FAST FACTS • Martin has finished inside the top 10 in six of his last 12 races at Richmond. • Martin earned his first career Cup top-10 finish at Richmond on Sept. 13, 1981, finishing seventh. • Martin sat on the pole at his first career Cup race at Richmond in 1981. • Martin has one win, 23 top-10 and 13 top-five finishes in 44 races at Richmond. • Martin holds the Cup and Nationwide records for top fives and top 10s at Richmond. • Martin has a record five Nationwide wins at Richmond . • Martin earned his 41st career Cup pole at Richmond in May 2001.
LAST YEAR AT RICHMOND…
MAY 7, 2007 –
Richmond Int'l Raceway
Started 9th, Finished 17th
Martin battled with an ill handling car for the entire way, going a lap down half-way through the race, while falling back as far as 26th. Still, the team never gave up fighting its way back onto the lead lap with just 23 laps to go in the race and held on for the 17th-place finish.
Struggling early, Martin dropped a lap down after staying out on a longer pit sequence and pitting on lap 213. He later led a laps, as the team made massive adjustments to the car during a series of pit stops throughout the race.
Eventually, while running 23rd, they made wholesale changes with the track bar and wedge under caution on lap 318. The changes paid off with Martin fighting his way back onto the lead lap, eventually battling to the lucky dog position on back on the lead lap on lap 363.
With just 23 laps to go from the checkered flag, Martin was able to hang on for a top-20 finish.
No. 8 U.S. Army Race Team
Race Duty Hometown Shop Duty
Tony Gibson Crew Chief Daytona Beach, Fla. Crew Chief
Mike Moore Car Chief Advance, N.C. Car Chief
Jay Gaurneri Mechanic Mooresville, N.C. Mechanic
H.A. Mergen Engineer Davidson, N.C. Engineer
Brian Holshouser Shock Specialist Olin, N.C. Shock Specialist
Craig Lund Catchcan Mooresville, N.C. Suspension
Ray Osian Tire Specialist Salisbury, N.C. Tire Specialist
Kevin Pennell Mechanic Kannapolis, N.C. Mechanic
Jody Hickman Engine Tuner Mooresville, N.C. Engine Tuner
Brian Chase Jackman Union Grove, N.C. Fabricator
Eric Wakeland Rear Tire Carrier Plymoth, Ind. Fabricator
Rick Hodges Transporter Driver Mooresville, N.C. Transporter Driver
Jerry Honeycutt Transporter Driver China Grove, N.C. Transporter Driver
Greg Burkhart Rear Tire Changer Sheridan, N.Y. N/A
Scott Ward Front Tire Changer Clear Lake, Fla. N/A
Scott Merritt Front Tire Carrier China Grove, N.C. N/A
Jeff Clark Gas Man Charlotte, N.C. N/A
Jeff Shoaf Pit Support Salisbury, N.C. Body Shop
ALL-TIME NASCAR ELITE, MARK MARTIN
• Martin’s 35 Sprint Cup wins put him fourth on the win list among active drivers and 17th on the all-time list.
• Martin started 621 consecutive Sprint Cup races between 1988 and 2007, the fifth-longest streak in NASCAR history.
• Martin’s 41 Cup poles are the fifth most in Cup history.
• Martin ranks fifth all-time in the Sprint Cup point standings.
• Martin has started 704 Cup races, finishing inside the top 10 on 388 occasions, inside the top five 240 times and visiting winner’s circle 35 times.
• Martin’s 48 career wins in the Nationwide Series are a NASCAR record.
• Martin’s 13 victories in IROC competition are the most ever. Martin has won a record five championships in the IROC series, including a record three straight.
• Martin is the only driver in NASCAR to have won a Cup, Busch, Truck and IROC race at the same track (California Speedway).
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