All Things Must Pass
Added to the eariler Terry Labonte announcement, Mark Martin issued a press release stating his intentions to scale back his schedule after the 2005 NASCAR season. Currently 5th in this years “Chase” for the Cup it appears he will take one last shot at gaining the Championship, one of the few unfullfilled accomplishments remaining in an illustrious career.
“First off I have to be clear that I’m not retiring from racing,” said Martin. “I’m too young to retire from racing, but I’ve been out here chasing this thing for a long time. I’m very proud of what we’ve been able to do over the years. There are a lot of guys out there who never got to win their first race in NASCAR and I’ve been fortunate to accomplish a lot of things. I never worry about the things that I haven’t done, instead I focus on all the things that I’ve been able to do and that makes me very proud. For me it’s just time to do something different.”“Hey, the first time I ever got in a Cup car back in 1981 at North Wilkesboro, I was there to win the thing,” said Martin. “Next year when we climb in that car at Homestead for the last race, I can guarantee you that we’ll be looking to win that as well. I just wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t race because I love going in circles at fast speeds, I race to win and that is what we are going to try and do.
“I have a great team and we’ve overcome so much to be where we are right now,” added Martin. “The focus of the Viagra Team will continue to be to win that championship and to win races. We’d like nothing more than to go out on top, and it’s important to me that we go out that way.”
Martin’s career includes 34 Nextel Cup wins, 45 wins in the Busch Series, a series record, and also a record 4 Championships in the International Race of Champions, (1994, 1996, 1997, and 1998). In a preview of his NASCAR success Martin won the American Speed Association Championship 4 times.
