’s focus, with just five days remaining until the green flag drops at Indy, is on the driver, car and team that all wear the number 5 on raceday. Mark Martin started on the pole last year, finished second, and looks to improve in 2010.
Like Luke Bryan, “Do I” wish to see Mark Martin improve on the 2009 run? Heck yes.
But this season has been a season of ups and downs for Martin. He started off well, sitting on the pole at Daytona and keeping his nose clean. However, the second half of the opening part of the season has been a downward spiral for the 51-year-old Batesville, Ark., native.
Last year after winning the pole at IMS, he commented, “I can promise you one thing: no matter what, there is nobody in NASCAR having more fun than me. I’m sure about that. Ultimately, that’s really what it’s about.”
This season has been less than fun for Martin, his crew chief Alan Gustafson and his whole team. During the offseason Hendrick Motorsports went through a shakeup of sorts that saw a lead race engineer and a key mechanic from the No. 5 team—who finished second in the points standings last season—to the struggling No. 88 team of Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s most popular driver.
The results have been devastating for Martin. Even though Gustafson blames the midseason slide on his inability to tune the racecar to Martin’s liking after NASCAR made the switch back to the rear spoiler in April, fans and media pundits everywhere have wondered exactly what is holding the No. 5 team back this season.
Jenna Fryer, the Associated Press auto racing writer, commented on this interesting issue a few weeks back. But, she was told by Gustafson that no matter how it seems to outsiders, the shop that houses the 5 and 88 teams is better than it was one year ago.
“If I was somebody who was not involved in this everyday, that is what I would say because that is the most obvious and makes the most sense,” Gustafson said. “I think it’s wrong. I do think our shop has made a net gain, even though we haven’t won any races. The 88 is significantly better than what they were. So I think the team strength is a lot better.”
But for fans of Mark Martin, it’s definitely worse. The 2009 Brickyard 400 was a miracle run for Martin who came up just car lengths short of defeating his teammate Jimmie Johnson (who Martin dubbed, “Superman” after the race). What does 2010 hold in store for the No. 5 team?
If this season is any indication it could be a painful run for the GoDaddy.com sponsored machine, but maybe somehow Rick Hendrick and his teams will pull their brainpower together and find some way to make all four teams run well at Indy this upcoming weekend.
“Crossing the finish line first is very complicated,” Martin said on the Friday before last year’s Brickyard 400. “That’s a very complicated question and I gave you a simple answer. To get there first would be what it takes. That could come in all different sets of circumstances.”
Losing team mechanics was certainly not on the list.
-------------------------------------------------------
Many more posts are on their way to you the readers today. With just five days left until the green flag flies at Indy, I’m getting as fired up as I always do about seeing what I consider the best race on the NASCAR schedule, live in-person.
Chip Ganassi made some interesting comments during yesterday’s teleconference, and I expect to listen in to Jeff Gordon’s teleconference later and get some storylines from that. Keep coming back as we near the weekend for pictures, stories, quotes, opinions and links to my stories on FOX19.com
Thanks for reading.
The forecast calls for a 30 percent chance of precipitation on Saturday, and the temperatures will be through the roof as they normally are for NASCAR’s trip to Indianapolis.
But today’s focus, with just five days remaining until the green flag drops at Indy, is on the driver, car and team that all wear the number 5 on raceday. Mark Martin started on the pole last year, finished second, and looks to improve in 2010.
Like Luke Bryan, “Do I” wish to see Mark Martin improve on the 2009 run? Heck yes.
But this season has been a season of ups and downs for Martin. He started off well, sitting on the pole at Daytona and keeping his nose clean. However, the second half of the opening part of the season has been a downward spiral for the 51-year-old Batesville, Ark., native.
Last year after winning the pole at IMS, he commented, “I can promise you one thing: no matter what, there is nobody in NASCAR having more fun than me. I’m sure about that. Ultimately, that’s really what it’s about.”
This season has been less than fun for Martin, his crew chief Alan Gustafson and his whole team. During the offseason Hendrick Motorsports went through a shakeup of sorts that saw a lead race engineer and a key mechanic from the No. 5 team—who finished second in the points standings last season—to the struggling No. 88 team of Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s most popular driver.
The results have been devastating for Martin. Even though Gustafson blames the midseason slide on his inability to tune the racecar to Martin’s liking after NASCAR made the switch back to the rear spoiler in April, fans and media pundits everywhere have wondered exactly what is holding the No. 5 team back this season.
Jenna Fryer, the Associated Press auto racing writer, commented on this interesting issue a few weeks back. But, she was told by Gustafson that no matter how it seems to outsiders, the shop that houses the 5 and 88 teams is better than it was one year ago.
“If I was somebody who was not involved in this everyday, that is what I would say because that is the most obvious and makes the most sense,” Gustafson said. “I think it’s wrong. I do think our shop has made a net gain, even though we haven’t won any races. The 88 is significantly better than what they were. So I think the team strength is a lot better.”
But for fans of Mark Martin, it’s definitely worse. The 2009 Brickyard 400 was a miracle run for Martin who came up just car lengths short of defeating his teammate Jimmie Johnson (who Martin dubbed, “Superman” after the race). What does 2010 hold in store for the No. 5 team?
If this season is any indication it could be a painful run for the GoDaddy.com sponsored machine, but maybe somehow Rick Hendrick and his teams will pull their brainpower together and find some way to make all four teams run well at Indy this upcoming weekend.
“Crossing the finish line first is very complicated,” Martin said on the Friday before last year’s Brickyard 400. “That’s a very complicated question and I gave you a simple answer. To get there first would be what it takes. That could come in all different sets of circumstances.”
Losing team mechanics was certainly not on the list.
-------------------------------------------------------
Many more posts are on their way to you the readers today. With just five days left until the green flag flies at Indy, I’m getting as fired up as I always do about seeing what I consider the best race on the NASCAR schedule, live in-person.
Chip Ganassi made some interesting comments during yesterday’s teleconference, and I expect to listen in to Jeff Gordon’s teleconference later and get some storylines from that. Keep coming back as we near the weekend for pictures, stories, quotes, opinions and links to my stories on FOX19.com
Thanks for reading.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Mark Martin unhappy with media speculation
On second thought, maybe the media pass isn’t the way to go…
On SPEED Channel’s RaceHub Thursday night Mark Martin expressed his frustration with the media speculation of his future. When Kasey Kahne was signed to take over the No. 5 car starting in 2012, everyone in the world of NASCAR began to ask where Kahne would end up in 2011.
Surely he won’t sit out. Surely Rick Hendrick will provide him a car of some kind. Or will Rick Hendrick knock Mark Martin out of the car he’s signed to drive in 2011 to move in his newest young superstar?
Because of all the speculation Mark Martin got tired, ticked off and just plain angry. He said, “I had to quit following the sport because it kinda made me sick. The media didn’t understand and didn’t get it and couldn’t seem to deliver the message correctly. They only delivered the message they wanted to deliver, which was sensationalized … it was disgusting.”
Kahne also had an opportunity to address his future plans on ESPN’s NASCAR Now on Wednesday evening.
“[Next year is] really an unknown for myself and really, everybody that’s working on it,” Kahne said. “We still don’t know but hopefully it’s getting closer. It takes time to find out exactly what’ll happen in ’11 but I think it’ll be something really good.”
Also on RaceHub, Randy Pemberton speculated that Martin will end up driving for Red Bull Racing next season. Pemberton also opined that the press conference held by Hendrick Motorsports to announce Kasey Kahne was “unnecessary.”
OK, I’m confused. Mark Martin is signed to drive the No. 5 car through 2011 and Kasey Kahne is searching for a ride. Yet the speculation has to deal with Mark Martin right now? Call me insane, but isn’t this speculation a little out of hand?
Hendrick Motorsports spokesman Jesse Essex told Dave Moody of Sirius/XM NASCAR radio that, “There is a simple way to stop the speculation, and that’s to announce where Kasey Kahne will drive next year. But that deal won’t be done until it’s done, no matter how badly some members of the media want it to be.”
Point made. I have nothing more to say.
Well, maybe later, but for now, the speculation needs to stop. As Moody said, “Mark Martin deserves better.” He’s just going to prove everyone wrong again. At 51 years old, he’s getting pretty good at that.
On SPEED Channel’s RaceHub Thursday night Mark Martin expressed his frustration with the media speculation of his future. When Kasey Kahne was signed to take over the No. 5 car starting in 2012, everyone in the world of NASCAR began to ask where Kahne would end up in 2011.
Surely he won’t sit out. Surely Rick Hendrick will provide him a car of some kind. Or will Rick Hendrick knock Mark Martin out of the car he’s signed to drive in 2011 to move in his newest young superstar?
Because of all the speculation Mark Martin got tired, ticked off and just plain angry. He said, “I had to quit following the sport because it kinda made me sick. The media didn’t understand and didn’t get it and couldn’t seem to deliver the message correctly. They only delivered the message they wanted to deliver, which was sensationalized … it was disgusting.”
Kahne also had an opportunity to address his future plans on ESPN’s NASCAR Now on Wednesday evening.
“[Next year is] really an unknown for myself and really, everybody that’s working on it,” Kahne said. “We still don’t know but hopefully it’s getting closer. It takes time to find out exactly what’ll happen in ’11 but I think it’ll be something really good.”
Also on RaceHub, Randy Pemberton speculated that Martin will end up driving for Red Bull Racing next season. Pemberton also opined that the press conference held by Hendrick Motorsports to announce Kasey Kahne was “unnecessary.”
OK, I’m confused. Mark Martin is signed to drive the No. 5 car through 2011 and Kasey Kahne is searching for a ride. Yet the speculation has to deal with Mark Martin right now? Call me insane, but isn’t this speculation a little out of hand?
Hendrick Motorsports spokesman Jesse Essex told Dave Moody of Sirius/XM NASCAR radio that, “There is a simple way to stop the speculation, and that’s to announce where Kasey Kahne will drive next year. But that deal won’t be done until it’s done, no matter how badly some members of the media want it to be.”
Point made. I have nothing more to say.
Well, maybe later, but for now, the speculation needs to stop. As Moody said, “Mark Martin deserves better.” He’s just going to prove everyone wrong again. At 51 years old, he’s getting pretty good at that.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
What’s going on at Hendrick Motorsports?
