Martin intense, involved in driver development team (cont'd)

While the event was similar to the end of the sport's record of 788 consecutive race starts that ended when Ricky Rudd decided to take a one-year hiatus from the sport following the 2005 season -- Martin's absence from Sunday's Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway was way more significant because he was the Nextel Cup points leader when he stepped away.

It was a point that wasn't lost on Ginn, but it also was no surprise to the millionaire developer and sports promoter who'd offered a car for Martin to race anywhere he desired -- despite a split schedule already having been worked out between Martin, who's scheduled to compete in 21 points races, and rookie Regan Smith, who'll do the other 15 in the No. 01 Chevrolet.

"This was entertainment, sure, but I think something really special was going on here, [Saturday night]," Ginn said. "This is why we did what we did when we signed up Mark Martin [because] he wanted to run a limited schedule, but even more than that, he wanted to work with young drivers and we wanted a development program."

How successful the development will be remains to be seen, but as an artistic success, the packed house in Columbia's tiny frontstretch grandstand and the mass of people around the Mark Martin Performance pit area -- for which the track designated two of its officials to serve as security to maintain control around the Martins and Carmichael -- speaks to a ton of interest being created by this program.

"[Saturday night], the most meaningful thing going on is that, at a racetrack in a small town in Florida the stands are full and the people are having a good time," Ginn said. "And a marquee driver steps out of leading the [Nextel Cup] points and comes out here to a Saturday night special and sits in the dust and signs autographs, works with his kids and really brings racing back to the grass roots.

"And that is a successful investment for us."

As Ginn said, on the eve of the first Cup race Martin has missed since the Feb. 14, 1988 Daytona 500; all Martin was thinking about was being a teacher, a mentor and a leader to Carmichael; his son Matt, 15, for whom racecars are one of several activities of which he's devoting time; and his Mark Martin Performance race team.

It's a lesson applicable to racers -- or fans of racers -- whether they're 5 or 85. And make no mistake, that entire range of ages was present, in great numbers, among the estimated crowd of more than 2,000 at the regular FASCAR Saturday night show.

"Ricky certainly brings new fans to car racing," Ginn said. "But [Saturday night isn't really about marketing. This is what you do to train young drivers to hopefully go on and play in the big leagues. That's really what this is about.

"Again, for a driver of the stature of Mark Martin to step out of the points lead and to be willing to do this, to come and work with a couple young drivers, brings something back to racing. If anything was promoted [Saturday night], it was racing."

When Martin parked his vehicle outside the racetrack and strolled through the Turn 1 gate just before 3:15 p.m. with his wife, Arlene, and Matt by his side, he had no way of knowing what the next seven-and-a-half hours would hold. (Continued)