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.

http://www.mb2mbvmotorsports.com/photo_view.cf
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"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."

more...

http://www.mb2mbvmotorsports.com/newsreader.cf
m?articleid=384

...15 Years And 75 Victories Later

Just 15 years ago, NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick was sitting in a suite outside of Turn 3 during the 1992 Atlanta 300 NASCAR Busch Series race when something caught his eye.  That something was a white No. 1 Baby Ruth sponsored race car with a youthful Jeff Gordon behind the wheel who sat on the pole that day and won the race, en route landing his first Cup Series ride with impressed owner Rick Hendrick in the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet.

http://www.davesracing.com/Actionimages2/
1babyruth24.JPG

You know the above article I have pasted a portion of in this post today is kind of hokey.  I smell a rat.  What the author is alluding to is a race during which everyone who witnessed it on TV that day was bombarded with stories on Jeff Gordon during the said race after Gordon captured the pole for the race the day before.  The media crowned him a champion that early.  And you know what?  They were right.

So to say it caught Rick Hendrick's eye isn't saying much.  Hell, it caught Kevin Woodard's eye too.   Who is Kevin Woodard?  He is this writer, and saying Jeff caught my eye that day ain't saying nothing.  Saying it caught Rick Hendrick's eye ain't saying nothing either.

more...

http://www.autoracingdaily.com/article/jeff_g
ordon_returns_to_ams_15_years_and_75_victories_lat
er/

On another front,

http://www.celebopedia.com/jeff-gordon/im
ages/jeff-gordon.jpg

Don't look now but a familiar face is sitting in second place in the NASCAR Nextel Cup points standings.  Yes, it is Mr. Gordon.  And if Mark Martin doesn't run the full season, then what?  Here are Gordon's comments that he made recently in Las Vegas regarding Martin's predicament.

"I would take a long vacation and man I would enjoy it while it lasts and say I went out on top, that is what I would do.  LAUGHS  I don't know, you know he made a decision and I think when he made that decision there are things that come along with making that decision that could be more rewarding and more positive to him than even leading the points.  I think it might be a little bit different if we didn't have the Chase, he might stick around a little bit longer.  But with that Chase format in there, everything changes when you go in to the last 10 races and not saying that they still wouldn't be a factor and be strong because he has done a fantastic job, it is just showcasing his talent. To move to a different team has kind of been exciting, I know it has been exciting for that team.  I know we are all going to be curious when we show up at Bristol.

And there is a baby on the way?

http://i.a.cnn.net/nascar/2006/news/features/
conversation/08/15/jgordon.conversation/gordon.ing
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"I think I would have won the race today (Sunday) if I didn't have a baby on the way because...LOUD LAUGHTER...because I guess that was my distraction out there, I just lost concentration out there thinking about that baby and what I am going to name her and didn't win the race today. LAUGHS

There is nothing that is going to take away from what we do as race car drivers when we get inside that car.  Honestly I have got so many distractions already, I don't see how it could get a whole lot worse. I feel like I am lacking in sleep now, and I know that is going to get worse, but you just deal with it once you get to the race track. There is nothing that is going to be more exciting or more motivating than to actually have an addition to my family.  That is something that I am very proud of.

http://images.sportsnetwork.com/auto/getty/20
04/topdrivers/gordon_jeff.jpg

more...

http://www.jeffgordon.com/news/fullstory.sps?
iNewsID=410397&itype=12216&iCategoryID=1126p>

Come along if you dare.  Sterling Marlin fans are cut from a different cloth.  We are "racers."

It's easy to be a fan of Dale Earnhardt Junior, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Jimmy Johnson or  Kasey Kahne.  These are probably the top five most popular Nextel Cup Drivers.  I'm not here to argue that. But how hard is it to follow these guys knowing they will run up front?

No, "racers" follow their guy even if he struggles.  When they win, it is so much sweeter.

Sterling Marlin fans waited for over 200 Winston Cup starts for Sterling's first win.  We are not about to give up on him now.  Not yet.  But this year will be tough.  No doubt about it.

So, if you want to learn more about Nextel Cup racing, what it's really about for many teams, join me on this journey.  I guarantee I will be reporting from a different angle from all of the main Nextel Cup sources.  If you follow someone who wasn't even close to making The Chase last year, then you especially might enjoy the ride.  Come along if you dare.

Do We Have Sponsorship?

Sterling Marlin fan rhendryx has been in Daytona.  He is helping Marlin fans with the do we have sponsorship issue.  Marlin fans know, that Sterling has full sponsorship even if it winds up being Ginn Clubs, owned by Ginn Racing owner Bobby Ginn.

We also know that sponsorship means more money.  We know it takes lot's of money.  We know our odds are better if we have lot's of money.  We are hoping to start with that Waste Management will be a primary sponsor this year.

Clue 1:  Waste Management is the same size as Ginn Clubs on Sterling's trailer.

Question 1:  Will the sponsorship be 50 - 50?

Clue 2:  This car was used for testing in Daytona.

Clue 3: From sterlingmarlinfans.com Sharon in Columbia TN, Crew Chief, Joined: 24 Feb 2005, Posts: 3841, Location: STERLIN MARLIN COUNTRY, Tue Jan 09, 2007, 11:01 pm

I'm guessing that the "14" is the backup from Talladega. Notice the unscathed '06 paint scheme.

Clue 4:  rhendryx,  Fabricator,

Age: 52, Joined: 26 Feb 2005,  Posts: 493,  Location: Cigar City,

I think your guess is right on, Miss Sharon.  The 14 used the name plate "Monte Carlo".  This year Chevy's will be "Impala's".  I think you are 100% correct that the 14 is last years superspeedway car.

Question 2:  Does this indicate that WM is not a primary sponsor?

Clue 5:  This car shows no indication of sponsors.

Clue 6:  Sharon in Columbia TN,  The "14x" is probably the primary car from Talladega that has been re-skinned and straightened or a new car they have built.

Clue 7:  rhendryx, Hard to say for sure what the 14x is.

Clue 8:  Sterling is wearing a Ginn Clubs uniform.

Question 3?  Does this indicate Waste management is not a Primary sponsor?

Conclusions:  The truck makes me think 50 - 50 Waste Management and Ginn.  But just like last year, there is plenty of room on the truck to add other sponsors or enlarge the logo's of existing ones.  So it likely indicates maybe 33% of the sponsorship is committed here between the two sponsors giving each of them 17%.

I am saying that we can expect to see WM on for at least 6 races.  Last year they committed to 12 earlier on.  It looks like to me they have committed to less than that this year.  Can't say I blame them.  Our production last year for their dollar was next to nil.

The WM paint scheme is likely last year's Talladega back up body, not necessarily "car."  It's likely that we are testing one of the restrictor plate chassis that we used at Daytona and/or Talladega last year.  To me it does not indicate sponsorship since it is last year's scheme.  However, it is definitely a tease to WM hoping they will get good feedback from it and offer us more sponsorship.

The 14x is probably a new car.  It looks to be ready to put any logo on it that anyone that wants their name on our Daytona car can buy from us.  We tested well.  Anyone out there want to help us?

Sterling is probably just wearing the Ginn suit because it is last year's suit and we know Ginn will sponsor us if needed.  You can't give WM too much for free.  Or they will not pay more for more pub.

So if you are a Marlin fan or any other interested party and care to comment, what do you think?

If your not an interested party, see what we have to put up with?   It's not what most Nextel cup fans are talking about is it?  Nope?  Jr. will be in the red 8, Tony in the orange 20, Jeff in the Blue 24, Kasey in the red 9 and Jimmy in the blue 48.  You know their sponsors as well as I do.