It’s the one story that very few people have talked about in the past few weeks, and honestly, why should they? Other than the fact that it indirectly involves Dale Earnhardt Jr., many fans wouldn’t even know what’s going on at Hendrick Motorsports.
Amidst all the hoopla over Kasey Kahne’s arrival in 2012, or maybe sooner, and Jimmie Johnson’s resurgence, there has been one team that has struggled mightily. Oddly enough, it’s the team that Kahne will drive for as late as the 2012 season; the No. 5 car, currently piloted by Mark Martin.
Last year at this time the No. 5 team was fighting for a berth in the Chase, barely hanging on to a 11th place spot, four points ahead of Kahne. This season Martin and the GoDaddy team are still in 11th and the cushion to the 13th place driver is 30 points before the July 4th race in Daytona. But that 13th place driver is the guy that the No. 5 team shares a garage with at the HMS compound; the No. 88 car of NASCAR’s most popular star, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Jenna Fryer, an Associated Press NASCAR writer, finally addressed the question this week after the race in Loudon. She asked Earnhardt and Alan Gustafson, the crew chief of the No. 5 team, about the resurgence of Earnhardt and the seeming tailspin that Martin is in.
“I think it helped us,” Earnhardt Jr. told Fryer. “I know Mark is struggling compared to last year. But it helped us as a team. (Engineer) Chris Heroy come over was a big deal for me and Lance both. I think he’s enjoyed being part of our group.”
Lance McGrew and Earnhardt have been together just over a year now, and while Earnhardt still hasn’t won since the June Michigan race in 2008, it seems that it’s only a matter of time before he does finally make his way back into Victory Lane.
Gustafson was riding a wave of success last season as one of the most successful crew chiefs in the business. Martin was 34th in the standings heading out of Atlanta in the spring, perilously close to falling out of the top 35 in points. Martin and Gustafson rallied the No. 5 squad, winning in dominating fashion at Phoenix, making Jimmie Johnson cry uncle at Darlington and outsmarting the field on fuel mileage in Michigan.
Three wins later and Gustafson had his childhood hero in the Chase, right where they wanted to be. One year later though, Martin isn’t having the results he’s expected. “We’re doing a better job than last year at executing with what we have. We’ve done a really great job of racing and bringing home good finishes for where we are,” Martin told Jay Hart of Yahoo! Sports.
“The back side of that is that we’re not as fast as we were a year ago, and that’s based on chasing a moving target with rules changes and tire changes and car changes and competition being a moving target.”
And he’s right. Aside from the pole he had at Daytona, Martin hasn’t been the quickest car all year. He has lacked the speed that he had last year at so many places. But Gustafson blames the lack of speed on his failure to adjust to the new spoiler package on the Sprint Cup cars. And he won’t blame Martin’s lack of performance on the off-season changes that moved an engineer and a mechanic to Earnhardt Jr.’s team, a directive that came straight from the boss, Rick Hendrick. It was a move that was supposed to strengthen Junior’s team. Mission accomplished.
“If I was somebody who was not involved in this everyday, that is what I would say because that is the most obvious and makes the most sense,” Gustafson said. “I think it’s wrong. I do think our shop has made a net gain, even though we haven’t won any races. The 88 is significantly better than what they were. So I think the team strength is a lot better.”
As fans we aren’t involved with the day-to-day operations of the teams, but for the past few months Mark Martin fans have noticed that the No. 5 car hasn’t been everything that it was last season. Although the ’09 season was almost a dream season for fans of the now 51-year-old, the success that Martin and the Hendrick team had last season surely came with expectations this season.
And maybe they are meeting those expectations, as Gustafson pointed out. But the question that I’d love to ask Rick Hendrick (and the word is still out on the Brickyard media pass as of right now) is, “Would you sacrifice Mark Martin in the Chase for Dale Earnhardt Jr.”
I’d believe his answer would end up being something along the lines of, “Well, we’d love to get both of them in, and there’s still time to do it.”
But, as Jenna Fryer pointed out, Jr.’s success could come at the expense of Mark Martin. And there’s something that doesn’t sit well with Mark Martin fans.
However, Fryer noted in a story she did on Monday that maybe the apparent demise of the No. 5 team has to do with Martin being a lame-duck driver. Maybe moving resources and workers to the No. 88 team was Hendrick’s way of pushing Martin out the door. Even though Martin said there was a, “zero percent” chance he’d be driving something other than the No. 5 car next year, speculation runs rampant about who will be where in 2011.
“This is a tough spot for Hendrick, Martin, Gustafson and the entire No. 5 team, particularly considering that Kasey Kahne has already locked into that ride for 2012,” Fryer wrote. “It’s left Hendrick trying to find a place to stash Kahne next season, and although Martin is adamant he’s not vacating his seat a year early, I’m not convinced it won’t happen.”
She says why not put Martin in the No. 83 car next season if Brian Vickers isn’t medically cleared to race? Vickers has made the Red Bull Racing team very good over the past few years, and Martin’s friend Jay Frye (formerly at Ginn Racing when Martin was there) certainly wouldn’t disagree with having a veteran race winner on his staff.
But Mark Martin in an energy drink car? It just seems a little odd. Until Friday afternoon’s announcement of a “New Cup Team” on NASCAR.com, I’m not sure what anyone’s plans are for the 2011 or 2012 season.
And if anything is worth betting on, it’s the fact that Hendrick will do everything in his power to make sure Dale Earnhardt Jr. makes the top 12. Financially, it’s a smart maneuver. But will Mark Martin be there too? We’ve got nine races to see what happens next.
Amidst all the hoopla over Kasey Kahne’s arrival in 2012, or maybe sooner, and Jimmie Johnson’s resurgence, there has been one team that has struggled mightily. Oddly enough, it’s the team that Kahne will drive for as late as the 2012 season; the No. 5 car, currently piloted by Mark Martin.
Last year at this time the No. 5 team was fighting for a berth in the Chase, barely hanging on to a 11th place spot, four points ahead of Kahne. This season Martin and the GoDaddy team are still in 11th and the cushion to the 13th place driver is 30 points before the July 4th race in Daytona. But that 13th place driver is the guy that the No. 5 team shares a garage with at the HMS compound; the No. 88 car of NASCAR’s most popular star, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Martin and Earnhardt Jr. started 1-2 at the season's first race (Getty Images)
Jenna Fryer, an Associated Press NASCAR writer, finally addressed the question this week after the race in Loudon. She asked Earnhardt and Alan Gustafson, the crew chief of the No. 5 team, about the resurgence of Earnhardt and the seeming tailspin that Martin is in.
“I think it helped us,” Earnhardt Jr. told Fryer. “I know Mark is struggling compared to last year. But it helped us as a team. (Engineer) Chris Heroy come over was a big deal for me and Lance both. I think he’s enjoyed being part of our group.”
Earnhardt Jr. is currently 13th in the standings, just three points behind Carl Edwards for the final spot in the Chase
Lance McGrew and Earnhardt have been together just over a year now, and while Earnhardt still hasn’t won since the June Michigan race in 2008, it seems that it’s only a matter of time before he does finally make his way back into Victory Lane.
Gustafson was riding a wave of success last season as one of the most successful crew chiefs in the business. Martin was 34th in the standings heading out of Atlanta in the spring, perilously close to falling out of the top 35 in points. Martin and Gustafson rallied the No. 5 squad, winning in dominating fashion at Phoenix, making Jimmie Johnson cry uncle at Darlington and outsmarting the field on fuel mileage in Michigan.
Martin's No. 5 car sat on the pole at Indianapolis last year
Three wins later and Gustafson had his childhood hero in the Chase, right where they wanted to be. One year later though, Martin isn’t having the results he’s expected. “We’re doing a better job than last year at executing with what we have. We’ve done a really great job of racing and bringing home good finishes for where we are,” Martin told Jay Hart of Yahoo! Sports.
“The back side of that is that we’re not as fast as we were a year ago, and that’s based on chasing a moving target with rules changes and tire changes and car changes and competition being a moving target.”
And he’s right. Aside from the pole he had at Daytona, Martin hasn’t been the quickest car all year. He has lacked the speed that he had last year at so many places. But Gustafson blames the lack of speed on his failure to adjust to the new spoiler package on the Sprint Cup cars. And he won’t blame Martin’s lack of performance on the off-season changes that moved an engineer and a mechanic to Earnhardt Jr.’s team, a directive that came straight from the boss, Rick Hendrick. It was a move that was supposed to strengthen Junior’s team. Mission accomplished.
“If I was somebody who was not involved in this everyday, that is what I would say because that is the most obvious and makes the most sense,” Gustafson said. “I think it’s wrong. I do think our shop has made a net gain, even though we haven’t won any races. The 88 is significantly better than what they were. So I think the team strength is a lot better.”
As fans we aren’t involved with the day-to-day operations of the teams, but for the past few months Mark Martin fans have noticed that the No. 5 car hasn’t been everything that it was last season. Although the ’09 season was almost a dream season for fans of the now 51-year-old, the success that Martin and the Hendrick team had last season surely came with expectations this season.
And maybe they are meeting those expectations, as Gustafson pointed out. But the question that I’d love to ask Rick Hendrick (and the word is still out on the Brickyard media pass as of right now) is, “Would you sacrifice Mark Martin in the Chase for Dale Earnhardt Jr.”
I’d believe his answer would end up being something along the lines of, “Well, we’d love to get both of them in, and there’s still time to do it.”
But, as Jenna Fryer pointed out, Jr.’s success could come at the expense of Mark Martin. And there’s something that doesn’t sit well with Mark Martin fans.
However, Fryer noted in a story she did on Monday that maybe the apparent demise of the No. 5 team has to do with Martin being a lame-duck driver. Maybe moving resources and workers to the No. 88 team was Hendrick’s way of pushing Martin out the door. Even though Martin said there was a, “zero percent” chance he’d be driving something other than the No. 5 car next year, speculation runs rampant about who will be where in 2011.
Kahne will be vacating the No. 9 car at the end of the season. Where will he be in 2011?
“This is a tough spot for Hendrick, Martin, Gustafson and the entire No. 5 team, particularly considering that Kasey Kahne has already locked into that ride for 2012,” Fryer wrote. “It’s left Hendrick trying to find a place to stash Kahne next season, and although Martin is adamant he’s not vacating his seat a year early, I’m not convinced it won’t happen.”
