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In 1988, however, Jack Roush came calling. Four hundred ninety-nine starts later, Martin is about to hit another milestone in his career. This weekend's Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway will be his 500th in a row.
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| Mark Martin |
"It's a pretty good accomplishment," Martin said. "It would be a lot longer if I had stayed in from the beginning. I started in 1981 and then ran a full season in 1982. I missed '83-87, but if I had kept a job at that time, I would have had a really large number. Still, it has been really rewarding, and I've experienced so much.
"As far as the streak, I've been really fortunate about not having to miss a race, or even need relief in that period of time. Thankfully I've been able to drive my car every week since it all started."
Martin's streak is the seventh longest in NASCAR history and the third longest among active drivers. Only iron man Ricky Rudd with 706 in a row, and Rusty Wallace with 615, have longer streaks.
Over that span, Martin has won 33 races, 41 poles and finished third or better in the Winston Cup points standings eight times.
"It's been my honor to be with Mark for the duration of this streak of 500 starts," Roush said. "There are certainly times when I wish I could have provided him better equipment or better strategy and better results at times, but overall it has certainly been a good run.
"Mark is a pillar of NASCAR. I'm sure that after he retires one day that his career will be looked at by the historians and the fans as one of the 'greatest' of all-time, regardless. Mark is one of the greatest to drive a race car, and time will show that."
Martin goes about his business without tooting his own horn, but this weekend's achievement will put his accomplishments in the spotlight.
"Mark is obviously one of the most talented drivers in NASCAR," Roush Racing teammate Jeff Burton said. "He's a good, honest person who has achieved success through his dignity and character, and I think that's admirable. He eats, sleeps and breathes racing, and that dedication and hard work shows in everything he does.
"To start 500 races, let alone consecutively, is an achievement that is inconceivable to most, but I think it's the epitome of everything Mark Martin is."
The streak started in 1988, Roush's first foray into NASCAR. The first race was the Daytona 500, and the team had to work its way into the starting lineup.
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| Mark Martin discuss strategy in the garage area. Credit: Autostock |
"We got into the field on time, and that was big because we were a new team and didn't have any points," Martin said. "There was a big wreck in the 125s, and we were in it. We didn't have a back up superspeedway car, so we had to run our Atlanta car in the Daytona 500.
"It made it about 15 laps before we burned the motor up."
That wouldn't be the last heartbreak for Martin. It took him almost two full seasons to win his first race, scored at Rockingham in the fall of 1989.
And then came the championship disappointments. He lost the 1990 title by 26 points to Dale Earnhardt, and finished second to Earnhardt again in 1994 and to Jeff Gordon in 1998 -- both by wide margins. Last year, Martin was runner-up again, losing to Tony Stewart by 38.
Through it all, Martin has remained committed to Roush, and Roush to him. There's not a current driver who has been with the same team for as long as Martin has been with Roush Racing.
"I'm really thankful for what I have and the time that I've had and the success that I've had," Martin said. "The fact that I've been able to do this actually says a lot about the people around me over the years that worked really hard to make that possible. Jack basically gave me a second chance and the opportunity to pursue my dreams, and we have been doing that ever since.
"There are a lot of things that stand out. Perhaps the biggest thing is my relationship with Jack Roush over the years and how it has grown and changed over time. We've been through it all together, the agonizing disappointments and the highest of highs that we have had.
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| Mark Martin celebrates his victory in the 2002 Coca-Cola 600. Credit: Autostock |
"I'm not complaining at all. Some of the high points that I've had in my life shouldn't even be allowed. I've had the good fortune of winning a lot of races and a lot of trophies. For every win there was probably one that got away in the most agonizing way, but that is a part of what has grown the relationship between Jack and myself. We've been through it all together, and we have a lot of things to show for it."
One of those things is part ownership of the current Winston Cup points leader's car. Wisconsin native Matt Kenseth is a prot?g? of Martin's.
"I've said many times that nobody has had more of an impact on my career than Mark Martin," Kenseth said. "He has always been my mentor and was instrumental in getting me over to Roush Racing. If one day, I'm at my 500th start, it still won't have been enough time to thank him for all he's done for me. Congratulations should go to him."
Indeed.
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