Martin Martin and Pat Tryson are trying to make the Chase for the third consecutive year. Credit: Autostock

Shop Talk: Pat Tryson

Crew chief trying to get Martin in Chase in final season in 6 car

FONTANA, Calif. -- Pat Tryson's heart nearly stopped when he saw Mark Martin's car go into a spin during the final race of the Nextel Cup Series regular season two years ago at Richmond International Raceway.

Martin entered the day 10th in points, only 25 ahead of Jamie McMurray for the final spot in the inaugural Chase for the championship that began the next week.

Tryson, Martin's crew chief, thought everything the No. 6 team had worked so hard for was lost.

But somehow Martin avoided hitting anything, and nobody hit him. He rallied for a fifth-place finish that solidified his playoff spot at No. 8.

Tryson and Martin find themselves in a similar position heading into this week's race at Richmond. Martin is ninth in points, only 32 ahead of 11th-place Kasey Kahne.

Tryson spent some time last weekend at California Speedway, where Martin finished 12th to move up a spot from 10th, looking ahead to this race and remembering what it was like in 2004.

Q: What was going through your head as you watched Martin spin?

Tryson: Oh, I was thinking he was going to hit something and we were done. I don't know who got him tangled up, but he had to spin to avoid stuff and we felt pretty sure that would be the end of our night. Somehow we made it through. Somebody was looking out for us.

Q: Did you or Martin say anything prophetic on the in-car radio?

Tryson: There was no chatter. It was pretty quiet at that point. After he made it through we were, "Ooooh! We got lucky there.''

Q: What's it like being in this position again?

Race to the Chase Mark Martin in 2004 Race St. Fin. Points Daytona 21 6 14 Chicago 18 24 15 Loudon 26 14 15 Pocono 21 2 13 Indianapolis 16 25 15 Watkins Glen 15 3 13 Michigan 13 2 12 Bristol 7 13 12 Fontana 11 3 10 Richmond 2 5 8 Martin in 2006 Race St. Fin. Points Daytona 24 33 6 Chicago 9 18 6 Loudon 13 4 5 Pocono 30 19 6 Indianapolis 19 5 6 Watkins Glen 20 20 6 Michigan 14 5 4 Bristol 15 28 10 Fontana 38 12 9 Richmond ? ? ?

Tryson: It's not a lot of fun. There have been a lot of sleepless nights and everybody fourth through 11th is in the same boat. It's probably going to boil down to not who runs the best, but who has the bad breaks.

Q: What was the pressure like going into this race in 2004?

Tryson: It was pretty awful. So much was being made of being in the Chase. If you didn't make it, the thought was it would kill your season.

Q: Does trying to get Martin that elusive championship add to the pressure?

Tryson: Yeah. We'd like to see him win a championship and he'd like to win a championship. I realize he won't end his life if he doesn't win one. But all of us that have been around him for a while would like to get him one.

Q: What's it like being on the pit box for this race knowing one bad decision by you could cost your driver a chance to race for the title?

Tryson: You find yourself not only watching your driver but watching the other guys around you racing for a spot. But once the race starts you try your best not to think about what's at stake and just concentrate on the race.

Q: What are the challenges at Richmond for your team?

Tryson: We've always run well there, so that helps that we can look back at the playbook. It's real tight racing, so it makes it a lot of fun. It seems you're always too tight in the center and too loose coming off the turns, so it's a constant battle. You almost end up with a setup in between.

Q: Why has this team been good at Richmond?

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Tryson: This year we've been better than last year. We worked hard on our short-track program that hurt us last year. We tried some different stuff and found some things that work for us.

Q: Do you expect to see "gentleman'' Martin being overly cautious needing a good finish to make the Chase?

Tryson: You've got to be cautious around guys that are fourth through 11th. There will be guys that give you more room and more respect. At the same time you have to give that respect, too. If you don't you might be around the one guy that doesn't give it to you.

There's going to be a lot of give and take. Mark will probably be a little more cautious, give them a little more room. It's almost the way you have to race going into these situations. It's not much fun, but it's what you've got to do.

Q: Will pit strategy be any different?

Tryson: You're going to be more conservative versus an aggressive strategy. It would be OK to finish eighth. It won't be OK to finish 30th. If you take a chance on fuel and run out of gas, or leave him out there on tires too long, it can cost you.

Q: Does all the talk about whether or not Martin will return next season, even though Martin says that won't happen, impact the team?

Tryson: I've been through this three years in a row now. It's really not that much different for me. He needs to do what's best for Mark Martin and not worry about the rest of us.

We're a little bit younger than he is (47) and we're going to be doing this for a while. It would be sad to see him go if that's what he decides, but at the same time it will be good for him. I'd like to see him come back, obviously, but if what he wants to do is go run the trucks then he needs to go run the trucks and enjoy life.

We'd all love to have him back, but realistically it's probably not going to happen.

Q: Most of the team has stayed together the past few years despite offers to go elsewhere. Does having that continuity give you an edge with so much on the line?

Tryson: It has to. You don't worry about something being left loose. You don't worry about the little stuff. If you want to make a last-second spring change you don't worry about it because you know they'll throw it on and make it right.

Q: What's your worst moment at Richmond?

Tryson: I guess the fight when I was working for Ricky Rudd at Wood Brothers in 2003. We finished third that night and ended up in a little fight with the Kevin Harvick crew after the race.