She says why not put Martin in the No. 83 car next season if Brian Vickers isn’t medically cleared to race? Vickers has made the Red Bull Racing team very good over the past few years, and Martin’s friend Jay Frye (formerly at Ginn Racing when Martin was there) certainly wouldn’t disagree with having a veteran race winner on his staff.
Could Mark Martin be driving a Red Bull Racing car in 2011? Jenna Fryer of the AP certainly thinks so
But Mark Martin in an energy drink car? It just seems a little odd. Until Friday afternoon’s announcement of a “New Cup Team” on NASCAR.com, I’m not sure what anyone’s plans are for the 2011 or 2012 season.
And if anything is worth betting on, it’s the fact that Hendrick will do everything in his power to make sure Dale Earnhardt Jr. makes the top 12. Financially, it’s a smart maneuver. But will Mark Martin be there too? We’ve got nine races to see what happens next.
Friday, June 25, 2010
New Hampshire news and notes
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to New Hampshire this weekend, and while the strained relationship between Bruton Smith and the police chief in charge of security for the speedway made for an interesting few comments at Kentucky Speedway two weeks ago, a more interesting story is the driver of the GoDaddy.com car.
No, not Danica Patrick, but 51-year-old Mark Martin.
In September of last year Martin started off the Chase by taking his first career victory at New Hampshire. He’s still winless at Daytona, Indianapolis and Homestead, but to get his first win at what he considered one of his “worst tracks” was a great feat.
“This is my hardest place, a tough place,” he said after winning that day. It was a thrilling finish with Martin and Juan Pablo Montoya dueling to the finish.
“Starting the Chase off like that, that was just incredible. I’d never won at New Hampshire before,” he said earlier this week. “Alan [Gustafson] gave me an amazing race car, and then he made a great pit call to get us to the front.”
But this year has been a lot tougher on the eldest Hendrick Motorsports member. Even though he’d be in the Chase if it started today, he doesn’t have any wins. Last year at this time he had three victories and seemed to be on top of the world.
“We’ve cycled around to not being on the top of the heap – we were nearly on the top of the heap a year ago – from a competition side. But we were new together, and we weren’t necessarily executing every single race quite as well as we are today,” Martin told Jay Hart of Yahoo.com. “We’ve made gains in some areas and we’ve got some work to do in some others.”
Within a few weeks Rick Hendrick should announce plans for the 2011 season involving his newest driver Kasey Kahne. Kahne isn’t supposed to take over the No. 5 car from Martin until 2012, but some speculations have Kahne in the No. 5 car next year.
Hart asked Martin, “OK, let’s just get this one out of the way: Is there even a 1 percent chance you won’t be in the 5 car next season?”
“As of today?” he responded. “No.”
And until Rick Hendrick makes the final call, which should come within a month, everyone is left to speculate.
Martin, though, remains humble. “I’m just a regular guy that does something that they think is a big deal, but I’m not a big deal. I’m just a regular guy,” he said.
He’s a regular guy returning to the last place he was more than regular. Tune in on Sunday to see if history repeats itself at New Hampshire.
No, not Danica Patrick, but 51-year-old Mark Martin.
In September of last year Martin started off the Chase by taking his first career victory at New Hampshire. He’s still winless at Daytona, Indianapolis and Homestead, but to get his first win at what he considered one of his “worst tracks” was a great feat.
“This is my hardest place, a tough place,” he said after winning that day. It was a thrilling finish with Martin and Juan Pablo Montoya dueling to the finish.
“Starting the Chase off like that, that was just incredible. I’d never won at New Hampshire before,” he said earlier this week. “Alan [Gustafson] gave me an amazing race car, and then he made a great pit call to get us to the front.”
But this year has been a lot tougher on the eldest Hendrick Motorsports member. Even though he’d be in the Chase if it started today, he doesn’t have any wins. Last year at this time he had three victories and seemed to be on top of the world.
“We’ve cycled around to not being on the top of the heap – we were nearly on the top of the heap a year ago – from a competition side. But we were new together, and we weren’t necessarily executing every single race quite as well as we are today,” Martin told Jay Hart of Yahoo.com. “We’ve made gains in some areas and we’ve got some work to do in some others.”
Within a few weeks Rick Hendrick should announce plans for the 2011 season involving his newest driver Kasey Kahne. Kahne isn’t supposed to take over the No. 5 car from Martin until 2012, but some speculations have Kahne in the No. 5 car next year.
Hart asked Martin, “OK, let’s just get this one out of the way: Is there even a 1 percent chance you won’t be in the 5 car next season?”
“As of today?” he responded. “No.”
And until Rick Hendrick makes the final call, which should come within a month, everyone is left to speculate.
Martin, though, remains humble. “I’m just a regular guy that does something that they think is a big deal, but I’m not a big deal. I’m just a regular guy,” he said.
He’s a regular guy returning to the last place he was more than regular. Tune in on Sunday to see if history repeats itself at New Hampshire.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Rick Hendrick talks about 2011
On yesterday’s pre-race show, Rick Hendrick mentioned to Chris Myers that both Kasey Kahne and Mark Martin will be driving in 2011. Myers pressed Hendrick for a “where?” answer and the man who runs quite arguably the best team in all of NASCAR didn’t give a direct answer.
So, fans of Mark Martin and Kasey Kahne are waiting, hanging on for the next four to six weeks, as Hendrick pointed out, to see what the plans are for 2011. The burning questions are who will drive the No. 5 car in 2011? Will Mark Martin be driving it, as was originally planned, or will Hendrick decide to move Kahne into the ride one year early?
The two options are more than likely pretty even. Martin won five races last year, and this season is 11th in points. Last season Kahne won two races, and finished 10th in the final standings. But the principle behind the action is all too familiar to fans of the 51-year old Martin.
In 2005 Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace embarked on their final year of racing in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. But, midway through the season, Jack Roush said he’d have no immediate replacement for Martin in the No. 6 car, and asked his veteran driver to return. Martin obliged and ran full-time in 2006.
In October of 2006, Martin announced he’d be racing part-time for Ginn Racing, formerly known as MB2 Racing, in the No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet. He was going to cut back on driving and spend more time with his family, trying to help his younger son Matt get into racing.
After two years of part-time racing, Mark Martin got an offer he couldn’t refuse, an offer to drive the No. 5 car for Hendrick Motorsports. In September of last year Mark Martin signed a contract extension through 2011, and just two months ago HMS announced that Kasey Kahne would take over the No. 5 in 2012.
But according to Rick Hendrick yesterday, that might happen one year early. Myers and Darrell Waltrip both agreed that what Hendrick said to Myers in the pre-taped interview sounded like Kahne would be in the 5 car next year, and Mark Martin would be operating his own team—like Tony Stewart is now.
Hendrick is seen as one of the classiest owners in all of NASCAR, but the move to boot Mark Martin out of the No. 5 car one year before he promised would definitely tarnish his image a little. Although I’m not making a prediction, I’m going to be very skeptical about this move. If Hendrick makes a move that goes against his original plan, expect Mark Martin to be very gracious, but I’m sure some of his fans will be more than unhappy.
Myself included.
-----------------------------
Tune back in tomorrow for more NASCAR news and notes as the Sprint Cup Series heads into an off week of sorts. All-Star week is a fun week, but in 2005, Mark Martin made it a memorable one. Check back tomorrow for a story.
So, fans of Mark Martin and Kasey Kahne are waiting, hanging on for the next four to six weeks, as Hendrick pointed out, to see what the plans are for 2011. The burning questions are who will drive the No. 5 car in 2011? Will Mark Martin be driving it, as was originally planned, or will Hendrick decide to move Kahne into the ride one year early?
Hendrick speaks with Martin before the Autism Speaks 400 on Sunday (Getty Images)
The two options are more than likely pretty even. Martin won five races last year, and this season is 11th in points. Last season Kahne won two races, and finished 10th in the final standings. But the principle behind the action is all too familiar to fans of the 51-year old Martin.
In 2005 Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace embarked on their final year of racing in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. But, midway through the season, Jack Roush said he’d have no immediate replacement for Martin in the No. 6 car, and asked his veteran driver to return. Martin obliged and ran full-time in 2006.
In October of 2006, Martin announced he’d be racing part-time for Ginn Racing, formerly known as MB2 Racing, in the No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet. He was going to cut back on driving and spend more time with his family, trying to help his younger son Matt get into racing.
After two years of part-time racing, Mark Martin got an offer he couldn’t refuse, an offer to drive the No. 5 car for Hendrick Motorsports. In September of last year Mark Martin signed a contract extension through 2011, and just two months ago HMS announced that Kasey Kahne would take over the No. 5 in 2012.
Kahne won't be in the No. 9 car next season, but will he be in the No. 5 car?
But according to Rick Hendrick yesterday, that might happen one year early. Myers and Darrell Waltrip both agreed that what Hendrick said to Myers in the pre-taped interview sounded like Kahne would be in the 5 car next year, and Mark Martin would be operating his own team—like Tony Stewart is now.
Hendrick is seen as one of the classiest owners in all of NASCAR, but the move to boot Mark Martin out of the No. 5 car one year before he promised would definitely tarnish his image a little. Although I’m not making a prediction, I’m going to be very skeptical about this move. If Hendrick makes a move that goes against his original plan, expect Mark Martin to be very gracious, but I’m sure some of his fans will be more than unhappy.
Myself included.
-----------------------------
Tune back in tomorrow for more NASCAR news and notes as the Sprint Cup Series heads into an off week of sorts. All-Star week is a fun week, but in 2005, Mark Martin made it a memorable one. Check back tomorrow for a story.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Some weekend thoughts
What a fun-filled, exciting and busy weekend. Here’s some thoughts…
Aric Almirola wins first NASCAR race
The guy who used to share a ride with Mark Martin finally broke into the win column in NASCAR. Aric Almirola, who shared the No. 8 ride with Martin two seasons ago in the Cup Series, won the Dover 200 on Friday.
Although technically he’s already won a NASCAR race, Aric Almirola didn’t get to celebrate his “win” in 2007 in NASCAR’s Busch Series. Instead, Denny Hamlin took the checkers and celebrated in Victory Lane with his team.
This one was all his. “That trophy is not at my house on the mantle,” he said, referring to the Busch race from ’07. “This one will be tonight.”
