NASCAR Cup
Martin, Wallace denied a final 500 victory
Nothing would have been sweeter than to see veterans Mark Martin or Rusty Wallace in victory land at the end of the Daytona 500. Alas, that was not meant to be. Both racers are ending their decorated careers in NASCAR Cup series racing at the end ...
Published: Feb 23, 2005, 9:21 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Nothing would have been sweeter than to see veterans Mark Martin or Rusty Wallace in victory land at the end of the Daytona 500. Alas, that was not meant to be.
Both racers are ending their decorated careers in NASCAR Cup series racing at the end of this season. Martin and Wallace will both end their careers without a Daytona 500 win on their resume.
"I wanted to win this race," said Wallace. "But, that is OK. It really isn't OK, but I told everybody if I didn't win it wouldn't be the end of the world. I put on a good performance out there all day and my car ran strong all day. I was in the lead pack, top five and top 10 most of the day. I really thought I was going to finish a lot better than 10th.
No matter how disappointed Wallace may be he has no intention of slipping back into the series for one more chance at the big hurrah.
"I'm done with it," Wallace said. "I've had a lot of fun, and I enjoy it. I was hoping it wasn't going to come down to the green-white-checkered. With 18 laps to go we had plenty of fuel and we were running great. We had a good dancing partner hooked up and it didn't happen. We'll just go to California now. I am looking forward to that one."
Wallace's best finish in a Daytona 500 is third in 2001. Wallace had to go to a back-up car after a crash in his Twin 150 time trial race Thursday.
Martin's hopes started to fade before the event when he was swept up in the same wreck as Wallace caused by Kevin Harvick slamming into Jimmie Johnson's rear coming through a turn.
Pat Tryson (crew chief) and the No. 6 Roush Ford team worked furiously to rebuild the broken race car and not have to give up track position and go to a back-up car. The crew worked on the car all day slowly moving Martin into contention to compete with the leaders.
In the end, Martin fell just short finishing sixth. His career best finish in the Daytona 500 was a third in 1995.
"The car worked good, the guys fixed it back right," said Martin. "Better than right. It ain't no big deal (to not ever win a Daytona 500). I don't have any major love for this place."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Gordon grabs wild 500 win at Daytona
Next article Earnhardt Jr impressed by California fans
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Kevin Harvick
The most unexpected driver and team breakups in modern NASCAR Cup history
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
The most unexpected driver and team breakups in modern NASCAR Cup history
The wildest fights in modern NASCAR Cup history
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Bristol II
The wildest fights in modern NASCAR Cup history
Kevin Harvick’s message to Carson Hocevar: ‘Do not change’
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Pocono
Kevin Harvick’s message to Carson Hocevar: ‘Do not change’
Latest news
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Brazilian GP
46 min
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Raul Fernandez still compromised after Indonesia finger injury: “I’m not at 100%”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Raul Fernandez still compromised after Indonesia finger injury: “I’m not at 100%”
MotoGP can’t simply copy F1’s Drive to Survive success – Chase Carey
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
2 h
MotoGP can’t simply copy F1’s Drive to Survive success – Chase Carey
Marc Marquez's mind games with Jorge Martin: "If you're fast, you don't need team orders"
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
2 h
Marc Marquez's mind games with Jorge Martin: "If you're fast, you don't need team orders"
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe