Martin to Make 400th Start at Homestead this Weekend

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. - Mark Martin is scheduled to make his 400th consecutive Winston Cup start this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Martin has started every Winston Cup points race since February 14, 1988. During that span of races, he has accumulated 32 wins, 180 top five's, 264 top 10's and 37 poles. Martin has piloted Jack Roush's Ford for all of his 400 consecutive starts.

"It is hard to believe Jack and I have been together for 400 races," Martin said. "It seems like just yesterday that we opened the shop in Liberty, N.C., and started the Stroh's Light team. We've come a long way since those days. We have had a lot of success and a few disappointments along the way, but I couldn't ask for a better owner and team throughout the years."

Martin will also achieve another milestone this weekend in Homestead. He will make his 200th start in the NASCAR Busch Series. Although his starts are not consecutive, his record in those races is impressive. In 199 starts, he has won 45 races (23 percent), and earned 91 top five's (46 percent), 125 top-10 finishes (63 percent) and 27 poles (14 percent). This will be Martin's final race in the Busch Series before retiring to make more time for his Winston Cup commitments.

"I never spend much time looking back on what I've done," Martin said. "That is just not the kind of person I am. I spend all of my time looking forward to see what I need to do next, rather than focus on what I've already done. Someday when I retire from racing, I'm sure I'll look back and see how much I have accomplished. For now, there is still too much to be done."

Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Roush Industries and operates nine teams; five in NASCAR Winston Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and Kevin Lepage; two in the Busch Series with Martin and Burton; and two in Craftsman Truck with Busch and champion Greg Biffle.