“Last year was a rough year for me and I was pretty down and out,” he added. He started the year in the No. 8 car for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, but only made six races before funding for Almirola’s car dried up. He looked to the truck series, and found a ride with Billy Ballew.
Last year at Kentucky Speedway, Almirola told me, “I like to think of it as me and Billy are doing each other a favor.” He stopped for a second and added, “Billy needed a driver to drive the truck and I was available so he called me up and asked me to race his truck and we’ve been doing it ever since.”
In that race Almirola was leading late, but finished fifth. “Last year was a rough year for me and I was pretty down and out,” he said after the race on Friday. Ten months later he finds himself in a full-time ride and leading the Truck Series points.
I just knew last July that Aric could do it. Now I wonder if he’ll be able to keep this momentum up and continue running well. I know I’ll be rooting for him.
C.O.O.L. Clinic wraps up another successful stay in Cincinnati
The annual C.O.O.L. (Coaches of Offensive Line) Clinic was another success this year. On Saturday Aaron Kromer, line coach of the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints started off a great day of presentations from some of the best in the business.
Bengals offensive line coach Paul Alexander might have stolen the show in the morning, well, at least in my opinion he did. He spoke a little about football, but wove in many theories on coaching and teaching in general along the way.
Very few people know that Alexander loves playing the piano. Even fewer probably realize just how darn smart he is. His presentation was one of the best, if not the best, presentation I have ever heard in my life.
I just wish I could attend the C.O.O.L. Clinic forever if I get to hear talks like that every year.
Joe Gibbs Racing is dominating the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
With Kyle Busch’s victory in Sunday’s Autism Speaks 400, Joe Gibbs Racing has won five out of the last seven races—all of the races that NASCAR has run under the new spoiler set up. Denny Hamlin has three victories this year and Busch’s second of the year yesterday was a relatively dominant one.
He battled with Jimmie Johnson late, but a speeding penalty on pit road relegated the normally flawless driver of the No. 48 machine to a 16th place finish, one lap down.
On Tuesday Rick Hendrick said, “Looks like [Gibbs] passed me. He didn’t [catch] me. He lapped me.” So how much of this success has had to do with the wing? Johnson feels not a whole lot has changed. “I know there’s been some conversation that maybe [Hendrick Motorsports] or the 48 team has had some troubles with the spoiler being on the car, and I can’t say it’s changed much for us,” he said Friday.
Busch feels that Hendrick is still the team to beat week in and week out, even if his own team seems to be dominating. “I don’t feel like we’ve caught or passed Hendrick Motorsports. I feel like we’ve just gotten our stuff better where now we’re competitive week in and week out. That’s the way we should be.”
One thing that is certain is that Busch and Hamlin are on a roll. Hamlin came home fourth today and JGR teammate Joey Logano finished 10th at the “Monster Mile”. Overall, that’s not a bad day at the office for the Gibbs boys. Busch moved to second in the points and Hamlin now sits fifth. Logano moved up to 18th, two spots behind Dale Earnhardt Jr.—Hendrick’s lowest driver.
For the past few seasons NASCAR has wanted “real” rivalries to exist between drivers. Hence the “gloves are off” policy this year. I’m willing to bet that NASCAR is loving the developing feud between the two super teams of the sport.
Hamlin thinks that all this talk of JGR catching, or even passing, HMS is a little too early. “Rick [Hendrick] does a good job of motivating his team” he said. “I just think that [talk of someone else catching them] is maybe motivation. His team always seems to stay on top.”
Even Joe Gibbs, the former NFL head coach, thinks we should all calm down for a second. “I don’t think we’ve caught ‘em,” Gibbs said on Tuesday. “We’ve been fortunate over these last six or seven weeks. But my focus—and the focus of everyone else at our place—is that you’ve got to be there every week. We’re just getting started.”
Just getting started? Sounds like we’re in for one heck of a fun battle as the season progresses. I can’t wait to see how this storyline pans out for each team as the 2010 campaign continues.
And feel free to check out my post-race story on FOX19’s Sports website. Nothing editorial, just the straight facts: http://www.fox19.com/Global/story.asp?S=12490554
Aric Almirola wins first NASCAR race
The guy who used to share a ride with Mark Martin finally broke into the win column in NASCAR. Aric Almirola, who shared the No. 8 ride with Martin two seasons ago in the Cup Series, won the Dover 200 on Friday.
Although technically he’s already won a NASCAR race, Aric Almirola didn’t get to celebrate his “win” in 2007 in NASCAR’s Busch Series. Instead, Denny Hamlin took the checkers and celebrated in Victory Lane with his team.
This one was all his. “That trophy is not at my house on the mantle,” he said, referring to the Busch race from ’07. “This one will be tonight.”
“Last year was a rough year for me and I was pretty down and out,” he added. He started the year in the No. 8 car for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, but only made six races before funding for Almirola’s car dried up. He looked to the truck series, and found a ride with Billy Ballew.
Last year at Kentucky Speedway, Almirola told me, “I like to think of it as me and Billy are doing each other a favor.” He stopped for a second and added, “Billy needed a driver to drive the truck and I was available so he called me up and asked me to race his truck and we’ve been doing it ever since.”
Aric Almirola ran well last year at Kentucky in a Billy Ballew truck. This season he has one win and now leads the Camping World Truck Series points
In that race Almirola was leading late, but finished fifth. “Last year was a rough year for me and I was pretty down and out,” he said after the race on Friday. Ten months later he finds himself in a full-time ride and leading the Truck Series points.
I just knew last July that Aric could do it. Now I wonder if he’ll be able to keep this momentum up and continue running well. I know I’ll be rooting for him.
C.O.O.L. Clinic wraps up another successful stay in Cincinnati
The annual C.O.O.L. (Coaches of Offensive Line) Clinic was another success this year. On Saturday Aaron Kromer, line coach of the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints started off a great day of presentations from some of the best in the business.
Bengals offensive line coach Paul Alexander might have stolen the show in the morning, well, at least in my opinion he did. He spoke a little about football, but wove in many theories on coaching and teaching in general along the way.
Very few people know that Alexander loves playing the piano. Even fewer probably realize just how darn smart he is. His presentation was one of the best, if not the best, presentation I have ever heard in my life.
I just wish I could attend the C.O.O.L. Clinic forever if I get to hear talks like that every year.
Joe Gibbs Racing is dominating the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
With Kyle Busch’s victory in Sunday’s Autism Speaks 400, Joe Gibbs Racing has won five out of the last seven races—all of the races that NASCAR has run under the new spoiler set up. Denny Hamlin has three victories this year and Busch’s second of the year yesterday was a relatively dominant one.
He battled with Jimmie Johnson late, but a speeding penalty on pit road relegated the normally flawless driver of the No. 48 machine to a 16th place finish, one lap down.
On Tuesday Rick Hendrick said, “Looks like [Gibbs] passed me. He didn’t [catch] me. He lapped me.” So how much of this success has had to do with the wing? Johnson feels not a whole lot has changed. “I know there’s been some conversation that maybe [Hendrick Motorsports] or the 48 team has had some troubles with the spoiler being on the car, and I can’t say it’s changed much for us,” he said Friday.
Jimmie Johnson's speeding penalty cost him a win at Dover
Busch feels that Hendrick is still the team to beat week in and week out, even if his own team seems to be dominating. “I don’t feel like we’ve caught or passed Hendrick Motorsports. I feel like we’ve just gotten our stuff better where now we’re competitive week in and week out. That’s the way we should be.”
Kyle Busch and his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates are turning it on. Will this momentum carry to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July and further?
One thing that is certain is that Busch and Hamlin are on a roll. Hamlin came home fourth today and JGR teammate Joey Logano finished 10th at the “Monster Mile”. Overall, that’s not a bad day at the office for the Gibbs boys. Busch moved to second in the points and Hamlin now sits fifth. Logano moved up to 18th, two spots behind Dale Earnhardt Jr.—Hendrick’s lowest driver.
For the past few seasons NASCAR has wanted “real” rivalries to exist between drivers. Hence the “gloves are off” policy this year. I’m willing to bet that NASCAR is loving the developing feud between the two super teams of the sport.
Hamlin thinks that all this talk of JGR catching, or even passing, HMS is a little too early. “Rick [Hendrick] does a good job of motivating his team” he said. “I just think that [talk of someone else catching them] is maybe motivation. His team always seems to stay on top.”
Even Joe Gibbs, the former NFL head coach, thinks we should all calm down for a second. “I don’t think we’ve caught ‘em,” Gibbs said on Tuesday. “We’ve been fortunate over these last six or seven weeks. But my focus—and the focus of everyone else at our place—is that you’ve got to be there every week. We’re just getting started.”
Just getting started? Sounds like we’re in for one heck of a fun battle as the season progresses. I can’t wait to see how this storyline pans out for each team as the 2010 campaign continues.
And feel free to check out my post-race story on FOX19’s Sports website. Nothing editorial, just the straight facts: http://www.fox19.com/Global/story.asp?S=12490554
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Jeff Gluck provides awesome insight to Mark Martin
With Sunday’s race postponed due to the rain there was plenty of time to sit back and catch up on current events. Or, catch up on new material. NASCAR writer Jeff Gluck profiled Mark Martin, and did it darn well. It’s yet another piece of evidence I can point to when people ask me why I’m a Mark Martin fan.
It’s also yet another reason why I want to get into this world of reporting sports. Anytime I come across a very good article I save it, read it, attempt to analyze it, and I try to become a better writer because of it.
Jeff Gluck got to sit down with Mark Martin about a month ago, and pick the 51-year-old’s brain. Here are some of my thoughts.
Want to know why I love Mark Martin? Amongst other things, the words he speaks ring so true in my own life. In October of 2007 he provided one of many quotes I claim to live by. “Impatience is a real hard thing to deal with and to work with,” he said. “Impatience is waste of time. It's a diversion. If you're impatient, you're worrying about things you can't control.”
Last year while I sat wide eyed in the media room at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway only feet from the man I’d waited twenty years to meet in person, he dropped this gem of wisdom, almost furthering his comments above. He said, “All I can do is use my strengths. That’s all I can do. I can’t do anything about my weaknesses.”
In this article, he told Jeff Gluck, “There are not many people in the world who get to do exactly what they want – and succeed at it.” I feel I can relate to what Mark said, but I doubt I’m as happy as he is right now. After all, he really is succeeding at what he does.
