From the August, 2006 issue of Stock Car Insider
Who's Not?
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| Mark Martin has been flying low on the radar for much of the 2006 season. The veteran driver has yet to win a race this year, but has posted 5-top 5 and 11-top 10 finishes. His average finish this year is 13.5. Despite having an average outside the top 10, Mark has been comfortably nestled inside the top 10 in driver's points. That is until last night. Mark's 28th place finish in the Sharpie 500 at Bristol knocked him down 6 spots in the driver standings to 10th place (only 90 points in front of Kasey Kahne). The question is not whether Mark Martin will qualify for the 2006 Chase for the Championship (because I believe he will). Instead, the question is will Mark be a contender for the championship come November. For much of his career, Mark has always been the best 2nd place finisher. He is the Cal to the Ricky Bobby's of the NASCAR world. During his long career he has always been the Andy Griffith on the track. He did his part to be the driver who did things right even if that meant giving up a victory. For this final segment of the last season of his long career, I want to see the devil in Martin come out. I want to see him bulldoze his way to victory and to a championship that he has long deserved! So come on Mark! Stir up some stink and turn up the volume on your retirement tour!
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