Martin shares wisdom with DEI's youngsters
Mark Martin's younger peers have never been shy about expressing what working with the sport's senior statesman has meant to them and the benefits it has produced.
So what does it mean to Martin to work with the stable of young 'uns who comprise the roster of drivers at Dale Earnhardt Inc., none of whom are yet 30? What benefits does he derive?
"Satisfaction," Martin, who turns 49 today, told reporters at Daytona.
Martin has worked with many younger drivers in a career that dates back to 1981. He will make his milestone 700th Cup start in the Feb. 17 Daytona 500, a race he came oh-so-close to winning last season, losing to Kevin Harvick by .020 of a second.
He's back for another crack at NASCAR's biggest race, and 25 others, and in the role of tutor to Regan Smith, Aric Almirola -- with whom he will share the No. 8 U.S. Army Chevy -- Paul Menard and Martin Truex Jr.
And in his typical self-effacing fashion, Martin downplayed his contributions, the praises of which have been sung from sea to shining sea for years.
"I think that everyone wants to feel like they're useful, too," he said. "When you get as old as I am in this business, nobody has much use for you anymore.
"Martin Truex doesn't need any of my help. I'm just hoping he helps me some."
To which Truex replied: "That's pretty flattering. Whoever helps whoever, it doesn't matter. It's going to be fun to work with a guy like that with all his knowledge and experience."
As much as he tries, Martin cannot escape the shadows of success, class and lasting contributions he has cast over the sport, but in typical fashion, he always downplays his abilities and contributions while saluting the efforts of everyone else.
There is no disputing, however, he has had a hand in developing many careers.
"I've always helped drivers, always, since I was a kid," he said. "I did it then for the satisfaction. For some reason, it made me feel good to help other people who really wanted to do well. Especially help people that I liked.
"Now today, not only just driving the 8 car, but to be able to bring some senior grounding to the Dale Earnhardt Inc. They've got a lot of drivers, and none of them are 30. That's pretty cool. I'm hoping they'll keep me around for a while."
Don't worry about that, Mark. After all, with an average age of 25.25, the Earnhardt stable could use a guiding hand.
And he feels privileged to be lending it.
"It touches my heart," Martin said. "It's hard for me to believe . . . and now for me to work there and to be a part of that is incredibly important to me because I'm old enough to recognize what history really means. I don't think you can really understand that when you're a kid. So for me it's incredibly special."
So today, Martin, the third-oldest driver on the circuit, finds himself another year older and another year wiser, but he will be doing nothing more special than what he's been doing for decades.
His plans?
"Test," he said to much laughter. "I hope I get to draft instead of single-car runs. Maybe they can do that for me."
No sweat, Mark. After all, you've done so much for so many others.
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