In a time when most drivers his age are driving around in the back of the field, struggling to stay afloat in the Cup Series, Martin is one of the drivers on NASCAR’s “superteam” at Hendrick Motorsports. But almost every one of his fans can recall the time when Martin was Hendrick’s biggest rival.
What feels like it was “back in the day” for some fans of the short statured, yet big hearted man, was a time that Martin would rather forget. “No one probably realizes how dissatisfied with my life I was for several years there and raced for 25th place a lot more than I wanted to,” he told Gluck. “And that was torture. You know, it's torture to be out there on the racetrack and just get your brains beat in. Especially when you're used to doing well. I always did well. I never had to go through that.”
So Martin said he was going to scale back from full-time driving at Roush Racing in 2005. Or so he thought. Roush begged Martin to return from one more year because the only owner Martin had ever driven for didn’t have a driver to put in the No. 6 car.
So Martin came back for one final year in the car that had made him recognizable to NASCAR Cup Series fans. One last year in the No. 6 Ford. One last time full-time. Until one of NASCAR’s most successful owners approached him and asked if Martin would return to full-time racing for his team.
And the 51-year-old has loved it, but he couldn’t give more than three years to Hendrick, and last week the team announced that starting in 2012 Kasey Kahne would take over the reins of the car Martin currently pilots.
Each and every week Martin gets out of the No. 5 car and thanks his team, his crew chief, Alan Gustafson, and everyone associated with putting him in position to win. It rubs some fans the wrong way. People think there’s just no way Martin can be that happy every week.
When Gluck inquired about this, Martin got animated. “I do say the same things,” he told Gluck. “Cause it's the damn truth. Cause that's what's on my mind. When I climb out of the race car and I have just received one of the greatest privileges of a lifetime – to drive a frickin' rocketship and work with the brightest people in the business – what do you think I'm going to say?”
Somehow I still find it hard to hear Mark Martin saying that, but his passion and energy doesn’t surprise me. In a book written about him in 2004 he said, “I’ve always been competitive. Anything I’ve ever done, I’ve gone at it 100 percent. I don’t know any other way.”
When my brother told me this weekend that my girls basketball team doesn’t like the way I coach, it offended me. I want to be the best. I want to succeed, exactly like Mark told Jeff Gluck. I want to be the best ever, and even though only winning one game out of 13 doesn’t make me seem successful, I’m giving it 100 percent to make my team better.
The way Kerry Coombs coached at Colerain High School back in the early parts of the decade (and before) really rubbed a lot of fans (myself included) the wrong way. Now being on his team, being a part of something special with him, I know why he rubbed me the wrong way…He had more energy and passion and he didn’t hold anything back.
Mark Martin is the same way. “You haven't ever interviewed me yet when they brought my car in on the hook and I said, ‘Boy, that was fun! I am sure enjoying this!’” Martin continued telling Gluck. “You don't get that from me. You get the truth. And that's what's on my mind. I'm not going to apologize for that because I identify”
He comes from Arkansas. He’s described as a simple guy, and feels that way too. “Look, I don't appeal to everyone. I'm a real simple person and you get what you get. I also am pretty complex, as you can see. Most people don't know that,” he said.
But his impact on the sport, as well as his impact on his fans is felt day in and day out. One fan wrote a letter to Martin, and Gluck was kind enough to share it at the end of his piece. It stated,
“You always give thanks to the people who support you and always speak honestly from your heart, and that is how I try to live my life. You make everyone around you proud to be a part of your life whether being directly involved with you or just being a fan. You give so much more to your fans than just your racing. You and your family have in all actuality become part of our family, and I think you again for what you give us just by being a decent human being.”
When I was a senior at Elder High School, performing a task as the volleyball team statistician, our team’s head coach made some kind remarks about me at a team function. “You’ve taught us to give it 100 percent and to be proud of our work no matter what you’re doing, whether it’s volleyball related or mopping the floor, or doing homework, or being a friend,” he said. His sentiment, although unrelated to the comments by this fan, strike me as having the same idea behind them.
Br proud of your work, give it your all, and in the end, just be yourself.
“That,” he said, “is what I have to say about the haters,” referring to the letter. It’s tough to be a “hater” of Mark Martin, especially after reading that article. (linked here: http://www.sbnation.com/2010/4/18/1428471/mark-martin-nascar-2010-car-bio)
It’ll be even tougher to hate Mark Martin if he ever lifts the Sprint Cup trophy over his head, something he still says he won’t think about. Last year he wrote a diary for Yahoo! Sports, and stated, “As far as winning a championship, there won’t be anyone who tries harder or thinks more about scoring the points. But I won’t be doing any daydreaming about what it would be like to hoist the trophy. That doesn’t exist in my head and won’t until it’s over with. That’s how I deal with it. I keep my focus on getting every ounce out of myself, my car and my team, and being a great leader and a good person. If I do all of that when it’s said and done, whether I hoist the trophy or not, I will have been a success.”
Think any “haters” can argue with that? I certainly couldn’t. This article gave me just a few more reasons to love Mark Martin, who, before the 2010 season started proclaimed himself “Mr. Realistic,” and I’m sure there will be more as the season progresses. Until I can find another great article to conjure up the same feelings, this will have to do.
Enjoy your day, and thanks for reading
It’s also yet another reason why I want to get into this world of reporting sports. Anytime I come across a very good article I save it, read it, attempt to analyze it, and I try to become a better writer because of it.
Jeff Gluck got to sit down with Mark Martin about a month ago, and pick the 51-year-old’s brain. Here are some of my thoughts.
Want to know why I love Mark Martin? Amongst other things, the words he speaks ring so true in my own life. In October of 2007 he provided one of many quotes I claim to live by. “Impatience is a real hard thing to deal with and to work with,” he said. “Impatience is waste of time. It's a diversion. If you're impatient, you're worrying about things you can't control.”
Last year while I sat wide eyed in the media room at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway only feet from the man I’d waited twenty years to meet in person, he dropped this gem of wisdom, almost furthering his comments above. He said, “All I can do is use my strengths. That’s all I can do. I can’t do anything about my weaknesses.”
Mark Martin became the oldest polesitter in Indianapolis Motor Speedway history last year
In this article, he told Jeff Gluck, “There are not many people in the world who get to do exactly what they want – and succeed at it.” I feel I can relate to what Mark said, but I doubt I’m as happy as he is right now. After all, he really is succeeding at what he does.
In a time when most drivers his age are driving around in the back of the field, struggling to stay afloat in the Cup Series, Martin is one of the drivers on NASCAR’s “superteam” at Hendrick Motorsports. But almost every one of his fans can recall the time when Martin was Hendrick’s biggest rival.
What feels like it was “back in the day” for some fans of the short statured, yet big hearted man, was a time that Martin would rather forget. “No one probably realizes how dissatisfied with my life I was for several years there and raced for 25th place a lot more than I wanted to,” he told Gluck. “And that was torture. You know, it's torture to be out there on the racetrack and just get your brains beat in. Especially when you're used to doing well. I always did well. I never had to go through that.”
Mark Martin had trouble in his final few years at Roush Racing driving the No. 6 car
So Martin said he was going to scale back from full-time driving at Roush Racing in 2005. Or so he thought. Roush begged Martin to return from one more year because the only owner Martin had ever driven for didn’t have a driver to put in the No. 6 car.
So Martin came back for one final year in the car that had made him recognizable to NASCAR Cup Series fans. One last year in the No. 6 Ford. One last time full-time. Until one of NASCAR’s most successful owners approached him and asked if Martin would return to full-time racing for his team.
And the 51-year-old has loved it, but he couldn’t give more than three years to Hendrick, and last week the team announced that starting in 2012 Kasey Kahne would take over the reins of the car Martin currently pilots.
Each and every week Martin gets out of the No. 5 car and thanks his team, his crew chief, Alan Gustafson, and everyone associated with putting him in position to win. It rubs some fans the wrong way. People think there’s just no way Martin can be that happy every week.
Mark Martin talks with Jeff Gluck in March (Getty Images)
When Gluck inquired about this, Martin got animated. “I do say the same things,” he told Gluck. “Cause it's the damn truth. Cause that's what's on my mind. When I climb out of the race car and I have just received one of the greatest privileges of a lifetime – to drive a frickin' rocketship and work with the brightest people in the business – what do you think I'm going to say?”
Somehow I still find it hard to hear Mark Martin saying that, but his passion and energy doesn’t surprise me. In a book written about him in 2004 he said, “I’ve always been competitive. Anything I’ve ever done, I’ve gone at it 100 percent. I don’t know any other way.”
When my brother told me this weekend that my girls basketball team doesn’t like the way I coach, it offended me. I want to be the best. I want to succeed, exactly like Mark told Jeff Gluck. I want to be the best ever, and even though only winning one game out of 13 doesn’t make me seem successful, I’m giving it 100 percent to make my team better.
The way Kerry Coombs coached at Colerain High School back in the early parts of the decade (and before) really rubbed a lot of fans (myself included) the wrong way. Now being on his team, being a part of something special with him, I know why he rubbed me the wrong way…He had more energy and passion and he didn’t hold anything back.
UC assistant coach Kerry Coombs brings energy and passion to everything he does (Cincinnati Enquirer photo)
Mark Martin is the same way. “You haven't ever interviewed me yet when they brought my car in on the hook and I said, ‘Boy, that was fun! I am sure enjoying this!’” Martin continued telling Gluck. “You don't get that from me. You get the truth. And that's what's on my mind. I'm not going to apologize for that because I identify”
He comes from Arkansas. He’s described as a simple guy, and feels that way too. “Look, I don't appeal to everyone. I'm a real simple person and you get what you get. I also am pretty complex, as you can see. Most people don't know that,” he said.
But his impact on the sport, as well as his impact on his fans is felt day in and day out. One fan wrote a letter to Martin, and Gluck was kind enough to share it at the end of his piece. It stated,
“You always give thanks to the people who support you and always speak honestly from your heart, and that is how I try to live my life. You make everyone around you proud to be a part of your life whether being directly involved with you or just being a fan. You give so much more to your fans than just your racing. You and your family have in all actuality become part of our family, and I think you again for what you give us just by being a decent human being.”
