Team reacts to Roush accident

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- While Jack Roush was hospitalized Saturday after being injured in a plane accident, his five race teams conducted business as usual at Talladega Superspeedway -- and have every intention of continuing to do so throughout the Aaron's 499 weekend and beyond.

	Jack Roush

Roush, the leader and founder of Roush Racing, would accept nothing less.

"One of the things that earned us the opportunity to work with him was our drive. We're all the kind of people that like to take care of our business," Mark Martin said of his boss and Roush Racing teammates. "That's what he wants us to do and that's what we'll do."

Martin joined Roush Racing president Geoff Smith Saturday in addressing the media with the known details of Roush's Friday evening plane crash near Troy, Ala.

Martin said he was shocked to hear that his mentor had been involved in an accident Friday, and refused to believe it until he saw Roush for himself. He joined teammate Jeff Burton in visiting Roush at the University of Alabama Birmingham Medical Center Friday night.

NASCAR vice president for corporate communications Jim Hunter said Kurt Busch also visited the hospital Friday night, and that Matt Kenseth, Roush's fourth Cup driver, was unreachable Friday and didn't find out about the accident until this morning.

"I didn't know the details and couldn't find out the details. The things I had heard didn't make a lot of sense to me. I wasn't convinced it was Jack," said Martin, who has driven Roush's Fords since 1988. "I had to see to know.

Roush Racing teammates Jeff Burton (left) and Matt Kenseth. Credit: ASP

"We were ahead of the details. Jeff and I got to the hospital before Jack did and before his friends did. So the info we were getting was not exactly accurate, didn't make a whole lotta sense to me. Maybe I was a little bit in shock. I don't know. I wanted to see for myself that it was Jack."

When asked, Martin said Roush did not acknowledge his presence.

"He had great color, looked pretty beat up," Martin said. "I know that everybody wants answers right now. Believe me, I know and understand all that. But in situations like this you have to wait. (Roush) had a tremendous passion for flying as well as racing. Our greatest concern is for his health and all. In the meantime we will take care of business."

Considering the circumstances, Martin admits taking care of business won't seem quite so important Sunday morning -- until they start the cars.

"I guess I'd say prior to the race, it'll be sort of hard to get in the mood (to race)," Martin said. "But all of us, when we climb into cars -- we didn't get here from being weak or scatter-focused. When we get in, we will be taking care of business. Actually, we'll be more determined than ever before to do that -- to prove to Jack and everyone else that we can do that."