Accidents happen, and just because most of them in the Nextel Cup seem to involve young drivers, veteran Mark Martin said that should not be a knock on potential stars of tomorrow.
“It’s always going to be skewed toward the younger drivers,” Martin said about accidents in a Tuesday teleconference. He recalled his days in the Busch series.
“In 1977, every time there was a wreck in front of me, I was in it. I didn’t cause them, but I was in them,” he said. “And I couldn’t understand how the veterans, like Dick Trickle and some of the guys I raced with, why they weren’t in them.”
Martin, 46, became a full-time Cup driver in 1982 when he was 23. But he started only 22 races the next five years. He joined Roush Racing in 1988 at age 29 and has since made at least 29 starts per season for the multi- car team.
In his first two seasons with Roush, “I figured it out: You miss (accidents) more often when you have more experience. Most of the NASCAR drivers that are veterans today had tons more experience racing when we got a chance to race (Cup),” he said. “Part of that’s a learning curve. But it’s a different world today.
“You’re going to deal with inexperienced drivers to some degree on the racetrack and off the racetrack as well because the sport is leaning toward younger drivers. There’s nothing wrong with that. I’m a big supporter of these young guys.”
Trading places
Martin, who will retire from the Nextel Cup after this season, plans on running in the Craftsman Truck Series next year.
His replacement in his No. 6 car likely will come from the Busch or Craftsman series.
“I will make an announcement officially when we sign a sponsor and a partner for the (truck) thing, but it is my intention to race the truck for Jack Roush on a full schedule,” Martin said.
Footnotes
No Cup champion in the past 10 years is among the top eight in the standings heading into Sunday’s race at Michigan International Speedway. In that champions group, Jeff Gordon, who won titles in 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001, is in the best position to qualify for the 10-driver, 10-race Chase for the Championship. He stands ninth and 2002 champion Tony Stewart is 10th. Other champions – Kurt Busch (2004), Matt Kenseth (2003), Bobby Labonte (2000), Dale Jarrett (1999) and Terry Labonte (1996 and 1984), plus 2004’s top rookie Kasey Kahne, stand outside the cut. … Ricky Rudd is attempting to make his 57th career start at Michigan, which would surpass Dave Marcis for the most. … Martin leads all active drivers with 25 top-10 finishes at Michigan. Rusty Wallace, who also is retiring after this season, leads all active drivers with five victories at the 2-mile oval.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
