MARK MARTIN, NO. 5 KELLOGG’S/CARQUEST IMPALA SS, FINISHED 12TH IN THE RACE AND 2ND IN THE FINAL STANDINGS:
“This might have been the hardest one to win that we picked but I am so proud of this team and so glad I got to drive this car. And I don’t know what next year will bring but we will dig deep and whether we do better, or worse, or the same - we are going to be looking for more and we will see if we can try and find enough to pull it off. It was enough this year to beat a couple of guys that held me off before – Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon. So it was really, really, really a special year.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE ONE-TWO-THREE FINISH BY HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS?
“Congratulations to Hendrick Motorsports, but I know we all have heavy hearts right now.”
THIS WASN’T THE WHOLE ENCHILADA BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE SAID THAT IT’S BEEN A DREAM ALL YEAR AND WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS AT THE END OF THE SEASON?
“I finally picked the hardest one ever to try to win. But my race team was so awesome…..the five car. I just want to thank the fans and the competitors. Their support means more to me than that trophy. I swear.
“I almost get emotional about it because it was such an incredible achievement to even have a chance and to be a part of history here, but I know all of us have heavy hearts right now and praying for our Hendrick tragedy that we are dealing with.”
MARK, IT WAS A TOUGH FIGHT BUT YOU HAD A GREAT YEAR:
“It was a great fight and it was a sure tough night and actually the car was pretty good that last run and we changed stuff on it, went to the back, and wrestled and actually the last run was decent. If we could have been there the whole race we could have got a top ten out of it. We are lacking something here and you know, as a group I think just a little bit and we will work on it for next year. But it was really a privilege to even have a crack at it.”
I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO REFLECT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, BUT A HECK OF A BATTLE?
“Yes, it was awesome. I am proud of these guys and I am proud of everything that took place this year for Hendrick Motorsports and thankful that they gave me a chance.”
DID YOU EVER THINK AT A SEASON FINALE THAT YOU WOULD BE LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT SEASON AS MUCH AS YOU ARE NOW?
“No, I did not. This has been great and has been the best year I could ever dream of and it was an honor and a privilege to have a shot at it and we didn’t do it but we gave them a run for it anyway and we tried hard.”
MARK IS THE 5 AS GOOD OF THE 48 THIS YEAR?
“My equipment is just as good, but I am not as good as Jimmie Johnson.”
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