Martin looking forward to time away, Smith's debut (cont'd)

"So there probably will be again. I think that it's going to be interesting seeing the Car of Tomorrow in its first race. Seriously, I'm just going to hang out; barbecue a little bit and hang out and watch the race."

"I'll be tired because we'll be working Saturday night. I'm looking forward to just being relaxed on Sunday."

And Martin is also looking forward to the following two weekends.

"This weekend I am still on a schedule," said Martin, with a laugh.

"I'm tired of schedules. After this weekend I'm not going to be meeting a schedule. Martinsville is my first 'off' weekend; I'm really looking forward to that. And I'm just as excited about spending Easter weekend in Batesville [Ark.]."

That's where Mark has his car dealership. It's a Ford dealership, by the way.

"I'll have two full days with my fans where I'm not burned out. I've done it before but I was always burned out. It'll be better than it was last year. I was sick [with a cold] last year and it was still a blast. This will be even better. The next three weekends are going to be fun for me."

Martin admits he might feel a little twinge of anxiety come Sunday, a wish that he was in the race. But he doubts it.

"I didn't have any idea we were still leading the points when I got out of the car Sunday [after Atlanta]. I was really pretty proud of that. But not as proud as my son Matt is. Sometimes he's hard to impress. But he seems to be very proud of that fact."

Regan Smith will sit in for Mark on Sunday. He's 23 years old. This will be his first Nextel Cup Series race.

"Regan, he's ready. He's displayed great speed, great adaptability. I went testing with Regan on more than one occasion; worked with him at Bristol. The guys have a good racecar and a great race team.

"Regan's biggest challenge at Bristol will be to try to avoid everyone else's troubles. Obviously we'd like to see him run all 500 laps, and that's not easy to do even for a veteran up there. So it's going to be an interesting weekend, but we think the world of Regan as a person, young man, and as a really bright new star coming into the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series."

"Just hearing Mark say those things gives me more confidence," Smith said.

"It's just the little words of encouragement and the little things that he says. For instance, Mark was watching the Mexico race. I had a problem at the end of the race there. We had a flat tire and didn't get the finish we deserved.

"He was watching, and he let me know that. And just to know that he's watching and that he's rooting for us. And even though he's not going to be in Bristol this weekend, I'm sure when I talk to him Monday he'll know everything that happened throughout the course of the race and that means a lot to me.

"As I've said before I've looked up to him since I was 4 years old when I first started watching races on TV and that's pretty special."

"Regan is humble and that is exactly how I want him to be," Martin said. "We really believe in him and we know he's going to do well."

Mark Martin may not miss the race on Sunday. But he will miss something else. The fans. He says it in every interview. He can't thank the fans enough.

"I'll miss the cheers at driver introductions. Over the past year, through the change of teams, the fans have been overwhelmingly supportive and that means more to me than any Nextel Cup trophy or any Daytona 500 ever would. The respect they have shown me, the feeling of love. I guess I have done something right, and that's the highest tribute."

So while Mark Martin barbeques in his backyard on race day at Bristol, Regan Smith will get to hear the cheers and drive the 01 U.S. Army Car of Tomorrow. And in addition to the "splitter" on the nose and the "wing" on the tail, this car has one more thing on it this week, that neon yellow rookie stripe.

After the conclusion of Tuesday's teleconference, Mark was offering Regan some advice when the media lines were disconnected. Shortly after the call, I asked Mark what advice he gave Regan.

"Oh, I was telling him there's no way around being nervous and feeling the pressure once he gets to Bristol. It's going to be a big weekend for him. I felt it's important for him not to be nervous and put all of that out of his head. He shouldn't have any unrealistic expectations.

"He knows what he can do. He knows what he has to do. He should not try to do more than that."

In other words, don't try to be Mark Martin. At least, not yet.

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.