Mark Martin closed out the fifth-longest consecutive-start streak in NASCAR Cup history with a 10th-place finish in Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Martin’s 621-consecutive start streak began Feb. 14, 1988 at the Daytona 500.
With his fourth straight top-10 finish of the season, the U. S. Army Chevrolet driver maintained his lead in the Nextel Cup driver point standings. He left Atlanta with an eight-point lead over Jeff Gordon.
“It is really cool and I guess it’s kind of a storybook way to go out after chasing those points so hard for the last 20 years, ” said Martin. “It’s definitely the way to do it and I just can’t say enough about this U. S. Army Race team. They are a fabulous team and an awesome group of guys. It’s great to finally see them get the recognition they deserve. I sure wish I had been driving their car a little sooner. ” “I get so many e-mails from our troops and it makes me even more happy that the soldiers’ car is on top of the standings, ” added Martin. “Our soldiers inspire all of us and I am so proud to represent them. “
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