NASCAR Cup
Chicagoland: Martin - Thursday media visit
MARK MARTIN, NO. 8 US ARMY IMPALA SS, met with members of the media at Chicagoland Speedway and discussed this weekend's race, Tony Stewart's ownership announcement, his relationship with Richard Petty, the Brickyard, and more. TALK ABOUT THIS ...
Published: Jul 11, 2008, 9:34 AM
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MARK MARTIN, NO. 8 US ARMY IMPALA SS, met with members of the media at Chicagoland Speedway and discussed this weekend's race, Tony Stewart's ownership announcement, his relationship with Richard Petty, the Brickyard, and more.
TALK ABOUT THIS WEEKEND'S RACE: "I sure would like to get Tony Gibson and this US Army team a win. That is really where my focus is. They have had me close a couple times this year. It would mean a lot to me. We have run well here, but we haven't closed the deal but we have run well here at times. Today's competition is really all about how you hit it or not, so we are going to do our best."
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON TONY STEWART TAKING AN OWNERSHIP ROLE IN NASCAR SPRINT CUP? "I think it is cool on one hand. I think it will be really really exciting if Gibbs puts Joey (Logano) in the No. 20. I have been touting him since he was 12 years old, telling you guys he is coming. Tony Stewart is incredible. I will say what Rick (Hendrick) said, anybody in the business would want to be with Tony. I certainly would be. I didn't get invited and race with him. Had I been, who knows what would have happened. I think a lot of Tony."
WOULD YOU EVER WANT TO TRAVEL DOWN THE ROAD TONY IS GOING? "It is a road that I don't want to travel. But you know, I have said a lot of stuff that I have changed my mind about. I have no interest in it at this time. But I think it is where Tony wants to be and I think it is the right move for Tony Stewart. It is what he wants to do and he has a lot of passion for it and I think it is the right move for him."
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE HARDEST THING FOR HIM WILL BE AND STILL BEING A DRIVER? "I assume it will be personnel. I think really the frustrations I experienced with being arm and arm with Jack Roush for 19 years, for me the hardest thing was trying to recruit and have the best personnel and then keep them once you get them. It seems like it was always a challenge."
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH RICHARD PETTY AND WHAT HAS HE MEANT TO THE SPORT? "I was in awe of Richard Petty from my first introduction as a little boy from Arkansas. He has always been very very down to earth and is one of the most instrumental in NASCAR being where it is today and all of us being able to do what we are doing has a lot to do with what Richard Petty did."
CAN YOU ENVISION YOURSELF IN THIS SPORT FOR 50 YEARS AS A DRIVER THEN A TEAM OWNER? "I don't know? I love racing. If I was able to do it on my terms, then I can see me here 50 years. I am half-way there. Certainly could see that if I was having fun and I could contribute to an organization somehow. I am very interested in that."
WHY HAVE YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOCUSED ON THE BRICKYARD? "I think that Tony Gibson and this Army team have what we need to get it done there. We have a great car for flat tracks. We are taking our car from Phoenix. Our engines are really good right now; pit stops are great. That is one that I think we could, if everything went our way, we can contend for.
-credit: gm racing
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