Mark Martin: Well that's one big part of it. The other part is that our markets are important for our sponsors. This is big and it's big business. And for our sponsors and for our teams and for marketing, for our fans, this is important. A lot of these fans will be able to go to these races that won't travel to Daytona or Talladega or something like that. It's too far from them. So it will open it up for a lot of fans from my home. From Arkansas, Missouri to go to Kansas City. I know it will be full of fans that watch me race on a weekly basis in 1977 and '78. I think that that's really good in Chicago. We've got to have it. It's perfect for the health of the Winston Cup Series, additional races. I wasn't crazy about that, but yes the two new added races were a must. They're really positive for our series.
Mark Martin: Well, I am looking forward to 2001. I can't wait to find out how all our work and our testing stacks up against everybody else. Everybody throughout the winter works as hard as they can and does as much as they can, but you never really know until you start putting it in competition exactly where it stacks up. I know that Jimmy has put a lot of emphasis on the things that are really important as far as the performance of the car and I can't wait to see it in action. I look forward to it.
Mark Martin: I support that a 100% and I'm excited about what Goodyear's doing with the tires. My only desire would be that then NASCAR would come back and take some aerodynamics or down force away from the car. The more down force they take off these cars and the harder the tires they put on then, the crew chief or the driver will have a say in the outcome of these races. And I think we need to head in that direction. And another thing that I really want to comment on is that I'm excited also about NASCAR's decision with the schedule. I support that a 100%. And I would also like to go on the record and say that I also support the points system. When it all comes down to it, it's not as important who wins the Winston Cup championship, as it is if their fans were excited. If they are in the stands and watching TV, then that is really more important ultimately to all of us than who wins the championship. Usually the points race goes down to the last race and lot of times it goes down to the last lap or two. And that's really what it is all about. The system works very well in keeping a very competitive run for the Winston Cup championship. They could change it if they want to. They are smart people, they are smarter than I am, because they came up with that system and it has worked so well over the years. I think it works well.
Mark Martin: I reflect back on last year and I have to say that it would be hard to beat. The way I felt when I dropped in here last year. Except I was still recovering from Back surgery, but obviously I think some of us could have used a little bit more of a break than what we've had. I feel like our race team could have used another month to prepare but that is what it is all about. Every race team has worked hard. You get tired of hearing say these guys have worked so hard. Believe me, we don't know. Our guys we may be working on the wrong stuff. We had a really exciting and competitive season last year and we're looking to this year to see what we have and no matter where we stand, will continue to evolve and continue to try to gain an advantage over the competition.
Mark Martin: No, we are going to test Monday and Tuesday. We have some other testing scheduled for the month of January. And the team, Jimmy and Sean and all they guys at Roush Racing have done like they do every winter, they try to make the very most of their time that they have had to prepare for 2001, pitstops, horse power, the engine shop, reliability, all that stuff has been addressed and we will find out in January and in early February how well we did with that. But we have already done some ad stuff for Pfizer and looking real forward to a relationship with Pfizer and having the opportunity at this point in my career I think its very important that I can reach so many people through NASCAR Racing. The visibility that we have to try to send out a message of health and of men's health and the importance of men over the age of 35 to see a doctor and have a health screening regularly. Looking forward to that.
Mark Martin: He had one bad race. I don't think that means anything because he had one bad race. Just because he's not stacked up in the points doesn't mean he's not going to get there and have the great success we all know he will have.
Mark Martin: I have a good time with him no matter what we do. It's the highest point in my life spending time with Matt, and that's followed right along by (my wife) Arlene
Mark Martin: I'm having a good time. I'd have more fun if I had a little more time on my hands
Mark Martin: We were doing some racing. The chips were on the table and we were going for it. It got kind of tense there just for a minute.
Mark Martin: Atlanta is definitely one of my favorite tracks. From top to bottom it's one of my favorite places that we race. It's a fast track and over time the pavement has settled and you have a lot of grooves for racing, which really makes for good racing and a good show for the fans.
Mark Martin: I know it's exciting racing to watch, but golly I didn't even get to work up a sweat. I guess its God's will for me to finish last today. I'm ok and we'll finish this one off and we'll worry about next year
Mark Martin: My fans freak out and think I'm never going to race again. And I don't want them to do that because I want them to be there to pull for me in the truck series next year.
Mark Martin: Man, I'm having a blast. The guys out here are fantastic.
Mark Martin: From watching it, I saw that truck series racing is the best racing in NASCAR. Being out there with them was just a blast.
Mark Martin: Most of my memories of the old days are of Dale. And I love those memories. There just won't be another one like him
Mark Martin: I like to talk about back when. And a lot of that back when had to do with Dale.
Mark Martin: I had no interest in the HANS until after the accident with Dale. And then I took the information that we knew about HANS devices more seriously.
Mark Martin: People earn their respect. Tony has earned my respect. He has earned every ounce of the respect he has on and off the race track.
Mark Martin: I don't really follow college basketball much, but I've been lead in the direction to pick Auburn as my favorite. I think they would be somewhat of an underdog, and that's right up my alley so I'll go with the Tigers
Mark says that he started racing cars when he was 15, before he had a driver's license.
In his first couple of years in Nascar he had to sell his cars and equipment to pay for the finances.
Some of Mark's hobbies include flying and weight training.
Mark was named 1977 American Speed Association (ASA) Rookie of the Year.
In 1990 a 46 point penalty caused Martin to lose to Dale Earnhardt by 26 points in the final standings for a NASCAR championship.
The first race Martin raced in was in 1981 at the Northwestern Bank 400 in North Wilkesboro in 1981.
Martin has 356 top ten finishes.
Martin was named by NASCAR as one of the 50 greatest drivers.
In 1979 and 1980 Martin won the ASA championship.
When Martin was asked who he thinks is the greatest driver in NASCAR he replied Anyone who tries their best.
Martin ran in the 40th Anniversary World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Race at the age of 14.
For Martin When it comes to loyalty vs. desire, the latter ends up taking precedence.
When asked Martin says his personal hero is his father Julian.
Martin favorite movie to watch in his spare time is Rush Hour.
Martin favorite book to read is The Bible.
Martin will also drive in the 2006 All-Star Race for Jack Roush.
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