Martin has posted four top-five finishes in eight runs at Homestead, including a narrow second-place finish in 2005. He finished fourth there in the inaugural Cup race in 1999, third in 2000 and fourth in 2002. Martin finished 18th there last season.
FINAL RUN IN THE NO. 01
Martin will make his final run in the No. 01 Chevrolet this weekend at Homestead. Next season Martin will take the wheel of the No. 8 U. S. Army Chevrolet, sharing the ride with rookie Aric Almirola.
REVERSING THE TREND
Martin has been caught up in accidents in each of the last two races, a trend he will look to reverse this weekend at Homestead. Martin was accident free in his first 22 races of 2007, before getting caught up in wrecks at both Atlanta and Texas.
PULLING THE DOUBLE
Martin will run double duty again this weekend at Homestead. In addition to his duties in the No. 01 DEI Chevy on Sunday, he will make his third and final start of the season in the No. 5 Hendrick Chevrolet Busch entry. In two previous starts in the No. 5, Martin finished second at Darlington and 14th at Michigan. It will be Martin’s fifth Busch start in 2007 (he started two races in the No. 06 Roush entry). Martin has two top-five finishes in four Busch starts this season. Martin has six top-five finishes in seven previous Busch starts at Homestead.
LOOKING TO NEXT SEASON
Martin plans on running a similar Nextel Cup schedule in 2008 as he did in ‘07, making starts in approximately 26 races in the No. 8 U. S. Army/Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet, including the season opening Daytona 500.
QUOTING MARK
“Homestead has been a good track for us over the years and we’ve had some pretty exciting runs there in the last few races. I’m excited about going there this weekend with Ryan Pemberton and the U. S. Army guys and seeing what we can do there in a DEI car. We really started this year on a high note with the run at Daytona and a string of top five finishes. A lot has happened since then and it really has been a crazy season to say the least. However, I would like nothing better than to go out this season the same way we came in - fighting for a win.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what we have this weekend and then moving forward into next season. I’m very excited about running the No. 8 U. S. Army Chevrolet next season and moving down the road with Dale Earnhardt Inc. as we work to truly complete the merger of the two teams and move into a new year as a strong four-car organization. “
FAST FACTS
· Martin has four top-five finishes in eight starts at Homestead.
· Martin’s best finish at Homestead came in 2005 when he finished second by inches to then teammate Greg Biffle.
· Martin has led a total of 30 laps in seven races at Homestead.
· Martin will drive the No. 5 Hendrick Chevrolet in Saturday’s Busch race at Homestead.
· Martin has competed in seven Busch races at Homestead, turning in six top fives in those starts.
· Martin plans on running a similar schedule in 2008 as he did in 2007, starting with the Daytona 500.
· Martin is scheduled to make his 700th Cup start next year at California Speedway.
Mark Martin climbed out of the No. 6 Roush Racing car for the final time, with his 19-year legacy in the car far more important than the 18th-place finish he had just garnered in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The 18th-place finish was not the story book ending Martin and his team owner of almost 20 years – Jack Roush - would have wished for, but it was, nonetheless, an end to a solid season that saw Martin become one of only three drivers to make the “Chase” for the Nextel Cup in its first three seasons.
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