PREVIEW: MARK MARTIN (NO. 5 DELPHI CHEVROLET)
VENUE: LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY (1.5-MILE TRI-OVAL)
CIRCUIT: NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES (RACE 3 OF 35)
DATE: MARCH 1, 2008 (200 LAPS, 300 MILES)

MARTIN AT VEGAS: Mark Martin has raced in four NASCAR Nationwide Series events at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, winning the last time he ran there in 2005. Overall, he has won twice, earned two pole positions and recorded three top-five finishes and four top-10s. In each of the four races, Martin has led at least eight laps. His average start is 7.2, and his average finish is 2.5.

IN THE SERIES: Martin, who ran his first full season in 1987, is the winningest driver in the Nationwide Series with 47 wins. In 225 races, Martin also has recorded 30 poles, 107 top-five finishes and 144 top-10s. His average start is 10th, and his average finish is 12.4. In a 2006 NASCAR poll of both fans and media, Martin ranked No. 1 among the "25 Greatest NASCAR Nationwide Series Drivers." Martin made his debut in the series on Aug. 13, 1982.

VETERAN TOUCH: Martin, at age 49, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the cast that will drive the No. 5 JR Motorsports Chevrolet this season. He has competed in 12 more Nationwide Series races than the five other drivers combined. Martin has run in 225 races, while Dale Earnhardt Jr. (99), Jimmie Johnson (87), Ron Fellows (12), Adrian Fernandez (9) and Landon Cassill (6) combine for 213.

NO. 5 JR MOTORSPORTS CHEVY IN '08: Martin will run five races in JR Motorsports' No. 5 Chevrolet this season. Cassill will race in 16 and contend for Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. Earnhardt (9), Johnson (3), Fernandez (1) and Fellows (1) fill out the 35-race schedule. The No. 5 team is competing for the Nationwide Series owner's championship.

NATIONWIDE LINEUP: In his five Nationwide events in the No. 5 Chevy this season, Martin will run twice with Delphi as the sponsor -- this weekend in Las Vegas and again on Nov. 1 at Texas Motor Speedway. On May 9, his next race with JR Motorsports, he will pilot the No. 5 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. Martin also will race the GoDaddy.com Chevrolet on Aug. 16 at Michigan International Speedway and Sept. 27 at Kansas Speedway.

VEGAS CHASSIS: The No. 5 Delphi Chevrolet team will use Chassis No. 473, a new car that Martin tested in Las Vegas in January, for Saturday's race.

*****

MARK MARTIN, DRIVER OF THE NO. 5 DELPHI CHEVROLET (ON DRIVING THE NO. 5 CHEVY FOR JR MOTORSPORTS.): "I'm really excited about getting behind the wheel of the No. 5 Delphi Chevrolet this weekend. I've had a lot of strong runs in the Nationwide Series at Las Vegas, and anytime you get in that No. 5 car you know it's going to be fast. So it will just be up to me to make sure that I can hold up my end of the bargain. I really enjoy working with those guys on that team. We came pretty close to getting a win last year at Darlington, and hopefully we can go in there to Vegas next weekend and close the deal."