Mark Martin said he is having more fun in the Truck Series than any other time he's had racing. Credit: Autostock

Truck Series best part of Martin's busy schedule

Veteran wants to finish 2006 before deciding on next career step

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- The fun is back for Mark Martin, in a big way.

Mark Martin has started just six of the nine Truck races this season, but he is still 14th in points. Credit: Autostock

Inside the Numbers Mark Martin's 2006 NCTS results Race Start Finish Status Daytona 1 1 running California 7 1 running Atlanta 10 2 running Martinsville 2 4 running Charlotte 10 13 running Dover 13 1 running Average 7.2 3.7   Third winMark Martin celebrates his victory at Dover Second winMartin takes home the checkers at California First winMark Martin starts season with Daytona victory Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

No, it's not in Nextel Cup, where he's a solid third in the standings in what could be his final full-time season. Instead, it's in the Craftsman Truck Series, where it's less about making points and more about leading laps.

"When I get to climb in that truck, it's sort of a release or an outlet for everything," Martin said. "I can just go race and not worry about all those other things and not worry about whether or not we make the Chase or score a point.

"Let's just go race and have fun. I'm having a good time with it."

Martin's fun continued Friday at Michigan International Speedway, where he was fifth-fastest in the final practice before Saturday's Con-way Freight 200. Martin's best lap of 175.503 mph came on the last of his 27 trips around the 2-mile oval.

After two Truck races in 1996, Martin returned to the series in the 2005 finale, finishing eighth at Homestead. He planned to run a limited schedule this season, in addition to his No. 6 Ford in Nextel Cup, but after winning three times, including most recently at Dover, Martin can't wait to climb back into the cab.

"It helps me keep things in perspective and keeps me having fun," he said. "I was having a blast up until May and then when we hit the stretch in May, it became a little bit of an overload with testing three weeks in a row and running all those races and doing all the things that we have to do off the racetrack.

"It got to be too much of a good thing for me."

As for 2007, Martin refuses to look that far ahead.

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"I'm so busy that I can't even think about 2007, so I have no idea what 2007 brings and don't even care about 2007 right now," Martin said. "I've got a lot on my plate, the most I have ever had in my career, and we're trying to make the most of it.

"We're focused on what's right here in front of us and trying to make the Chase and make another run at the championship. We'll worry about 2007 when I get that all taken care of."

Skinner back out front

Another driver who can't wait to get back on the track for Saturday's pole qualifying is Mike Skinner.

The driver quickest at Texas last weekend recorded the best lap of the final session at 177.651 mph, nearly three-tenths of a second better than Erin Crocker, a surprising second.