When I was a senior at Elder High School, performing a task as the volleyball team statistician, our team’s head coach made some kind remarks about me at a team function. “You’ve taught us to give it 100 percent and to be proud of our work no matter what you’re doing, whether it’s volleyball related or mopping the floor, or doing homework, or being a friend,” he said. His sentiment, although unrelated to the comments by this fan, strike me as having the same idea behind them.
In high school I learned no matter what, give it everything (EHSports.com photo)
Br proud of your work, give it your all, and in the end, just be yourself.
“That,” he said, “is what I have to say about the haters,” referring to the letter. It’s tough to be a “hater” of Mark Martin, especially after reading that article. (linked here: http://www.sbnation.com/2010/4/18/1428471/mark-martin-nascar-2010-car-bio)
It’ll be even tougher to hate Mark Martin if he ever lifts the Sprint Cup trophy over his head, something he still says he won’t think about. Last year he wrote a diary for Yahoo! Sports, and stated, “As far as winning a championship, there won’t be anyone who tries harder or thinks more about scoring the points. But I won’t be doing any daydreaming about what it would be like to hoist the trophy. That doesn’t exist in my head and won’t until it’s over with. That’s how I deal with it. I keep my focus on getting every ounce out of myself, my car and my team, and being a great leader and a good person. If I do all of that when it’s said and done, whether I hoist the trophy or not, I will have been a success.”
Think any “haters” can argue with that? I certainly couldn’t. This article gave me just a few more reasons to love Mark Martin, who, before the 2010 season started proclaimed himself “Mr. Realistic,” and I’m sure there will be more as the season progresses. Until I can find another great article to conjure up the same feelings, this will have to do.
Enjoy your day, and thanks for reading
Friday, April 16, 2010
Mark Martin on Kasey Kahne, his "No. 1 pick"
All the NASCAR hubbub this week has been on Kasey Kahne’s impending move to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012. Kahne and HMS announced on Wednesday that starting in 2012 Kahne would drive the No. 5 currently piloted by veteran Mark Martin. Martin is under contract with HMS until 2011 to drive the No. 5 car.
He stepped away from Roush Racing in 2006, taking a part-time gig at Ginn Racing (which later folded into Dale Earnhardt Inc.) driving the No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet. In what has become a legendary moment, Martin nearly won the Daytona 500. He took over the No. 8 U.S. Army Chevy when Dale Earnhardt Jr. moved over to Hendrick in 2008.
In July of ’08 Martin sat next to Rick Hendrick in Daytona and announced he would take over the reins of the No. 5 car in 2009.
Now, what is the 51-year-old planning to do? On Friday afternoon he talked about his future.
“It was a little bit of a stretch to do one full-time season (when I joined Hendrick),” Martin told reporters. “I gave them three. It’s been the gift of my career that Hendrick Motorsports has given me. One of my biggest concerns has been who was going to be the successor so that I didn’t knock (Hendrick) out of getting the very best, A-number-one fit.”
He stepped away from Roush Racing in 2006, taking a part-time gig at Ginn Racing (which later folded into Dale Earnhardt Inc.) driving the No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet. In what has become a legendary moment, Martin nearly won the Daytona 500. He took over the No. 8 U.S. Army Chevy when Dale Earnhardt Jr. moved over to Hendrick in 2008.
In July of ’08 Martin sat next to Rick Hendrick in Daytona and announced he would take over the reins of the No. 5 car in 2009.
Now, what is the 51-year-old planning to do? On Friday afternoon he talked about his future.
“It was a little bit of a stretch to do one full-time season (when I joined Hendrick),” Martin told reporters. “I gave them three. It’s been the gift of my career that Hendrick Motorsports has given me. One of my biggest concerns has been who was going to be the successor so that I didn’t knock (Hendrick) out of getting the very best, A-number-one fit.”
Mark Martin talks to the media today in Texas (Photo: Twitpic.com, Jeff Gluck)
In true Mark Martin fashion, he found the successor to his ride at HMS. Years back he said a 15-year-old Joey Logano could take over the No. 6 car when he decided to leave Roush Racing. Now he says Kasey Kahne is ready to inherit the No. 5 car at Hendrick.
“He’s the total package,” Martin said. “If you want to know the truth, I can’t believe Rick Hendrick scored this deal, it is so perfect.” Martin wanted to find a driver who was better than himself, and he feels Kasey Kahne is that man.
One would wonder who, besides Jimmie Johnson, was better than Mark Martin last season. Martin approached his friends Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth about the ride too, but they, according to Martin, “both just laughed and joked around.”
Martin tried to persuade Matt Kenseth to take over the No. 5 ride in 2012 (Getty Images)
In 2011 Martin will be the wheel man of the No. 5 Chevy, any reports to the contrary are wrong. “I’m not sure why you don’t understand. It’s not clear to me why you don’t understand,” he said. But where will he end up in 2012?
Mark Martin discussed Tony Stewart's role as a driver/owner last year at Indianapolis
Last year at Indianapolis Motor Speedway a reporter asked Martin if more drivers would consider doing what Tony Stewart is doing—being a driver/owner in the Sprint Cup Series. He said, “I see additional opportunities there or going forward but not every driver can do what Tony Stewart has done. Many of the drivers who are capable of doing what Tony has done are set for the remainder of their career.”
Tony Stewart has won four races as a driver/owner
But, is he interested in being a driver/owner?
“I have absolutely no idea,” he said. “I’m going to do whatever I want to. And I’m not even going to know what I want to do for awhile. … I’ll explore driving and other things as well. I love the sport, I want to be in sport a long time, drive for a long time.
“For me to consider going away from NASCAR and crawling under a rock for the rest of my life, that’s no longer in the equation. I love what I do and I love the sport. It’s part of everything I’m made of.”
As a fan of the man, there’s nothing better to hear than that. Stay tuned for more news and info as the weekend progresses. Practice is under way and qualifying will take place later this afternoon in Texas. Have a great Friday.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Kahne to race for Hendrick officially; Questions abound
Kasey Kahne will be driving for Hendrick Motorsports in a move announced via HendrickMotorsports.com today. The story originally broke on Tuesday by ESPN’s NASCAR analyst Marty Smith.
Kahne will take over piloting the No. 5 car in the 2012 season. His plans for 2011—when Mark Martin is scheduled to drive the No. 5—are still up in the air, but according to the release, Kahne “intends to drive a full Sprint Cup Series schedule next season.”
Kahne will take over piloting the No. 5 car in the 2012 season. His plans for 2011—when Mark Martin is scheduled to drive the No. 5—are still up in the air, but according to the release, Kahne “intends to drive a full Sprint Cup Series schedule next season.”
Martin addresses the media before the Brickyard 400 in 2009
Mark Martin has yet to comment on Kahne’s signing, and according to his media relations director Kendra Jacobs, Martin will be available to talk to the media on Friday in Texas.
Team owner Rick Hendrick said in the release that, “In Kasey, we saw an opportunity to cement a big piece of our future. He possesses incredible talent and a tremendous dedication to his craft, and we know he'll be a great fit within our company.”
Kahne's current ride, the Budweiser No. 9, goes through inspection at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last July
Kahne knows that next season is part of an unknown right now, but acknowledged that it’s part of the process. “Hendrick Motorsports has a commitment to Mark Martin that they want to fulfill, and that’s important. It’s part of what attracts me to the team.”
Until more breaks, stay tuned. To read the release check here: http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/news_detail.asp?id=2702&bhcp=1
Friday, March 19, 2010
Gustafson’s dream come true
Last year heading into Bristol the new driver and crew chief combo of Alan Gustafson and Mark Martin were working through some bad luck. After two blown engines and a blown tire in three straight races, the No. 5 Kelloggs/CarQuest team headed to Bristol in 34th in points, teetering on the edge of not being locked in to the field, and having to qualify on time.
So Martin went out and put his No. 5 car on the pole, and finished sixth.
Alan Gustafson was the key in many races for Martin and the No. 5 team last season, making key decisions atop the pit box in Martin’s best season since 1998. “It was a magical year, last year, for me,” Martin said Wednesday. “And I still feel the magic each time I strap into a race car.”
One of the best story lines behind Gustafson and Martin’s fabulous run last year is the fact that as a youngster Gustafson idolized Martin.
“When I found out he was going to drive our Cup car, obviously I was very ecstatic,” Gustafson told Yahoo’s Jay Hart last week. “I don’t think you could ask for anything more than having Mark Martin drive your car.”
I gave up the idea of driving in NASCAR many, many years ago, but why not be a crew chief? Well, I have trouble adjusting my cars on video games, so maybe that’s not me either, but any chance to work with Mark Martin would be amazing. And no one has found that out better than Gustafson.
“There are a lot of things that you learn, but his passion, drive and determination for the sport is incredible. It’s something that you know is there, but when you work with him it’s really, really obvious – how much he really enjoys this sport and how dedicated he is to it,” he said.
In a book written in 2004 about his career, Martin said, “I’ve always been competitive. Anything I’ve ever done, I’ve gone at it 100 percent. I don’t know any other way.”
So when they came to “Thunder Valley” last March they knew they had to put the pedal down and go. “I didn’t doubt myself or the team or Mark,” Gustafson said. “But after we had so many successive part failures or issues or blown tires or crashes in row, you just wonder, ‘Man, what do I need to do different? We’ve got the speed; we’re just not getting the results. Are we missing something here? Are we trying too hard? Are we not trying hard enough? Are we too tense? What is it?’”
They never gave up and fought their way back into the Chase, where Martin started as the points leader. Martin won race one of the Chase in New Hampshire, partially due to a call by Gustafson to short pit late in the race.
“We fell a little bit short, but all in all we overcame a lot and I think we accomplished a lot of good things,” Gustafson said.
But falling short definitely fueled both driver and crew chief. “I hope (this year) that we’ll have the hammer when it’s time to go,” Martin said. Having the hammer in the past four years has meant getting past the guys on their own team, two of the best in the business, the No. 48 team of Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson.
So, how do you get by them? “If I had the answer I’d have a bigger trophy in my office right now,” Gustafson said. “Mine’s a little smaller than theirs. I will say that the time they have had together is very important. That is one thing that the 5 team, we’re a little behind them on.
“It took them a little while to get it exactly right, and hopefully the experience the 5 team has had together will help us be stronger in 2010.”
