MARK MARTIN FAST FACTS - Subway Fresh 500, April 23, 2005
RACE 8
PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
(1 - MILE) - 312 LAPS
MARTIN, NO. 6 VIAGRA TEAM MOVE ON TO PHOENIX
Mark Martin and the Viagra Team are coming off a tough finish in Texas, where Martin finished 20th, despite running as high as fourth late in the race. The team will look to rebound at a track where Martin has finishedf in the top 10 in 76 percent of his races.
Chassis Number: (RK-274) - The team will run RK-247 this weekend at Texas. RK-247 is a new car that will be making its first run. The team will run RK-274 this weekend at Phoenix. RK-247 is the same car Martin finished third with at Martinsville two weeks ago.
AT PHOENIX
Starts: 17
Wins: 1
Top 5's: 8
Top 10's: 13
Poles: -
Highest finish: 1st (93)
First time: 11/6/88 (36th)
Last time: 11/6/04 (15th)
Worthy Note: Martin won in Phoenix on Halloween of 1993 and has finishes second or better in six of 17 races at Phoenix..
IN THE POINTS
Martin is currenlty seventh in the Nextel Cup point standings, only one point out of of sixth and just 23 points behind third. He currenlty trails first place by 260 points, moving into the eighth race of the season.
MARTIN AT PHOENIX
Martin has posted top-10 finishes in 13 of his 17 Cup races at Phoenix. Martin won there in 1993 and has finished inside the top 10 in 11 of his last 13 starts there. In addition he boasts eight top-five finishes, including five second-place runs.
THE RETURN OF WHITE LIGHTNING
For the first time of the "Salute Tour," Martin and the Viagra Team will run the special 'reverse' night scheme this weekend at Phoenix, in this year's first night race of the season.
MIXING THINGS UP
This will be Martin's 18th Cup race at Phoenix, but it's the first Spring Nextel Cup race at Phoenix. Phoenix International Raceway was awarded a second race for the first time this season. The series will return to Phoenix later this year in November.
MARKMARTINSALUTE.COM LAUNCHES
Mark Martin will make his final run at the Nextel Cup title in 2005. Martin has dubbed 2005 as his "Salute to You" tour, a year in which he hopes to take the time to thank each and everyone that he feels played a role in his success, including team members, fans, NASCAR and the media.
QUOTING MARK AND PAT... ON PHOENIX
"Phoenix is a great race track. It's set up a little different on each end, but ultimately the key is getting through those corners faster than everyone else. We've had pretty good success there over the years and we are looking forward to getting back out there and hopefully competing for the win. We had a tough run last week at Texas and we are itching to get back out there and get that one out of our systems. The guys were great in the pits last week and if we can keep that kind of performance up, then we should be really competitive in a lot of races this season.
"It's always good to get back out west. They have very loyal fans out there and they always seem to enjoy having us out there, so hopefully we can take the "Salute Tour" out there and give those guys something to cheer about."
PAT TRYSON
"We are excited about going out to Phoenix. We ran okay there last fall, but not as good as we would have liked. Hopefully we've learned a little and we can go back out there this year and be a contender to win the race. Last week didn't go the way we had planned, but hopefully we'll rebound with a strong run this weekend."
Mark Martin Fast Facts - PHOENIX
Martin has finished inside the top 10 in 76 percent (13) of his Cup races at Phoenix.
Martin won at Phoenix on Oct. 31, 1993.
Martin's finished inside the top 10 in 11 of the last 13 races at Phoenix.
Martin has finsihed second or better in six of 17 races at Phoenix.
LAST YEAR AT PHOENIX...
NOVEMBER 7, 2004 - Phoenix International Raceway
Checker Auto Parts 500k - Started 22nd, Finished 15th
"It was just one of those days where not a lot went right," is how Martin described the Phoenix race, his 600th career Nextel Cup start. The car struggled on restarts all day. Martin was running in 16th position when the day's ninth caution was issued on lap 282. Despite light rainfall and looming darkness the No. 6 team opted to come in for four fresh tires and fuel. The gamble paid off when the field resumed racing on lap 293 with Martin running in 18th place. Martin had moved to 17th when the day's 10th caution was called on lap 298. The team opted to stay out and Martin remained in 17th when green-flag racing resumed with only 10 laps to go on lap 302. The day's 11th and final caution was issued on lap 306 forcing a green-white-checkered finish. Martin restarted the three-lap shootout in 15th place and was able to hold position and bring home the top-15 finish, his 24th top-15 finish in 33 races this season.
ALL-TIME ELITE, MARTIN
Martin's 34 Nextel Cup wins put him fourth on the win list among active drivers and 17th on the all-time list.
Martin has currently started 552 straight Nextel Cup races, the third-longest current streak and the sixth-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 609 Cup races, finishing inside the top 10 on 344 occasions, inside the top five 217 times and visiting winner's circle 34 times.
Martin's 47 career wins in the Busch Series are a NASCAR record.
Martin's 12 victories in IROC competition are the most ever. Martin has won four championships in the IROC series, including a record three straight.
