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NASCAR BGN Detroit Gasket 200 Preview: #60, Mark Martin

13 August 1997

 #60 Mark Martin, Winn-Dixie Ford Thunderbird 
 NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division
 Detroit Gasket 200 Advance
 Michigan Speedway
 
             MARTIN HOPING TO BREAK BUSCH RECORD AT MICHIGAN

 
BROOKLYN, MI - Mark Martin is hoping to break the Busch Series all time win 
record at Michigan Speedway this Saturday in the Detroit Gasket 200. Martin 
is currently tied with Jack Ingram with 31 career wins. Martin tied the 
record in April with a win at Talladega Superspeedway.

Martin has accumulated 25 of his 31 wins in Roush Racing's Winn-Dixie Ford 
Thunderbird. This season alone, he has earned five Busch wins including 
Rockingham, Richmond, Atlanta, Texas and Talladega.

"I can't believe I'm on the verge of breaking Ingram's record," Martin said. 
"I remember I used to idolize him when I was a kid. It seems like he won a 
lot of races, but I don't feel that way about myself. I don't usually look 
back at what I've accomplished, I just look forward to the next race and what 
I need to do."

Martin drives a 15-race limited schedule in the Busch series, in addition to 
his full-time driving duties in the Valvoline/Cummins Ford on the Winston Cup 
circuit. Michigan is his first Busch race since Charlotte in May.

"I don't know when I'm going to break this record because we've already had a 
year's worth of good luck in this series," Martin said. "We always run well 
at Michigan and it is one of my favorite tracks. We won the Busch race there 
in 1995, and in 1993 when we won the Busch and Winston Cup races in the same 
weekend."

Michigan was also good to Martin in July when he captured his third IROC 
title. Being the only driver to win three IROC championships is another 
accomplishment Martin can add to his racing resume.

"Winning the IROC title made me look back at what I've done over the years," 
Martin said. "The Busch and IROC series have both been very good to me at 
times when I struggled in the Winston Cup series. Last year I didn't win a 
Winston Cup race, but I won six Busch races and two IROC races (as well as 
the championship). I will be honored to break the Busch career wins record 
if, or when I do it. It will be something I will look back on with pride when 
I get old."

By Roush Racing Public Relations