In 1990, Mark had 16 top-five finishes and two victories to finish second
in the Winston Cup championship race. In 2002, Mark had 12 top-five finishes
and one victory and again finished second in the points.How's that?
Mark is the official owner of teammate Matt Kenseth's No. 17 Ford. Though it will be little consolation for Mark to replace two narrow runner-up finishes in the driver's championship for one owner's championship, it is only fitting that Mark be welcome -- as winning team owner -- at the head table in New York this December when Roush Racing receives its first Winston Cup title.
Mark is the reason Jack Roush has been able to expand to his current five-car stable; and Mark is the reason Kenseth is a part of the Roush empire.
"He was the one who wanted Matt," Roush said. "He had a feeling and, well, look at him -- he was right."
With the cast that Roush has put around Mark, it's surprising that one of these drivers hasn't brought a Cup home already. Jeff Burton spent three years banging at the door. Kurt Busch has been torrid after getting his feet wet his rookie season. Kenseth showed his potential last season in winning a series-high five races.
But all along, among Roush fans, Mark was the favorite. He's the one, everyone thought, that should win the first title. He was patient through the tough times. He helped Roush take advantage of the prosperous ones. Since 1988, Mark has been the workhorse of the Roush stable. In his 14 seasons with Roush, he has finished among the top 10 a remarkable 12 times.
Roush, himself, finds words escape him when contemplating what Mark means to his team.
"Without Mark, Roush Racing would not be where it is today," Roush said. "There's just no way. He was there from the beginning and he helped me build all of this.
"And I tell (the other drivers) that all the time. I tell them never to forget that."
That's what made last year's 38-point loss to Tony Stewart a crushing one for Roush. Thirty-eight points is a lot in basketball. It's a lot in football. But when drivers are working with a possible 185 points for each of 36 races a year, 38 points is a dent in the hood at Talladega.
And as it wasn't the first time Mark had lost by the dent of a hood, Roush was hurting for his driver. Meanwhile, his driver was stoic.
"I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me," he said. "I don't feel sorry for myself. I want to win a championship. But I'm proud of what I've accomplished in this sport. I'm lucky for what I've been able to do. I have nothing to be ashamed of."
There's no doubt that Mark would love to add "Winston Cup champion" to his driving resume; but you can bet, nonetheless, that his career will be all the sweeter in retrospect for his having won an owner's championship.
Mark and Kenseth raced each other once back in Kenseth's home state of Wisconsin. When Mark saw Kenseth again during each driver's limited races in the Busch Series -- Mark moonlighting from Winston Cup and Kenseth trying to break into NASCAR -- he continued to become impressed with the young talent.
"It's funny because I was an Earnhardt fan and my dad was the Mark fan," Kenseth said, "but (Mark) really did a lot for me. And he still does. He's such a big part of everything at Roush."
Upon Mark's recommendation, Roush decided Kenseth would be a fine addition to the Roush stable. And though he failed to win a Busch title -- losing to friend and rival Dale Earnhardt Jr. twice -- Kenseth has been a success in NASCAR's elite division. This year, he has a 354-point lead with seven races to go.
So what was it that Mark saw that made him tab Kenseth for the No. 17 car?
"I think Matt's showing everybody that," Mark said. "He has tremendous talent and really uses his head. He's very smart and understands his car. That's something you don't find a lot in some of the younger drivers."
Roush found it in Kenseth, courtesy of Mark. And come December, Roush should be seated at the head table with Kenseth, his champion driver, and Mark, his champion, period.
