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[/media-credit]DESPITE INDY CAR OPPORTUNITIES OVER THE YEARS
MARTIN FIGURED HE SHOULD STICK WITH STOCK CARS
CORNELIUS, N.C. – Sunday marks the biggest day of the year in American motorsports with the running of the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine driver Mark Martin began his racing career at a time when drivers were more evenly divided in pursuing a stock car or an open wheel racing career.
For the Batesville, Ark., native, an open wheel career was never a serious option until later in life.
“I was always a late model or NASCAR guy,” said Martin, who returned to late model racing in the late 1980s after his first two years in NASCAR.
“Actually in my career I was a late model-NASCAR-late model-then-back-to-NASCAR kind of guy until I finally established myself in the sport.”
Once established in NASCAR, Martin admitted he was tempted to climb into one of the high speed racers.
“I had numerous chances to drive one of Robby Gordon’s Indy cars when we had the same sponsor in the 1990s,” Martin recalled. “They just wanted to let me go play.”
He said wisdom prevailed.
“I had struggled so hard to get into NASCAR and I had finally got to where I could win some races. At that point in time I saw no reason to go out and ‘have fun’ in an Indy car,” recalled Martin.
“My idea of having fun in an Indy car would be to go faster than Robby Gordon which would be real dangerous to try. I figured I would be better off sticking to stock cars.”
NOTES:
· ARMED FORCES FOUNDATION: The No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine will sport a special Armed Forces Foundation patriotic paint scheme this weekend supporting NASCAR Unites – An American Salute. Martin will drive the red, white and blue No. 55 as Aaron’s and MWR’s way of saying thank you to the men and women as well as their families serving or who have served in the United States military. The NASCAR Unites Military Family Fund will benefit the USO, Armed Forces Foundation, and support Our Troops. NASCAR launched the platform on April 9 at the White House’s 134th annual Easter Egg Roll event. Click here to view the No. 55’s commemorative souvenirs surrounding this weekend’s NASCAR Unites program.
· MWR FAN FEST: Michael Waltrip Racing will hold its sixth annual Fan Fest at its race shop in Cornelius, N.C. on Wednesday. NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Martin Truex Jr., Mark Martin and Clint Bowyer will sign autographs from 1-3 p.m. Up to 300 wrist bands for each driver will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. A wrist band is required for an autograph. Wrist band distribution is limited to one band per fan per day until all bands have been distributed. No purchase required to obtain a wrist band. Team business partners plan to bring interactive displays and SiriusXM Radio will broadcast from MWR. Music, a free poster, prizes and the MWR transporters will also be part of this year’s event. Food will be available for purchase. Due to out-of-state commitments, Waltrip and Brian Vickers will not be present. For details visit www.michaelwaltripracing.com and follow all the action on Twitter using #mwrfanfest.
· CHASSIS – Primary— Chassis 732 Backup— Chassis 708. Neither has raced in 2012.
· PIT BOARD: Mark Martin will have special pit crew members Sunday. Aaron’s NHRA top fuel drag racer Antron Brown and 2011 Funny Car champion Matt Hagan will man the signboard during pit stops.
· MARTIN AT CHARLOTTE: Martin won the 600-mile race at Charlotte in 2002 and the fall race three times (1992,1995 & 1998). He’s led 1,183 laps in his 54 starts at CMS. He won the pole for the 600-mile and the fall race in 1991.
· MWR VICTORY: No. 55 crew chief Rodney Childers won the Coca-Cola 600 with David Reutimann in 2009 giving MWR its first Sprint Cup victory.
STATISTICS: For Mark Martin statistics Click Here
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CREW LIST
Crew Chief – Rodney Childers
Car Chief – Steve Channing
Front Changer – Ryan Langley
Rear Changer – Shannon Myers
Front Carrier – Chris Hall
Rear Carrier – Mark Kennerly
Jackman – Tony Cardamone
Gas man – Brian Dheel
Spotter – Jeremy Brickhouse
Engineer – Billy Scott
2nd Engineer – Scott McDougall
Tires – Kevin White
Eng.Tuner- Denny Chandler (TRD)
Shocks – Mike (Nook) McCarville
Truck Driver – Glenn Shano
2nd Truck Driver – John Murphy
Pit Coach – Greg Miller
MWR’s No. 55 2012 Driver Lineup
June 3 Dover – Martin
June 10 Pocono – Martin
June 17 Michigan – Martin
June 24 Infineon – Vickers
June 30 Kentucky – Waltrip
July 7 Daytona – Waltrip
July 15 NHMS – Vickers
July 29 Indianapolis – Martin
Aug. 5 Pocono – Martin
Aug. 12 Watkins Glen- Vickers
Aug. 19 Michigan – Martin
Aug. 25 Bristol – Vickers
Sept. 2 Atlanta – Martin
Sept. 8 Richmond – Martin
Sept. 16 Chicago – Martin
Sept. 23 NHMS – Vickers
Sept. 30 Dover – Martin
Oct. 7 Talladega – Waltrip
Oct. 13 Charlotte – Martin
Oct. 21 Kansas – Martin
Oct. 28 Martinsville- Vickers
Nov. 4 Texas – Martin
Nov. 11 Phoenix – Martin
Nov. 18 Homestead – Martin
DIECAST CARS: No. 55 diecast cars are now available at the MWR souvenir hauler or CLICK HERE
AARON’S: Right now during Aaron’s 2000th Store Celebration you are pre-approved for up to $2000 in merchandise.* Aaron’s is your trusted source for quality lease to own furniture, electronics, appliances & computers at guaranteed low prices. Shop at your nearest Aaron’s store location or Aarons.com to view our lease-to-own products, including dining room tables, TVs, tablets, appliances, computers & more…*PRE-APPROVAL minimum requirements include, but are not limited to, a source of income, a place to live and 3 references.
· DRIVE FOR THE COVER: Activision and NASCAR Team Properties have created an exciting campaign that invites fans to vote for their favorite NASCAR driver to be featured on the cover of NASCAR The Game: Inside Line due to be released this fall. The campaign will position 32 drivers in a five-round bracket-style tournament to select the cover driver for this year’s game.
