Mark ended the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season Sunday
with a solid ninth-place finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Mark started the 400-mile event
sixth and ran the majority of the race inside the top 10.
The result was the 11th top-10 and 19th top-20 performance of the season for Mark, who
participated in 24 of 36 point races driving the No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet. He also had
five top fives, including a close second-place finish in the season-opening Daytona 500.
"This was just a great effort by (crew chief) Ryan Pemberton and the U.S. Army team," said
Mark following his fifth top 10 in nine starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway. "I'm very proud to
close out the season with a top 10. These guys have been through a lot this season. We wore
the Army uniform with pride, and like our soldiers, we never quit. I am really excited about
racing with these guys next season." <>
Mark was running 11th late in the Homestead race when Pemberton opted to short pit on Lap
244 of 267. The move paid off with Martin running in ninth position once the field cycled
through with pit stops. The savvy veteran was able to hold on to post a top-10 finish.
"I truly feel that we are going to keep getting better and better," added Mark, who will share
the 2008 Army ride with Aric Almirola. "I'm pumped about moving into our first full year with
Dale Earnhardt Inc. next year. I think there are plenty of good things ahead for this team.
I'm sorry we didn't get a win for our soldiers, but we'll come back stronger next season."
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