Kansas: Mark Martin NASCAR Nextel Cup Race Preview
After a strong run at Dover, Mark Martin and the No. 01 U.S. Army team head to Kansas, the site of Mark Martin's last Nextel Cup victory in 2005. Mark Martin finished fourth last week at Dover and his 01 Chevrolet was in contention for the win late in the race.
AT KANSAS
Starts: 6
Wins: 1
Top 5's: 2
Top 10's: 3
Poles: 0
Highest finish: 1st (2005)
First time: 9/30/01 (6th)
Last year: 10/1/06 (3rd)
Worthy Note: Mark Martin’s 35th Nextel Cup win came at Kansas in 2005.
Mark Martin AT KANSAS
This will mark the seventh time that Mark Martin and the Nextel Cup circuit have visited Kansas Speedway. Mark Martin has finished in the top three in his last two races at Kansas, including his 35th Nextel Cup win there in 2007 where he turned in a dominating performance, leading 139 laps en route to the victory. He finished third there a year ago. Mark Martin finished sixth in the inaugural event in 2001. Mark Martin has a 12.5 average finish at Kansas, and will look for his second win in three seasons.
PART TIME SCHEDULE, FULL-TIME RESULTS
This will be Mark Martin's 20th start in 2007. Despite having taken nine races off this season, Mark Martin is still 24th in the Nextel Cup driver standings. He has finished inside the top 10 in 52.6 percent (10) of his starts in 2007; a better average than half of the drivers in the "Chase" for the Nextel Cup. Mark Martin has finished in the top five in 26.3 of his starts, better than five of the current drivers who make up the Nextel Cup top 12.
NO PRESSURE
This mark's the first year since its inception that Mark Martin is not racing in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. Mark Martin was one of only three drivers to make the Chase in each of its first three seasons. Mark Martin walked away from point racing in March, while leading the Nextel Cup point standings. He will take part in six of the final 10 races that make up the 'Chase.' In Mark Martin's first 'Chase' event not in the championship race, the veteran flexed his muscle, finishing in the top five, while leading 22 laps and threatening to win late at Dover.
QUOTING MARK
"We are excited about going to Kansas this weekend. We were finally able to have a breakthrough run in the COT at Dover and now we are back to the traditional car this weekend. We've been pretty good in those races this year and Kansas is a really good track for me. We were able to get the win there a couple of years ago and I know that this race team has won there before as well, so it should make for a pretty good combination for us.
"I keep saying it, but (crew chief) Ryan Pemberton and this U.S. Army team continue to impress me each week. They have been through so much with the merger and all that has happened this season, and yet they keep battling back. We had a great car and great DEI horsepower last week at Dover and we could have won that race if things would have fell into place a little better there at the end. This weekend we get to go to Kansas without all the pressure of point racing. We should be able to let it all hang out and just sit back and go for it. I won there two years ago taking two tires early and we finished third there last year on a fuel gamble late. It should be interesting this year to see what strategy plays out."
FAST FACTS – Mark Martin AT DOVER
· Mark Martin won the Cup race at Kansas in 2005, leading 139 laps en route to the dominating victory.
· Mark Martin finished sixth at the inaugural Kansas Cup race in 2001.
· Mark Martin has finished in the top three in the last two races at Kansas, including a third-place run last season.
· Mark Martin has a 12.5 average finish in five races at Kansas.
· Mark Martin has finished inside the top 10 in 52.6 of his starts this season; better than six of the 12 racers in the Chase for the Nextel Cup.
· Mark Martin has finished in the top-five in 26.3 of his starts in 2007.
LAST YEAR AT KANSAS...
Oct. 1, 2006 –
Kansas Speedway
Started19th, Finished 3rd
Mark Martin and crew chief Pat Tryson gambled big in the Banquet 400 at Kansas and the payoff was huge, with Mark Martin finishing third in the race and moving from sixth to third in the Nextel Cup point standings. Mark Martin pitted for the last time taking four tires and fuel on lap 196 of the 267-lap event. Mark Martin returned to the field in 14th position, but was able to conserve fuel during the rare long green flag run to end the race; surviving for the third-place finish while the majority of the field either ran out or were forced to pit for gas late in the race.
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