Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 17, 1990 TAG: 9006170055
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LONG POND, PA. LENGTH: Long
The outhouse yesterday. The penthouse today.
"It has been a pretty incredible change of scenery for me," Martin said Saturday, gearing up for today's Miller 500 at Pocono International Raceway.
"You know, I'll never forget being in Daytona in 1986. There I was, standing outside the fence looking in . . . alongside all the fans, staring at the cars and noticing how neat they looked.
"But more importantly, I was saying to myself, `I know I can drive those things. I know I can do it, but I'll probably never get the chance.' "
But Martin, whose brief dive into Winston Cup racing in 1982 broke him, refused to fold his cards. Determined to drive his way into NASCAR, he returned to the American Speed Association circuit and charged to the 1986 ASA championship, his fourth on the Midwestern-based tour.
Martin parlayed his '86 ASA title into a full-time ride on NASCAR's Triple A Busch Grand National tour. He didn't squander the chance, winning three races and six poles in the 1987 GN season.
Martin's showing on NASCAR's Avis tour turned a lot of heads, including Michigan engineer Jack Roush, who was putting together a Winston Cup operation for 1988.
"I'll never forget the day when I shook Jack Roush's hand," Martin said.
The rest is history.
After the usual first-year growing pains, the Martin-Roush combination proved last season it was a bona fide contender. The team won five poles and a race and had five second-place runs en route to a surprising third-place finish in the title chase.
At that point, Martin said he knew he had found the end of his racing rainbow.
"We just know we're fixing to blow the doors off the hinges - I mean just wide open," said Martin before the season-opening Daytona 500.
"Here, we were just in our second year and were running like a lot of teams would have in their 10th year.
"We said to ourselves we're going to do this a long time together, and we're not near as good as we're gonna be. And that probably got some other teams' attention, because if they think we were strong last year, just wait until this year."
Well, this year is here. In fact, it's almost half gone.
And Martin was right. Through 12 of 29 races, the runtish 5-foot-6, 135-pounder with the heavy right foot leads the championship chase by 62 points. Suddenly, everybody in the stock-car garage is pointing at the No. 6 Ford and saying it will be difficult to beat.
Darrell Waltrip, who knows about such things being a three-time national champion, said the Roush operation shows no visible cracks.
"I'd say that bunch is the most consistent team in the garage, week-in and week-out," Waltrip said. "They never seem to break and fall out early in a race. They finish races, and that's what you've got to do to win the championship."
Martin's season started inauspiciously when he finished a disappointing 21st in the Daytona 500.
A week later at Richmond, Va., Martin scored his second career victory. The triumph, though, became tainted when NASCAR officials found his engine to be equipped with an illegal carburetor spacer plate during the post-race inspection.
The Roush team was fined $40,000 and docked 46 points for the infraction.
"We did wrong, we got caught and we paid for our crime," Martin said. "That's all behind us now."
Obviously. After blowing an engine and finishing 26th at Rockingham, N.C., Martin has finished in the top seven in the past nine races, including three seconds and two thirds.
"Our team chemistry is the biggest thing we have going for us," Martin said. "We're on a peak right now.
"Our deal is so good it's scary. It ain't even hardly fair.
"We want to win this championship, and we feel like we should be able to."
Martin, who started driving at age 8 on the Arkansas backroads while perched on his father's lap, admits to wondering if he may wake up one morning and discover this is merely a dream.
"I've got the greatest deal in Winston Cup racing," he said. "I truly believe this is the team that most of the drivers are going to want to drive for in the 1990s. I'm signed with Jack through 1993, and I'm planning on extending it when the time comes.
"We've got all the tools and parts. We've got a great sponsor [Folger's]. Most importantly, we've got good people. They don't expect miracles from me. If I can't drive the car, they'll fix the damn car.
"There is no guarantee on the championship, but we sure like our chances."
Certainly, the odds are much better now than they were on that February day in Daytona four years ago.
"I'll never, ever forget that day," Martin said. "I'll never forget where I came from and how lucky I am to be in Winston Cup racing with the team I have.
"But looking back, I'm glad it was hard. I'm glad that I was outside that fence looking in. If I had been a success the first time around, I wouldn't be the Roush driver now.
"Standing outside that fence at Daytona indirectly got me where I am now.
"I just know none of this would have happened if I had been on the other side of the fence that day at Daytona.
"It's amazing, really. It was like I was out in freezing cold, locked outside and nobody would let me in.
"Then, all of a sudden, the door opens."
And Mark Martin walked into a warm racing Utopia.
Now, all that's left for Martin is to throw the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door. He won't be checking out. Not anytime soon, at least. Our team chemistry is the biggest thing we have going for us. We're on a peak right now.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB