Three races have been added to Mark Martin's limited 2007 schedule with Ginn Racing. The additional races include Pocono (Aug. 5), Richmond (Sept. 8) and Dover (Sept. 23).
"It has been nothing but a pleasure driving the U.S. Army Chevrolet for Ryan Pemberton and this team," said Martin. "The three races we've added are tracks where I typically enjoy racing. We were already set to run the first race at those tracks and now we'll look forward to going back for a second time."
The Mark Martin 2007 story got even more interesting following his impressive third-place finish in Sunday's Samsung 500 Nextel Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. After taking the previous two races off as part of his limited schedule for Ginn Racing, Martin came back with another solid performance. The U.S. Army driver, who has now competed in five Cup races this season, posted his fifth straight top-10 result and fourth top five. Despite missing the two races in Bristol, Tenn. and Martinsville, Va. Martin is 11th in driver points,within the top-12 of the Chase cutoff. In Nextel Cup owner points, the 01 team jumped from sixth to fourth.
"This team is just awesome -- they are the best I've ever worked with," said Martin moments after climbing out of his No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet. "I want to be careful about bragging too much, but I have hit the lotto. To be able to drive these cars for this team is a dream come true. And to be able to step away when I want to, I just could not imagine having that kind of privilege. I just really, really love working with Ryan (Pemberton, crew chief) and the team. They are so excited and that makes it so much fun to go to work."
Mark Martin claimed his third straight top-five finish with a fifth-place result in Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The finish continued Martin's best career start in 20-plus years of Cup racing. The U.S. Army driver, who is in his first season with Ginn Racing, maintained his lead in the driver point standings. He holds a six-point margin over second place Jeff Gordon. Jeff Burton is third, 42 points behind Martin.
"A dream, just a dream," said Martin when asked to explain his hot start to the 2007 season. I was just telling Ryan Pemberton that he is one of the best I have ever worked with -- what a strong crew chief." "The U.S. Army Chevy was fantastic," continued Martin. "We were looking like a third place car but then on the (final) restart the car picked up a real bad push. It was a great run -- I am so proud of this team. I am having the time of my life driving this car. It's going to be hard to get out of it.
Martin started the race 14th and dropped back to 19th early as he worked to feel out the track's newly repaved surface. However, with a fast racecar and sound pit strategy, Martin drove to the front and was in second place by Lap 24 of 267. He would virtually run in the top 10 for the remainder of the race.
"We had a better car than fifth," explained Martin. "I couldn't run with those first two -- (Jeff) Gordon and (Jimmie) Johnson. I'm thrilled to get a top five when we weren't at our best at the end. It's really a privilege to work with these guys and represent our brave soldiers. I am just loving life."
Veteran driver set to make debut in No. 01 U.S. Army Chevy
Mark Martin's appearance in Saturday night's (Feb. 10) Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway will be his record-extending 19th consecutive start and 20th overall. The all-star event will also mark his debut for Ginn Racing in the No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet.
"It's going to definitely be a big day for us," said Martin. "We've raced in a lot of Shootouts and we won the deal in '99, but this year we'll be making our debut with Ginn Racing and our debut with the U.S. Army in the No. 01 Chevrolet. We'll be able to see what we have right off the bat. I'm excited about getting back on the track and kicking off Speedweeks and the season in the Shootout.
"The Budweiser Shootout is one of those events where points don't matter and second place means nothing, so you have everyone out there really going for it all and trying to get the win. We had a pretty strong run last season. This year it will be my first race with Ryan (Pemberton, crew chief) and the guys on the 01 team. I'm really excited about getting the season started with the Shootout, as we head into the Daytona 500."
The first function of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Media Tour Hosted by Lowe's Motor Speedway on Monday was a lunch and press conference hosted by Ginn Racing. Among those on hand were the team's three veteran NEXTEL Cup drivers, Mark Martin, Sterling Marlin and Joe Nemechek. Each driver talked about how excited they were heading into the 2007 season as the team has undergone several changes, including the addition of Bobby Ginn who now owns a majority of team that was formerly known as MB2 Motorsports.
Bobby Ginn Team Owner Ginn Racing:
"I want to thank all the media for coming out today. Becoming involved in racing was something I always wanted to do. It was perfect timing as I ran into a great situation. I do believe that fate has a great way of working things out, as I met a guy named Jay Frye and I don't know which one of us was a better salesman, but he did a great job introducing me with the opportunity to come into a team that stayed together and worked together over the years. They had two great veteran drivers and a great crew chief in Ryan Pemberton. We've tried to work hard to make improvements where necessary such as bringing in Gary DeHart and with some of the other changes we've made.
We’ve been a two-car team. We will have a three-car team in ’07. We want to have four cars in 2008. We didn’t come in with a short-term attitude because we’re in this for the long haul. We’re going to do things right.
We had to get started quickly and our business plan is pretty much laid out for the next five years. We went into this with a plan and we knew it would take a long time to develop the shop and develop the way we work together in the shop. Having a background in real estate, the first thing I did was look and see if we had the facilities. You can't have a great shop if you don't have the facilities for that, and Jay had done a great job of putting together a great facility right before I came along and since then in the few months that we've been together, we have expansion underway to expand the facilities by another 30 percent. We’ve have begun to employ more people and build on our teams.
"One of the things that I believe -- in my own business, in life and in the race team, is that at the end of the day you can have all of the best sheet metal and all of the best motors, but if you don’t have great people you are never going to get there. That is what I saw here - the opportunity with Jay. I’m excited about it all and I know that he is too. We can have all the right people and equipment, but it’s all about getting everybody working together. "With the expansion, we’ve had to expand by 60 people in a very short amount of time. We’ve about caught up to where we need to be and to what we have to have in place for our four- car team next year."One of the things that we've decided to do is to announce most of the new sponsors between now and Daytona, to allow them the opportunity to have the podium.
"The last thing we had to turn our attention to is drivers. As I said the one thing I believe in is people and I believe in the drivers program. If you look at our drivers - that’s our future and it’s something that we have invested in early in our career in racing. Our two drivers that were here when I got here and both of whom I’ve gotten to be good friends with. Joe and his family and Sterling and his family have become a part of our family and this year we are going to put the best equipment we can underneath them and the best pit crews around them and just support them and we are expecting this year to be a great year." "One of the other things we needed to do this year at Ginn Racing was to bring in a third driver and what an opportunity to bring in one that not only had the experience and was a winning driver, with the ability to continue to win, but someone like Mark Martin, who is just what everyone wants to stand for.
Sterling Marlin (Driver of the No. 14 Ginn Racing Chevrolet):
"I’m excited about all the changes that Bobby Ginn has made since he came on board last year. He’s very serious about where he wants to take his race teams in the future. We had a little bit of an off-season last year but I’m looking forward to it."
"But all this must be suffered by those who profess the stern order of chivalry" Most Interesting Blog, June 16, 2008 and six other occasions. Lisa awarded him Best "breaking news" blogger March 31, 2008. Blog of The Day, Christmas Day, 2007. edhardiman wrote, "Falco's tribute to Rocket Richard reminds us all the stars of today stand on the shoulders of giants..." October 23, 2007. Three Golden Swirrly p00p Awards (Hockey, NASCAR and Use of Graphics), FlyingPig, July 18, 2007. 2007 Memorial Day Weekend Trifecta sponsored by williamwilman . Featured on WFORacingFans April, 2007. "Stylin'" award, Dusty, February 07. "One of ten new bloggers to watch" Dudski, January 2007.
