Mark Martin has declared that this is really, really, and I mean really his last year in Nascar. I personally hate to see him go, as will many other Nascar fans. On and off the track he comes across a champion in every sense of the word. You won’t find a nicer guy in the sport. He represents Nascar well, by hard work, discipline, dedication, fair driving tactics, and has no problem admitting when he is at fault after a crash. He is the Brett Farve of Nascar. Oh, and by-the- way, he doesn’t beat his wife, do steroids, shoot himself in the leg while out clubbing with friends, or cause any in house distractions with his fellow teammates. Why? Because he’s Mark Martin.
After gunning for a Nascar championship that has eluded him for more than 25 years, Mark now has a better chance than ever before, in his new ride with Hendrick Motorsports. A dynasty boasting big name teammates like, Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. If there ever was a time to make a serious run for that elusive championship, that time is now.
If you take the time to look at Martin’s stats, he has produced numbers worthy of championships many times over. He made his Nascar debut in 1981, and since then, he has qualified and started 41 races on the pole. He has 243 top five finishes, and 396 top ten finishes in 700 starts. He ranks 18th overall on the all-time win list with 35 trophies to his credit. In the Nationwide series, he leads all drivers past and present with 48 wins. He actually did win two championships in the short track ASA series, and five in the IROCC series. But, by using the analogy of a dove hunter, the Nascar Sprint Cup Championship, is one bird Mark Martin just can’t seem to bring down. Until now…
With one big trophy missing from his case, Martin has decided to give it one last try. He signed a one-year, full time deal with Hendrick Motorsports, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet. Rick Hendrick is in his 25th anniversary as a Cup car owner. He established a friendship with Martin back in 2007, when Mark drove a car for him in three Nationwide Series events. In his first race, Mark placed second at Darlington. In 2008, Martin would share the stage with Hendrick in victory lane at Las Vegas. The short stint allowed crew chief Alan Gustafson the opportunity to get to know Martin. As fate would have it, this year, Gustafson is Mark Martin’s new crew chief.
The tale of Mark Martin, it’s got the making of a story made for publishing. Take it from another old school guy, who knows the weight of being the underdog. Sometimes Cinderella stories do come true. And waiting 25 years makes the deal even sweeter. To pull off a championship season would be pretty special for everyone, especially Mark Martin.I’ll be pulling for Mark Martin, until his very last lap. Hislast shot in ole No.5! By: Charles J. Asbury II
With the economy being like it is, it’s a slap in the face of all money strapped Nascar fans when a race ends the way Nascar ended the Daytona 500. I thought Nascar was going to be more creative and fan friendly this year. They were going to help out us broke fans, by offering better deals on tickets, etc. Because they’re looking out for the fans. Yeah right! Run the other laps when it’s dry! The track was dry at 8:57pm, with no further showers. Most fans wouldn’t even have cared if the race resumed at 1:00am! Because Nascar fans are loyal like that.
Fans waited all year for the so called Super Bowl of Racing. They deserved the right to see a real ending to what used to be the greatest race ever. Would the NFL ever stop the Super Bowl after 3 Qtrs.? NO!!! Heck, Nascar could have ran the remaining laps early Monday morning. And you know what? The fans would have welcomed that fan friendly gesture. It’s a lot better than packing up and going home after forking out big money for tickets.
I’ve been to races and waited 4-6 hours to complete the race because of rain. One in particular was at Talladegaback in the mid 90’s. I waited forever for that race to restart, and I’m glad I did. That race finish ended up being one of the most memorable of any of the races I’ve ever attended, and I’ve been to plenty.The Daytona 500 is the Nascar fan’s yearly pilgrimage and some mark their calenders off day by day waiting and planning for this special event all year long. They save money and make huge sacrifices to attend the race. Some fans spend all weekend camping out, anxiously awaiting the race. They endure all the pre-race waste of time entertainment! If Nascar would’ve started the race earlier, instead of 3pm. By the way, the race used to start at noon, then they would have had plenty of time to get the race in. Hey, I have an idea, let all those people sing after the race. Because all those entertainers wouldn’t get paid until after the race was over. You think a race would ever get called early again? Call it a little reverse psychologyfor the money hungry hounds of Nascar.
As it stands, all the loyal fans got so hyped up only to have such an anti-climatic ending. The fans got duped! We get some rain sprinkles, and a guy that led only one lap wins the race. What a crock!
If the race would have resumed when the track was dry, and it was dry at 8:30pm, then we might have seen another more deserving race driver win, like Mark Martin or Kevin Harvick. We always want to see a exciting finish, and it didn’t happen. We’re Nascar fans, not Nascar Executives! This sport is becoming about as real as WWE! It’s all just smoke and mirrors. I would love to see NASCAR FANS go on strike! Maybe, then, and only then when Nascar is gasping for air because of money problems, would they possibly become more fan friendly. As it stands, Nascar got paid, but the fans didn’t!
We the fans should speak up. If we don’t, we will always be tricked into thinking Nascar is fan friendly(haha). When the only truth is, Nascar is money friendly, and that’s it! Yeah, take the money and run!
Oh yeah, for all you Dale Jr. haters, Brian Vickers did cut him off and Jr. didn’t mean to wreak him! He was just trying to stay on the track. Read my blogs on Nascar.com, under the pen name Firedawg1982, for more Nascar bashing and post race recaps. Anyway, I was looking forward to the beginning of the new season, and I love the Daytona 500. Now, I’m seriously disappointed in Nascar’s lack of respect and sensitivity for the most loyal and dedicated fans of any sport.
