MICHIGAN UP NEXT FOR VIAGRAŽ RACING TEAM
After another strong run at Pocono, Martin and the No. 6 ViagraŽ Racing Team take to the track at Michigan for the Michigan 400. Last week Martin posted a second place finish at Pocono, his fourth top-five finish in his last five races and his sixth top-five finish of 2002.
FOLLOW THE LEADER
Martin has led at least one lap in his last four races (counting the Winston). Last week at Pocono, Martin led on two separate occasions for a total of six laps and at Dover Martin led 77 of the first 125 laps of the race, before getting involved in an accident involving lapped traffic.
IN THE POINTS
The second place finish at Pocono helped Martin climb to fourth in the point standings, just 47 points behind third place Jeff Gordon and 212 points out of first place. Martin has led in seven of the last 10 races at Michigan.
MARTIN FAST FACTS - MICHIGAN
" Mark Martin is third amongst active drivers in wins at Michigan International Speedway with four.
" Martin has posted 21 top-10 finishes, including four victories, in the last 25 races at Michigan.
" Martin has led 20 races at Michigan International Speedway for a total of 795 laps.
" Martin has led in seven of the last 10 races at Michigan International Speedway.
" Martin has posted six top-five finishes in 2002.
" Martin has finished in the top-five in four of the past six races.
QUOTING MARK
Mark Martin on Michigan Racing:
"Michigan is one of the tracks that I really enjoy racing on. I consider it one of my favorite tracks. We've had some good success there and we have been fortunate to win there four different times. Things really seem to be coming together and the ViagraŽ Racing team is doing an outstanding job this season. Hopefully we can continue our string of strong runs and we can post another good run this weekend at Michigan."
No. 6 Crew Chief Ben Leslie on Michigan racing:
"Mark has traditionally been really strong at Michigan and it's one of the tracks that he considers his favorites. We are taking a strong car (JR-95). It's one of the first cars that we built for Mark and it did really well in its debut at Dover a couple of weeks ago before we got caught up in an accident. There wasn't any major damage and hopefully we can see the same kind of run this weekend.
ONE OF NASCAR'S ALL-TIME ELITE, MARK MARTIN
" Martin's 33 Winston Cup wins make him the fourth most winning active driver on the Cup circuit.
" Martin has currently started 451 straight races, the fourth-longest string of any current driver and the eighth-longest streak in Cup history.
" Martin's 41 all-time Winston Cup poles are the fifth most in Winston Cup History.*
" Martin ranks fifth all-time in Winston Cup points standings.
" Martin has started 508 Winston Cup Races, finishing inside the top 10 on 302 occasions, inside the top five 194 times and visiting winner's circle 33 times.
" Martin's 45 career wins in the Busch series are a NASCAR record.
" Martin has currently started 508 Winston Cup races during his career.
LAST SEASON at Michigan
JUNE 10 - Michigan International Speedway
Kmart 400 - Started 20th/Finished 16
Martin was able to maintain his 14th place in the point's race with a 16th place finish at the Kmart 400. Starting 20th he moved the Viagra Ford Taurus through the field into the top five by the 45th lap and he ran in the field's top 12 for much of the day. A lug nut jam during a pit on lap 163 of the race cost the 6 team a lap and despite a couple of close opportunities conditions, never presented themselves for Martin to gain the lap back. A caution on lap 190 forced a restart and Martin was forced to move to the back of the field and thus lost his opportunity to gain the lap back, still he was able to guide the car to a 16th place finish.
