Mark Martin's crew puts a new engine in his Ford. Martin is likely driving in his final Daytona 500 on Sunday. Credit: AP

Martin, Wallace ready to go in final Daytona 500

Martin: Our car is back to 100 percent for Sunday

DAYTONA BEACH Fla. -- Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace encountered potentially crushing setbacks in the Gatorade Duel Thursday, but both have rebounded nicely and plan to be players in the Daytona 500.

"I think my chances are good. I'm not a quitter. I'm feeling good right now," Wallace said. "I wish the car would be a little quicker, but it's handling good right now."

Rusty Wallace

Martin was unable to get on the track Friday as his team used the entire eight hours of garage time to repair damage suffered in the Jimmie Johnson/Kevin Harvick incident Thursday.

Then on Saturday, his Ford sustained minimal damage on the left front of his car when Martin and Harvick made contact.

"I got under (Harvick) down there and he didn't know I was there," Martin said. "The car is good. I'm happy right now. We missed a day of tuning on our car, but it's a good enough car.

"This car runs good no matter what we put in it. I told (my team) I didn't care if we didn't practice. If they could fix it, we didn't need practice. It's where it was Thursday, and I'm happy with that."

Mark Martin

Thursday Martin said his car was a race-winning machine.

Is it still?

"It's back to 100 percent," said Martin, who posted the 11th-quickest time during the final practice. "This is the car I believe I needed."

Wallace, who was 24th in practice Saturday, said his car might be better than the time sheet can accurately indicate.

ALSO Join Rusty's official fan club!

"I never did get in a fast draft," Wallace explained. "Every time I get in the draft out there I had to pull out of the throttle, so I never could get that baby wound up and lay a big number down.

"But the thing I do like, the temps are perfect, it's driving great. It likes the bottom and middle better. Top (line) is okay. Right now I think we're in great shape."