And Gustafson paired with his hero Martin for the past year has helped the No. 5 team reach heights that were unmatched with previous drivers Casey Mears and Kyle Busch. This season when the GoDaddy.com No. 5 team heads into Bristol they are not worried about points. Martin sits seventh, a 27-spot improvement over last year.
Gustafson doesn’t plan on letting Martin finish second again this year. He’s as driven as his driver is when it comes to being the best. He said, “I’m just a regular guy who loves racing, who loves my job and that I work real hard at it. You know, at the end of the day you just want to be remembered as a guy who was very tough to compete against and does things the right way and does a good job at it and, ultimately, a guy that the people who work for you like.
“That’s one thing that is very important to me. You may not be the nicest guy, but at the end of the day they’ll say, ‘Man, that is a hard-working guy who’s always treated me fair.’ That’s biggest thing.”
So Martin went out and put his No. 5 car on the pole, and finished sixth.
Alan Gustafson was the key in many races for Martin and the No. 5 team last season, making key decisions atop the pit box in Martin’s best season since 1998. “It was a magical year, last year, for me,” Martin said Wednesday. “And I still feel the magic each time I strap into a race car.”
Gustafson (left) chats with Greg Erwin, Greg Biffle's crew chief, at Indianapolis last year
One of the best story lines behind Gustafson and Martin’s fabulous run last year is the fact that as a youngster Gustafson idolized Martin.
“When I found out he was going to drive our Cup car, obviously I was very ecstatic,” Gustafson told Yahoo’s Jay Hart last week. “I don’t think you could ask for anything more than having Mark Martin drive your car.”
I gave up the idea of driving in NASCAR many, many years ago, but why not be a crew chief? Well, I have trouble adjusting my cars on video games, so maybe that’s not me either, but any chance to work with Mark Martin would be amazing. And no one has found that out better than Gustafson.
Martin and Gustafson paired for seven poles and five wins in 2009. Already in 2010 Martin has one pole. (Getty Images)
“There are a lot of things that you learn, but his passion, drive and determination for the sport is incredible. It’s something that you know is there, but when you work with him it’s really, really obvious – how much he really enjoys this sport and how dedicated he is to it,” he said.
In a book written in 2004 about his career, Martin said, “I’ve always been competitive. Anything I’ve ever done, I’ve gone at it 100 percent. I don’t know any other way.”
Rick Hendrick believed in Mark Martin two years ago, so much so that he persuaded him to take a full-time ride in the No. 5 car. I'd say it's paid off for both sides (Getty Images)
So when they came to “Thunder Valley” last March they knew they had to put the pedal down and go. “I didn’t doubt myself or the team or Mark,” Gustafson said. “But after we had so many successive part failures or issues or blown tires or crashes in row, you just wonder, ‘Man, what do I need to do different? We’ve got the speed; we’re just not getting the results. Are we missing something here? Are we trying too hard? Are we not trying hard enough? Are we too tense? What is it?’”
They never gave up and fought their way back into the Chase, where Martin started as the points leader. Martin won race one of the Chase in New Hampshire, partially due to a call by Gustafson to short pit late in the race.
“We fell a little bit short, but all in all we overcame a lot and I think we accomplished a lot of good things,” Gustafson said.
The four driver team of Hendrick Motorsports pose together with their boss at the preseason media meeting (Getty Images)
But falling short definitely fueled both driver and crew chief. “I hope (this year) that we’ll have the hammer when it’s time to go,” Martin said. Having the hammer in the past four years has meant getting past the guys on their own team, two of the best in the business, the No. 48 team of Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson.
So, how do you get by them? “If I had the answer I’d have a bigger trophy in my office right now,” Gustafson said. “Mine’s a little smaller than theirs. I will say that the time they have had together is very important. That is one thing that the 5 team, we’re a little behind them on.
“It took them a little while to get it exactly right, and hopefully the experience the 5 team has had together will help us be stronger in 2010.”
And Gustafson paired with his hero Martin for the past year has helped the No. 5 team reach heights that were unmatched with previous drivers Casey Mears and Kyle Busch. This season when the GoDaddy.com No. 5 team heads into Bristol they are not worried about points. Martin sits seventh, a 27-spot improvement over last year.
Martin runs a practice lap earlier today in Bristol (Getty Images)
Gustafson doesn’t plan on letting Martin finish second again this year. He’s as driven as his driver is when it comes to being the best. He said, “I’m just a regular guy who loves racing, who loves my job and that I work real hard at it. You know, at the end of the day you just want to be remembered as a guy who was very tough to compete against and does things the right way and does a good job at it and, ultimately, a guy that the people who work for you like.
“That’s one thing that is very important to me. You may not be the nicest guy, but at the end of the day they’ll say, ‘Man, that is a hard-working guy who’s always treated me fair.’ That’s biggest thing.”
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Jeff Gordon wants family to enjoy his success too
Even though his “Drive for Five” has been stuck in neutral for the past eight years, Jeff Gordon’s passion and energy for the sport that made him a household name hasn’t gone away. In a recent article published by the USA Today’s Nate Ryan, Gordon, now 38, said he expects to race for another five or six years so his family can enjoy the sport that he’s been involved in for the past two decades.
“I’ve always said I don’t want to race for the money,” Gordon said. “I really want my family to be able to be a part of it in a way that they can see and experience and be proud of what I’ve done.”
Jeff Gordon and his wife Ingrid have a 2-year-old daughter Ella, and are expecting another child this summer. Even though Gordon has enjoyed being a father, he wants his children to enjoy the sport in the way that kids like Kyle Petty enjoyed being around his father, back in the day.
Gordon said last season’s run to finish third in the points behind teammates Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin shows that he’s “still got it.” A fire and a passion that burns within the NASCAR star hasn’t diminished, despite Gordon’s perceived drop off in performance.
“You go through life and find you really care about what you do and how important it is,” he said. “You think about what life would be like without it. I’m enjoying what I do.”
Sound familiar?
On Friday, July 24 of last year, Mark Martin noted to a group of reporters (yours truly included in the group), “I said we’d start with one [win]. Just because we won one didn’t mean I was going to quit and go back and sit at home.” And again in September after signing a contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports, the then 50-year-old said, “That shouldn't come as any big surprise. Who would want to quit?”
Gordon has taken some notes from his eldest teammate it seems. Gordon also told Ryan, “The reality of it is my passion is racing. I’m a highly competitive person, and whether I’m driving or not I want to be involved in racing. I feel like it’d be pretty crazy for me to step away from that.”
In a book written in 2004 about his career, Martin said, “I’ve always been competitive. Anything I’ve ever done, I’ve gone at it 100 percent. I don’t know any other way.”
I’ve often talked about how I live up to giving it my all. There’s no other way to go than full-throttle, as I mentioned in January when I discussed how Urban Meyer made me think twice about my lifestyle. And, although I’ve never been much of a Jeff Gordon fan, I have to respect his view on this.
Plus, I’ve lightened my harsh stance on Jeff since he’s gotten older, and is now a teammate of the man I consider my hero and role model. The fact that Gordon has become a family man and isn’t necessarily drawing the ire of NASCAR fans every week (although, interesting tangent thought-shouldn’t we all be angry he found Jimmie Johnson and suggested to Mr. Hendrick that the kid be put in an HMS car?) has also made me respect Gordon all the more.
If my dad was in NASCAR, I’d do everything I could to make sure he kept racing until he was Mark Martin’s age. I’d love to hear what 17-year-old Matt Martin, Mark’s son, has to say about growing up around NASCAR. Heck, he practically grew up with Gordon’s rise to the top.
But, that’s another story for another day. Back to the original point; I’m glad Jeff Gordon is willing to let his family share in his passion and joy. I’ve been doing it for years with my family and friends. I also have a great respect for Gordon—something I never thought ten years ago I’d ever say.
I know it should be assumed that every driver is 100 percent passionate about NASCAR and he always wants to win, or he wouldn’t be driving, but it was refreshing to read Gordon’s take on it. Maybe he’ll finally get to celebrate title number five, and this time he’ll celebrate with his whole family in Victory Lane.
“I’ve always said I don’t want to race for the money,” Gordon said. “I really want my family to be able to be a part of it in a way that they can see and experience and be proud of what I’ve done.”
Gordon spoke to the media before last year's Brickyard 400. I was lucky enough to catch him looking away from the cameras.
Jeff Gordon and his wife Ingrid have a 2-year-old daughter Ella, and are expecting another child this summer. Even though Gordon has enjoyed being a father, he wants his children to enjoy the sport in the way that kids like Kyle Petty enjoyed being around his father, back in the day.
Gordon said last season’s run to finish third in the points behind teammates Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin shows that he’s “still got it.” A fire and a passion that burns within the NASCAR star hasn’t diminished, despite Gordon’s perceived drop off in performance.
“You go through life and find you really care about what you do and how important it is,” he said. “You think about what life would be like without it. I’m enjoying what I do.”
Sound familiar?
On Friday, July 24 of last year, Mark Martin noted to a group of reporters (yours truly included in the group), “I said we’d start with one [win]. Just because we won one didn’t mean I was going to quit and go back and sit at home.” And again in September after signing a contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports, the then 50-year-old said, “That shouldn't come as any big surprise. Who would want to quit?”
Mark Martin seems to have rubbed off on Jeff Gordon
Gordon has taken some notes from his eldest teammate it seems. Gordon also told Ryan, “The reality of it is my passion is racing. I’m a highly competitive person, and whether I’m driving or not I want to be involved in racing. I feel like it’d be pretty crazy for me to step away from that.”
In a book written in 2004 about his career, Martin said, “I’ve always been competitive. Anything I’ve ever done, I’ve gone at it 100 percent. I don’t know any other way.”
I’ve often talked about how I live up to giving it my all. There’s no other way to go than full-throttle, as I mentioned in January when I discussed how Urban Meyer made me think twice about my lifestyle. And, although I’ve never been much of a Jeff Gordon fan, I have to respect his view on this.
Plus, I’ve lightened my harsh stance on Jeff since he’s gotten older, and is now a teammate of the man I consider my hero and role model. The fact that Gordon has become a family man and isn’t necessarily drawing the ire of NASCAR fans every week (although, interesting tangent thought-shouldn’t we all be angry he found Jimmie Johnson and suggested to Mr. Hendrick that the kid be put in an HMS car?) has also made me respect Gordon all the more.
