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MARTIN GOES FOR FOURTH BUD AT THE GLEN VICTORY WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Mark Martin will have a chance to make NASCAR Winston Cup history when he returns to Watkins Glen International for the August 8-11 Bud at the Glen. But the popular driver ...

Edited: May 8, 2001, 12:19 PM

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MARTIN GOES FOR FOURTH BUD AT THE GLEN VICTORY

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Mark Martin will have a chance to make NASCAR Winston Cup history when he returns to Watkins Glen International for the August 8-11 Bud at the Glen. But the popular driver isn't expecting to set a record. All he wants to do is have some fun -- and win another race in the process. The driver of the Valvoline Ford Thunderbird will have the opportunity to join racing legend Dan Gurney as the only drivers to win the same event four consecutive times at a track at least one mile in length. Gurney won the Winston Western 500 at the former Riverside (Calif.) International Speedway from 1963 through 1966. Now, 20 years later, Martin will be looking for his fourth straight victory in the Bud at the Glen. Ironically, he said he doesn't feel the pressure he had last year coming to the Glen. "Last year there was a lot of pressure to repeat, and it took most of the fun out of it," Martin admitted. "I had no fun at all, except standing in Victory Lane. And that was more a feeling of relief that we didn't lose. "I'm looking more forward to it this year," Martin added. "Nothing lasts forever, and to hope or expect to win the Bud at the Glen four straight times would be foolish, it's really too much." Martin then added with it smile, "It just might happen. We're going to bring the same car we've won with the past three years. We've got a better shot than most of them. We've just got to be real careful not to get caught up in the hype and expectations." The Batesville, Arkansas driver has rolled up very impressive numbers at the Glen. After finishing 28th in his first Glen visit in 1987, Martin scored seven straight top-five finishes. All three of his victories have come from the Busch Pole position. He leads all Winston Cup competitors at WGI in money won, $462,530, and in laps led, with 199. Martin's 1993 victory in the Bud at the Glen opened a four-race winning streak that season, sharing the modern era record with five other drivers. "When I won four in a row in 1993, the maddest I've ever been was when we didn't win the five," Martin recalled. "Once you start winning, you never want to stop. Losing is not something you look forward to." Martin's best finish this year came at the only other road course in the Winston Cup Series, when he placed second behind Rusty Wallace at Sears Point. Now with the "pressure" off Martin, he'll be looking for his first victory of the season at the Bud at the Glen. The Bud at the Glen weekend opens with AtCall Practice Day on Thursday, August 8, with opening practice and qualifying for the NASCAR Busch North and SCCA Trans-Am series. Opening Winston Cup practice is on Friday, RCA Qualifying Day, with Busch Pole qualifying at 2 p.m. Highlighting Saturday's schedule is second round Winston Cup qualifying, the Burnham Boilers 150 at 12:30 p.m., and Serengeti Eyewear Trans-Am at 3:30 p.m. Opening ceremonies for the 10th anniversary Bud at the Glen get underway at 10 a.m., with the green flag falling at 1:10 p.m. Grandstand seats and reserved Family Camping locations are still available. For additional ticket and camping information, or to place credit card orders, call (607) 535-2481.

Media Contact: J.J. O'Malley (607) 535-2486, ext. 207; FAX: (607) 535-7854 Compuserve: 73771,531; E-Mail: 73771.531@compuserve.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------- TENTH ANNIVERSARY BUD AT THE GLEN Weekend Schedule of Events

THURSDAY, AUGUST 8 -- AT CALL PRACTICE DAY 10 a.m.: Gates open for spectator admission and camping 6 a.m.: NASCAR Busch North Registration and Inspection 8:30 a.m.: Mandatory NASCAR Rookie Meeting 9 a.m. - 11:25 a.m.: Busch North practice 11:30 a.m. - noon: Trans-Am practice 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.: Trans-Am practice 2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.: Busch North qualifying (European Style) 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.: Trans-Am Goodyear Fast Five Qualifying

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9 -- RCA QUALIFYING DAY 5 a.m.: NASCAR haulers enter 6 a.m.: Winston Cup Registration and Inspection 7 a.m.: NASCAR Garage Opens 8 a.m.: Mandatory NASCAR Rookie Meeting 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Winston Cup practice 2 p.m.: Winston Cup Busch Pole qualifying (pos. 1-25), one lap espn2 Live 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.: Busch North practice 5:35 - 6 p.m.: Final Trans-Am qualifying

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10 7 a.m.: NASCAR Garage Opens 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.: Winston Cup practice 10:30 a.m.: Busch Second Round Qualifying (pos. 26-36), one lap 12:30 p.m.: BURNHAM BOILERS 150, 62 laps ESPN Live 2:15 p.m.- 3:15 p.m.: Final Winston Cup practice 3:30 p.m.: SERENGETI EYEWEAR TRANS-AM, 42 Laps TNN Live

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11 11:10 a.m.: Driver and crew chief meeting 12:20 p.m.: Driver Introductions 1:10 p.m.: THE BUD AT THE GLEN, 90 laps ESPN Live

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