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NASCAR

Mark Martin won't change his style to win a title

By SceneDaily.com

Feb 5, 2009

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - No matter what the situation might be, Hendrick Motorsports' Mark Martin says he isn't going to risk his reputation as an ethical racer in order to win a championship that has eluded him in an otherwise distinguished career.

"I don't feel like changing who I am is necessary to get the job done," Martin said during 2009 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway Thursday. "I've done what I've done in the past, and I'll [continue] to do what I do based on split-second decisions. All of those things might weigh into my psyche."

That's not say that Martin hasn't learned from his mistakes during his lengthy NASCAR career.

In 1989, during a NASCAR race at Bristol Motor Speedway in what was then known as the Busch Series, Martin wrecked the late Davey Allison and won the race.

"That win doesn't mean anything to me because that's not how I wanted to win the race," Martin said. "So many of the other [victories] I can feel good about. I can tell you I want to win really, really bad. I can't tell you what I'm going to do to win until it's over with."

Martin also said that he is not returning to a full-time schedule this season for Hendrick Motorsports solely to win a Sprint Cup Series title - something he hasn't been able to accomplish in a 26-year career that has seen him finish second in the championship four times.

"That is not what drove me to take this," Martin said of his move to Hendrick this season. "What did is [team owner] Rick Hendrick, [crew chief] Alan Gustafson and a blazing fast race car to win some races. You have to climb some hills before you can stand on the top of the mountain, and I've got some hills to climb this year."

Martin said he’s looking forward to driving alongside teammates Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"I don't want to get embarrassed, and I want [Earnhardt Jr., Gordon and Johnson] for them to say that I brought something to the table."

Martin, who turned 50 in January and is the oldest active driver in Cup this season, says his desire to continue racing also is a testament to his athletic ability and keeping himself in the best physical condition he can.

"I do feel that I'm carrying a banner for the middle-aged guys," Martin said. "I think that's part of the appeal to some of the race fans. Some of them are aging themselves, and they love the idea to still hold their own against younger guys whether playing softball or whatever, and we've all experienced that. We are the contrast to all that, and, hopefully, I can bring some balance to the emphasis brought on young drivers."

With 722 career Cup starts to his credit, Martin knows a thing or two about the intensity of competition over the years. One thing he says that is different about today's drivers compared with those in the past is their aggressiveness at the start of the race.

"The competition is fierce today, much more fierce than it used to be," Martin said. "In a 500-mile race, you'd ride for 400 miles and race the last 100. Now, the first lap is just as intense as any lap. There's differences. It's way different."

Martin also said that he is very proud of Joe Gibbs Racing rookie Joey Logano and is certain he will be a champion one day.

"I've given him plenty of advice, and my biggest concern for him is to stay humble," Martin said in reference to Logano, who will be the youngest driver at age 18 to ever start this year's Daytona 500.

Martin also said the move Logano made in the Toyota All-Star Showdown last month in which he wrecked Peyton Sellers to win was justified. Although Logano took the checked flag, NASCAR penalized Logano for rough driving and ruled Matt Kobyluck as the race winner.

"It appeared to me to be called for for what happened between the two of them five laps earlier," Martin said.

Martin will not be competing in Saturday's Budweiser Shootout and is disappointed about not having the opportunity to get on the track on Friday to practice for it.

"It's always been an advantage being in the Shootout," he said.

With 11 days left before the Daytona 500, Martin is eager to get back to racing.

"I've just really been stir crazy," he said. "It's not work. It's a real privilege. I may have an excitement breakdown if I had to wait any longer. It's just been building more and more and more to drive this race car."