CORNELIUS, N.C. — On its way to Texas last Thursday the Michael Waltrip Racing team made a stop in Batesville, Ark. to visit Mark Martin’s museum at his car dealership.
The seven-year-old museum is packed full of photos, uniforms, newspapers clippings, trophies, cars and memorabilia since Martin started driving on Arkansas dirt tracks for his father Julian.
“This is an amazing place,” said Mike “Nook” McCarville, the No. 55 shock specialist. “There’s so much history of the sport here. To look at these cars and equipment and to see all the pictures shows you how far the sport has come and how much things change.”
Martin circulated among the 50 team members adding commentary to many of the displays. The museum is also a working modern car dealership.
“I’ve wanted to bring these guys out here all year and stopping in Batesville on their way to Texas was the most convenient time,” Martin said. “Arlene and I are proud of what we’ve built here. There are a lot of people who’ve helped me along the way. If you worked on any of my teams you’ll probably find a picture of yourself somewhere in this building.”
Scott Miller, MWR’s executive vice-president of competition, even found an old photograph of he and Martin racing at Riverside Raceway in the 1982 Sprint Cup race. Miller finished 13th that day.
“Now that was something I never expected to see here,” Miller said. “That’s pretty cool. What an honor.”
The museum on state road 167 in Batesville is open to the public daily. In April, Martin holds a daylong open house for fans where he signs autographs and brings racing celebrities.
“It’s been a long road and it’s been a lot of fun and we really wanted to put all of that on display,” said Martin.
PHOENIX NOTES:
· PRIMARY CHASSIS – 744– finished eighth at Martinsville with Brian Vickers behind the wheel.
· SECOND BEST: Martin’s average qualifying effort of 9.1 in 2012 is the second best of all drivers. Only Kasey Kahne (8.8) owns a better average.
· THE MOST: Martin’s four poles are tied with Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson as the most by any driver in 2012.
· PHOENIX: In 31 Sprint Cup starts Martin owns two victories (1993 & 2009) and 12 top-five finishes. He’s led 834 laps. He won the pole and finished ninth in March.
· WINS: Martin owns 40 Sprint Cup, 49 Nationwide and seven Camping World Truck Series victories. He’s led 12,779 laps in Sprint Cup competition. Martin has started 852 Sprint Cup races, 236 Nationwide races and 25 truck events.
· MWR IN 2012: MWR’s five Cup Series drivers have scored three wins (Bowyer at Sonoma, Richmond and Charlotte), 23 top-five and 55 top-10 finishes in 2012. MWR drivers have led 1,185 laps. Martin Truex Jr. leads the MWR charge with 423 laps led, Bowyer 388, Martin with 195, Vickers 158, and Waltrip with 21.
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· No. 55 IN 2013: Martin will drive in 24 races plus the Shootout and All Star race. Vickers will drive in nine and Waltrip in three races.
· LAPS: Martin has completed 246,182 laps in his Sprint Cup career which equals 315,366 miles.
· OTHER SERIES: Martin has won 49 of the 236 Nationwide races and 13 of the 47 International Race of Champions (IROC) events he has entered.
· NO 55 CREW
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
2nd Gas Man- Greg Moore
Spotter – Jeremy Brickhouse
Engineer – Billy Scott
2nd Engineer – Scott McDougall
Tires – Kevin White
Eng.Tuner- Denny Chandler (TRD)
Shocks – Mike (Nook) McCarville
Interior/7th man- Jacen Johns
Truck Driver – Glenn Shano
2nd Truck Driver – John Murphy
Pit Coach – Greg Miller