Gordon (farthest right) is at least partially responsible for Johnson's (farthest left) dominance of the sport, at least in theory (Getty Images)
If my dad was in NASCAR, I’d do everything I could to make sure he kept racing until he was Mark Martin’s age. I’d love to hear what 17-year-old Matt Martin, Mark’s son, has to say about growing up around NASCAR. Heck, he practically grew up with Gordon’s rise to the top.
But, that’s another story for another day. Back to the original point; I’m glad Jeff Gordon is willing to let his family share in his passion and joy. I’ve been doing it for years with my family and friends. I also have a great respect for Gordon—something I never thought ten years ago I’d ever say.
I know it should be assumed that every driver is 100 percent passionate about NASCAR and he always wants to win, or he wouldn’t be driving, but it was refreshing to read Gordon’s take on it. Maybe he’ll finally get to celebrate title number five, and this time he’ll celebrate with his whole family in Victory Lane.
Johnson, Gordon and Martin (Getty Images)
Ryan's article can be found here: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/2010-02-24-jeff-gordon_N.htm
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Mark Martin: The man, a role model and life teacher
I’ve often stated that I really can’t remember why I when I started watching NASCAR I began to root for Mark Martin. Now, looking back, I see that I made the right choice, not only as a fan of the sport, but I made the right choice as a fan of the man himself.
After he got out of his winning car at Chicago he said, “That was fun. That’s what life’s all about right there.” He followed that comment up with this jewel at Indy on Saturday. “I can promise you one thing: no matter what, there is nobody in NASCAR having more fun than me,” he said, laughing. “I’m sure about that. Ultimately, that’s really what it's about.”
After he got out of his winning car at Chicago he said, “That was fun. That’s what life’s all about right there.” He followed that comment up with this jewel at Indy on Saturday. “I can promise you one thing: no matter what, there is nobody in NASCAR having more fun than me,” he said, laughing. “I’m sure about that. Ultimately, that’s really what it's about.”
Mark Martin climbed from his car after running the fastest lap in qualifying on Saturday (AP)
In October of 2007, his first part-time season, he was asked about Aric Almirola, the driver with whom he shared the #01 Army car. “I appreciate the patience that he has,” Mark said, continuing with, “Impatience is a real hard thing to deal with and to work with. Impatience is waste of time. It’s a diversion. If you’re impatient, you’re worrying about things you can’t control.”
And to that point in my life, it was the best advice I had ever gotten. Don’t worry about things outside of your control. Mark winning the Brickyard a few days ago? Outside of my control. My car’s engine and transmissions woes on Friday morning, outside of my control. The rain that moved Saturday’s qualifying back? Way outside my control, but remembering Mark’s comments, I took it in stride and made the most of my situations.
And to that point in my life, it was the best advice I had ever gotten. Don’t worry about things outside of your control. Mark winning the Brickyard a few days ago? Outside of my control. My car’s engine and transmissions woes on Friday morning, outside of my control. The rain that moved Saturday’s qualifying back? Way outside my control, but remembering Mark’s comments, I took it in stride and made the most of my situations.
Qualifying started four hours late on Saturday due to weather
Mark Martin was always known for being a pessimist. He’s noted that his expectations and perfectionist attitudes made him that way. On Saturday, after claiming his fourth pole of the 2009 season he said, “My expectations were what eventually just ground me into the ground and took the fun out of racing for me. So to be able to be rejuvenated after a couple years of catching my breath, then to have some crazy surge of success that we're experiencing, is beyond my dreams.”
Martin gives his wisdom to the media after qualifying
“I happen to have the same fire and desire that I had 30 years ago. Not everyone, you know, has that. Maybe three years ago I didn't have as much either,” he said. “I had a chance to look at it and say, What I want in life, what do I want out of life, and can I still do this. I think that's a very important question that I asked myself.” There are 50 year old people in America today that ask themselves that question, that look back at their life, at their career, and wonder if they’ve made the right decisions. You could tell from Mark’s genuineness that he’s where he wants to be.
And he’s having fun. I said yesterday that his theme song should have been Hoobstank’s “So Close, Yet So Far,” and in all actuality it could also be Green Day’s, “Good Riddance” (or, as some know it, “I Hope You’ve Had the Time of Your Life”) .
He commented, “At least we are having fun and we’re having success. It’s always fun to beat the odds. I believe that we are beating the odds.”
Mark Martin smiles before getting in his car to run laps at Indy on Friday afternoon
The numerous nuggets of wisdom he provided never ceased to amaze me in that short twenty minutes he spent talking to the media after his pole run on Saturday. His best line—one that struck me as soon as he said it, and inspired me to write this piece—might be THE new quote to live by. It might replace his earlier comment about impatience. “When I look back on [living in Indiana], I can't relive those days. The only ones I can live are the ones going forward,” he said.
‘Damn. That’s a hell of a comment,’ I thought to myself. And the thing is, it’s common sense, it’s a quote that anyone could say and it might not hit me as hard. But, when Mark Martin said it, it struck me as the best advice I had heard in a long, long time.
I’ve always respected Mark Martin for being a tough, clean racecar driver. He’s been called the gentleman of the garage area. He’s also a noted fitness freak. The man is stronger than most, if not all, drivers in the garage area. “So what I do is I focus on my strengths. I’m trying to make the very most out of my career. And physical fitness, health and fitness is a part of that,” he said in a serious tone. “My quality of life from here going forward is very dependent on that. That’s something that I just don't think you can afford to let go.”
“All I can do is use my strengths. That’s all I can do. I can’t do anything about my weaknesses,” he said. That falls into the category of worrying about things outside of your control I mentioned earlier. He’s given up on chasing the ever elusive Cup title, and why? “I'll answer the questions and everything else, but I'm not going to lay in bed at night and think about what it will be like to lift that trophy,” he told reporters after winning at Michigan. He added, “You know, I’m not gonna deal with expectations that cut my legs out from under me again ever in my career. I’m gonna go out and drive the racecar as hard as I can drive every time I get in it.”
Martin got out of his car at Chicago and showed some emotion by raising his arm in the air (Getty Images)
Effort is the key to success, or so the saying goes. Mark has continually pushed that he wants to make the Chase for the sole purpose of seeing his team mentioned with the elite teams in NASCAR. “I feel like my race team deserved to be a part of that elite group but if we come up short it won’t be from lack of effort,” he told the media on Friday at Indianapolis.
Team is a big part of Mark’s comments. He realizes he can’t win races by himself. When he ran the quickest lap of Friday’s final practice at Indianapolis he knew he had a great car, but it meant more to him to see his team’s collective happiness. “You should have seen the light in all my guys' faces. I mean it, that's the most, the very most fun of the whole thing that we're doing here, is to see their faces. It's just really, really cool,” he said.
Martin's pit crew is one of the best on pit road (Getty Images)
“I love those guys. I'm a pretty tough unit. I've had a lot of disappointments,” he continued. Everything from finishing second in the Daytona 500 in 2007 to having a title basically pulled from him for an illegal part in 1990. However, he mentioned that at the track is where his ‘family’ is. “My people at the racetrack are my family and have been my family for a long time,” he commented.
His team might be more than family to him. He’s got one son, Matt, who is now 17. “But I feel toward them (his team) like you do toward your children. I don't want them to have to suffer through disappointment. So I put a lot of pressure on myself to get a good lap today so that I wouldn't let them down,” he added.
He’s even put some pressure on himself to succeed this year. After a dismal Michigan qualifying run he commented that he should have been fired. “I'm serious. If I can't do better than that in the stuff they're giving me, they're going to need to get somebody else,” he said. He won the Lifelock 400 the next day. At Chicago, after dominating the race and leading a race high 195 laps he got into the media room and stated, “I’m racing for my job.”
He then glanced at Rick Hendrick, his car owner, who countered back, “Alan and I said—and Mark you probably don’t want to hear this—we said we can win a championship with Mark Martin this year. We were confident we could win races.”
“If we were fortunate enough, God willing, to win a championship with Mark, I said it at Darlington, I’ll say it again, to me there’s nothing more professionally I could accomplish than that,” his crew chief, Alan Gustafson said. “That’s probably the biggest thing that I could do.”
Alan Gustafson (left) talks to Greg Erwin on Saturday morning at IndianapolisHe just wanted to be “in the fray” on Sunday afternoon, and he almost won the second biggest race of the season. For all the disappointment he has endured, all the times he’s come in second place and all the episodes of hurt he has endured, he’s got a new positive outlook on life.
“You can say what you want, but I've had some days this year. That's not the way to approach me. It's been my day this year, all year. I'd love to have won the race. But I'm very grateful to have had a chance at it,” he said, slightly grinning.
He thanked his team numerous times on the radio—both before and after the race—and wanted to make sure they knew how proud he was of their hard work.
He reflected on his second place finish by stating, “I got beat. I didn't get her done. But I gave it my heart. So did my race team. I'm grateful for it.”
For all Mark Martin fans this season has been like a dream come true. And even though Mark has downplayed the running for a title, some of his fans want nothing more than to see him lift the Sprint Cup in November at Homestead.
He keeps everything in perspective with one last pearl of wisdom. “I’ve been incredibly blessed with a great family, great friends, a great career,” he explained. “And now with a great team, we’ve had our share of success. It’s great.”
And it’s great to be a fan of Mark Martin. Mark Martin the man, not Mark Martin the driver.
“You can say what you want, but I've had some days this year. That's not the way to approach me. It's been my day this year, all year. I'd love to have won the race. But I'm very grateful to have had a chance at it,” he said, slightly grinning.
He thanked his team numerous times on the radio—both before and after the race—and wanted to make sure they knew how proud he was of their hard work.
He reflected on his second place finish by stating, “I got beat. I didn't get her done. But I gave it my heart. So did my race team. I'm grateful for it.”
For all Mark Martin fans this season has been like a dream come true. And even though Mark has downplayed the running for a title, some of his fans want nothing more than to see him lift the Sprint Cup in November at Homestead.
He keeps everything in perspective with one last pearl of wisdom. “I’ve been incredibly blessed with a great family, great friends, a great career,” he explained. “And now with a great team, we’ve had our share of success. It’s great.”
And it’s great to be a fan of Mark Martin. Mark Martin the man, not Mark Martin the driver.
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