NASCAR Cup

Martinsville: Mark Martin preview

NO. 6 VIAGRA TEAM LOOKS TO HIT MARK IN MARTINSVILLE Martin and the No. 6 Viagra (sildenafil citrate) Team will look to rebound from a disappointed weekend after literally running into trouble at Bristol. Martin will look for his first top-10 ...

Published: Apr 6, 2005, 9:41 PM

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NO. 6 VIAGRA TEAM LOOKS TO HIT MARK IN MARTINSVILLE

Martin and the No. 6 Viagra (sildenafil citrate) Team will look to rebound from a disappointed weekend after literally running into trouble at Bristol. Martin will look for his first top-10 finish at Martinsivlle since the 2002 season.

Chassis Number: (RK-274) - The team will run RK-274 this week in Martinsville. RK-274 is a brand new car that will make its first run.

Worthy Note: Both of Martin's wins and 11 of his 19 top-10 finishes at Martinsville came in the spring race.

IN THE POINTS

After getting caught up in the accident, Martin dropped to 10th in the Nextel Cup standings. Martin is currently just two points behind eighth and 221 points out of first. He has now been inside the Nextel Cup Top-10 for 17 weeks dating back to September of last season.

MARTIN AT MARTINSVILLE

Though not a favorite of his, Martin has experienced success at Martinsville where he has won twice and boasts 19 top-10 finishes and three poles. Martin finished inside the top 10 in both races there in 2002, but has been unable to post a top 10 there since. Martin looked to be a solid contender to win last spring at Martinsville, before a defective oil line sent him behind the wall and dropped the team to a 34th-place finish.

SPRING FLING

Both of Martin's wins, six of his top-five and 10 of his 19 top-10 finishes at Martinsville have come in the spring race there. Martin won at Martinsville in the springs of both 1992 and 2000.

FIRST TIME'S A CHARM

Martin was strong at Martinsville off the bat, qualifying fifth and posting a third place finish in his first race there on September 27, 1981.

MARKMARTINSALUTE.COM

Mark Martin will make his final run at the Nextel Cup title in 2005. Martin has dubbed 2005 as his "Salute to You" tour, a year in which he hopes to take the time to thank each and everyone that he feels played a role in his success, including team members, fans, NASCAR and the media.

QUOTING MARK AND PAT --ON MARTINSVILLE

"Martinsville is a place that I've always hated with a passion, but we've won two or three times there. I"ve always loved Pocono, but I've never won there, so what does that tell you. It's always been a thorn in my side as far as short tracks. The people have always told me how well I run there, but it sure never feels that way. It can be physically demanding. Sometimes you leave there worn down, sometimes you feel fine. It's been a real challenge for me, because it really just doesn't fit my driving style.

"We had a tough week in Bristol and despite what I may or may not like, Martinsville is our next opportunity to go out and win a race and that is what we'll try to do this weekend."

PAT TRYSON

"Martinsville can be a tough place to race and we all know that it's not one of our favorite places to race. However we ran okay there both times last year and we had a really good race car there last spring, so we know that Mark can get it done if we give him the right tools to work with. We aren't happy with last weekend's results and so we are pretty anxious to get back out on the track and go to work on getting that first win for the No. 6 team. Hopefully that'll come this weekend."

Mark Martin Fast Facts -- Martinsville

* Martin has two victories at Martinsville (spring '92 and spring 2000).

* Martin has 19 top-10 and 10 top-five finishes in 38 starts at Martinsville.

* Martin posted both of his wins and 10 of his 19 top-10 finishes at Martinsville in the spring.

* Martin has three poles at Martinsville.

* Martin finished third in his first ever attempt at Martinsville on 9/29/81. He started the race fifth.

-rr-

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