Be sure to listen to “The Chuck and Cody Sports Show” when Chuck will represent many disgruntled Nascar fans and let Nascar have it with both barrels concerning the early finish of the Daytona 500. The show is aired every Saturday morning from 10:30-11:00 on 106.3 FM and 1550 AM on WNZF in Flagler County, Florida. The show can also be heard worldwide by tuning into wnzf.com on your computer and listening to it by the use of streaming audio.
I’m pretty sure Santa reads “The Florida Writer Sports Blog,” because he’s cool like that, so here goes.
Santa do you like Auto Racing? You just seem like the type. I know you probably do donuts in the snow with your sleigh sometimes. I’m sure you could climb any fence you feel like, when you’re feeling victorious, like Tony Stewart does. Santa, I wouldn’t doubt it if you do back flips once in awhile too, like Carl Edwards does after he wins all those races. By the way Santa, you really need to check your list three times this year, because I think Carl Edwards cheats. Santa you probably get home after staying out all night on Christmas Eve, shake up a bottle of bubbly and spray it all over your elf crew, like you’re in victory lane or something. You know you do!
Anyways Big Red, since you’re so cool and everything, I was wondering if you could hook me up this year. I was wondering if you could bring Danica Patrick to Nascar. It gives me somebody to pull for when Dale Jr. is running in the back of the pack. So do you know her Santa? She’s the girl that during her Indy Car Series 2005 debut year, she won the Indy Car Rookie of the Year, Indy 500 Rookie of the Year, and Indy Car Most Popular Driver award. She then recaptured the title of Indy Car Most Popular Driver during 2006 and 2007.
In her first three seasons of Indy Car Series racing, she started 47 times, won 3 poles, and finished in the top ten 23 times. In 2005, she finished in 12th place overall, in 2006, 9th overall, and in 2007, finished 7th overall. She appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated June 6, 2005 , becoming the first Indy 500 driver on the cover since 1987. The she did it again May 19, 2008. In April of this year, she became the first woman ever to win an Indy car race, defeating a two-time Indy 500 champion by six seconds in the Japan 300.
Santa, you know you own the S.I. issue with her in it. Don’t worry I won’t tell Mrs. C., but you need to keep reading. I’ll leave some massive sized cookies out, I promise. Heck, I’ll leave caviar out if that helps. Truth is, I’ll probably be grilling steaks if I know ya’ll are coming. Hear my plea Santa, because Nascar could use a shot in the arm. The “Race for the Chase” was so boring this year. It would be different with Danica Patrick. She would add spice to an otherwise lame attraction. Check your list Santa, I’ve been pretty nice lately. Right?
I’ll leave the light on for you Big Guy. Be careful up there. Watch out for wind sheers, and stuff. I know you can’t draft off anybody, but try and hurry. Nascar can’t wait any longer. Maybe you should let Danica drive.
As a Dale Jr fan, this past year in Nascar was disappointing and boring to say the least. Towards the end of the year, I began to wonder is Dale Earnhardt Jr becoming another Kyle Petty?
At some point in his career, Kyle Petty became no threat to race leaders and seemed content to float at the back of the pack almost every race. He would basically drive around the track advertising for whatever company would sponsor him. I could never understand how Petty fans could get so excited when their driver raced past them in the stands, because he was usually in last place. I mean what’s the point of racing? To win right? Seriously, were they yelling because they really liked the sponsor. Just Kidding. Of course not, but seriously, Go Wells Fargo Go. I mean, I know Petty has a huge following because of his father and so does Dale Jr, and that’s where I’m heading with this.
Lots of the money that Nascar drivers make are from endorsements, and Jr is making his fair share. The problem is, that when a person becomes content with the other cash they are making, which in some cases is a lot more than from racing, they become satisfied with that income and hang back in most races.
Remember Rusty Wallace? He basically was in charge of advertising for Miller Lite. That’s it! He got to the point where he never won races anymore, and didn’t seem to be bothered by it either. But he always pulled out his long thank you list after the race, and got those brownie points. Of course he got paid, and Miller Lite got noticed as well. He probably said, “You give me a car to drive and I’ll hook you up on T.V. after the race, I promise”. And his fans say “No problem, Rusty, I’ll drink a 12 pack of Miller Lite just so I can forget that you’re my sorry driver”.
At times this past year it felt as though Dale Jr had lost something. I know he didn’t lose his talent. He is one of the most talented driver out there, right beside teammates, Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon. It’s in his genes. Just like Kyle Petty, Jr got it from his dad. I just hope Jr isn’t losing the desire to win. His dad never lost the desire to win, and his dad made huge jack off endorsements. But Earnhardt Sr never, never, NEVER stopped wanting to win.
So what if Dale Jr starts driving a car that is poop brown and gets a sponsor like Tidy Bowl. Would people still cheer for him, even if he never won. I pull for Jr., but a brown car? And I wouldn’t wear a Tidy Bowl hat either, unless he won of course. I mean, in Nascar, winning is everything to the fans. Hey, we spend three hours or more watching those guys go a round and round, until we’re cross eyed, at least they can do is win sometimes. I mean, we’re all getting brain damage listening to Ned Jarred slur talk us through the race, so please give us something to cheer about. And Darrell Waltrip, I don’t care if so-and-so’s car is drifting, so is my attention span. Just win Jr.!!!
Anyway, I hope Jr never becomes totally satisfied with the money from his Wrangler commercials. I hope he drinks more of his sponser’s AMP! Maybe then, he might get a boost, and feel like winning sometimes. Heck, take a Viagra if you need to. I wouldn’t even mind if Jr drove the Viagra car, as long as he wins sometimes. Just don’t expect me to wear a Viagra hat.
On Sunday Jimmy Johnson became just the second man ever to win back-to-back-to-back NASCAR titles, clinching it with a 15th-place finish in the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. But was the season boring or what?
