MARK MARTIN FAST FACTS * COCA-COLA 600
Sunday, May 29, 2004
LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY (1.5 - MILE) * 400 LAPS
MARTIN, VIAGRA RACE TEAM LOOK TO REPEAT HISTORY IN 600
Mark Martin and the Viagra Racing Team head into the Coca-Cola 600 fresh off a strong performance in last weekend's Nextel All-Star Challenge. Martin ran up front and was a contender for most of the race, until taking on damage late after getting struck from behind by another car. The team will look to build on that run this weekend in the circuit's longest race, where Martin last won in 2002.
Chassis Number: (RK-241) - The team will run RK-241 at this weekend's Coca-Cola 600. This will be the third run of the season for RK-241 (Atlanta - 14th, Texas - 17th, and California - 11th). The car posted the fastest times on the track during its testing session earlier this month.
Worthy Note: Martin's last victory came at the 2002 Coca-Cola 600.
IN THE POINTS
Martin's seventh-place run at Richmond moved Martin up one more spot to 12th in the Nextel Cup point standings. Martin has moved from 18th to 12th in the last four races and is currently 96 points outside of 10th place and just seven points out of 11th.
REVERSE TREND
Martin's car will again feature a reverse paint scheme at the 600, as it will for all six remaining night races in 2004. The white and the black will be switched on the car creating the inverse look. Martin has finished seventh and 10th running the reverse scheme.
MARTIN AT LOWE'S
Martin has four wins at Lowe's including one in the Coca-Cola 600 (2002). His 15 top-five finishes are the most of any active driver at the 1.5-mile track. The four wins tie Jeff Gordon for the most of any active driver and the for the third most ever. In addition Martin won the 1998 Winston All-Star race and six races in the Busch Series at Lowe's.
FOLLOW THE LEADER
Martin has led a total of 1,116 laps in his 38 races at Lowe's, the most of any active driver.
QUOTING MARK
ON THE COCA-COLA 600
"We've been looking forward to this one. We had a good car last week in the All-Star race but knew all along that our car for the 600 would be even better. This race team is very excited about going back to Lowe's this weekend and making a run at the Coca-Cola 600. Pat Tyson, Wally Brown, Todd Zeigler and all of the guys on the team are doing a fantastic job with the cars. I feel like I'm blessed to work with this group of guys and we can't wait to get back out there.
"Obviously the 600 is special to me, because we got a really special win there a couple of years ago. That win was one of the best of my career and we would love to get back there again. It's Viagra's sixth anniversary and we want to take them to victory lane again to celebrate. There are also a lot of new guys on the team that weren't around in 2002 when we won the 600, so we'd like to go there with them as well. Lowe's is one of our favorite tracks. We ran well there last week and hopefully we can finish the job there this week."
PAT TRYSON
"We're excited about the chance. We tested there a couple of weeks ago with this car and we were pretty fast. We were good there in the All-Star until we got damaged late, so we are very optimistic about going back there this weekend and making a run for the checkered flag."-
Mark Martin Fast Facts * THE 600
Martin has four wins at Lowe's Motor Speedway, including one in the Coca-Cola 600.
Martin's four wins at Lowe's tie for the most of any active driver.
Martin's last Cup victory came in the 2002 Coca-Cola 600.
Martin has 19 top 10 and 15 top-five finishes at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Martin has led 1,116 laps at Lowe's, the most of any active driver.
Martin has won six Busch races at Lowe's and the Winston All-Star event in 1998.
LAST YEAR AT THE 600
MAY 25, 2003 * Started 21st, Finished 29th
The 600 presents a situation where the race begins during the warm May afternoon, but track conditions dramatically change as the North Carolina sun disappears into the horizon and night falls over the track. Martin and the No. 6 crew set the car up to handle the cooler conditions of the night and the plan was working to perfection. After struggling during the beginning of the race, Martin had become one of the fastest cars on the track and had worked his way inside the top 20 by lap 113. Martin radioed his crew that the car was working 'very good.' However, there would be a niche. The crew had noticed a small oil leak during an earlier pit stop and took the opportunity during a caution on lap 127 to check under the hood. Further examination of the problem revealed a broken oil line. The team came back into the pits to work on the line. They were able to bypass the line, but lost a lap in the process. When Martin returned to the field he was one lap down and in 38th position. Eventually the team would replace the line forcing them to lose two laps. By the time the damage was repaired, Martin was down three laps,but still running times as fast as the leaders. However, heavy rains would force an early end to the race and Martin and the No. 6 team had to settle for a 29th-place finish.
ONE OF NASCAR'S ALL-TIME ELITE, MARK MARTIN
Martin's 33 Nextel Cup wins put him fourth on the win list among active drivers.
Martin has currently started 521 straight Nextel Cup races, the third-longest current streak and the seventh-longest streak in Cup history.
Martin's 41 Nextel Cup poles are the fifth most in Cup history.
Martin ranks fifth all-time in the Nextel Cup point standings.
Martin has started 577 Cup races, finishing inside the top 10 on 329 occasions, inside the top five 206 times and visiting winner's circle 33 times.
Martin's 45 career wins in the Busch Series are a NASCAR record.
Martin's 11 victories in IROC competition ties Dale Earnhardt for the most ever. In addition Martin has won four championships in the IROC series, including a record three straight.
