600th Start For Mark Martin This Weekend At New Hampshire

 

CONCORD, N.C. (July 10, 2006) - Mark Martin will make his 600th consecutive Cup start this weekend when the green flag drops on Sunday at New Hampshire International Speedway. The run is currently the longest running streak in NASCAR and the fifth longest of all-time.

Ironically, Martin made his 500th consecutive start in 2003 at New Hampshire in September. Martin’s streak dates back to Feb. 14, 1988 when he first teamed with Jack Roush in the Daytona 500. Martin finished 41st that day; humble beginnings for what would become one of the most successful partnerships in NASCAR history.

Nineteen years, 35 wins, 41 poles and 366 top-10 finishes later, Martin is scheduled to make his 600th consecutive start this Sunday.Martin ran his first Cup race in 1981, running a total of five races, while winning two poles and earning a pair of top-10 finishes. The following year he ran a full season. Martin was unable to find adequate sponsorship and ran only a handful of Cup races from 1983-87, before hooking up with Roush in 1988.

“The first thing that comes to mind is that I’ve been around for a long time,” laughed Martin. “But really, I’ve been fortunate in a lot of ways. I’ve never had a sick day. I’ve never had big enough tragedy to keep out of the seat and I’ve been able to go to work and do my job for a long time.

“It says a lot for those around me over the years that have also worked really hard to make that be able to happen. It says a great deal about Jack Roush, who basically gave me a second chance and a great opportunity to pursue my dreams and fortunately for us, we’ve been doing that ever since.” read more from Roush Racing