Two NASCAR Winston Cup Series veteran drivers will be marking
milestones when they take the green flag in Sunday's Pennzoil
400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Bobby Hamilton will be making
his 300th career start, and Mark Martin will be making his
400th consecutive start.Adding to the weekend's event, Hamilton also is making his 100th start behind the wheel of the No. 4 Kodak Chevrolet. His son, Bobby Hamilton Jr., will be attempting to make his first NWCS start, but will do so in a family-owned car.
Over Hamilton's 300 starts, he has driven for George Bradshaw in the Country Time Ford, for Felix Sabates one year in the Kendall Oil Pontiac, Richard Petty in the famed STP Pontiac and most recently in the Morgan-McClure Chevrolet.
"I do feel lucky to have had some good opportunities in my racing career," Hamilton said. "Driving for the 'King,' Richard Petty, was awesome. I learned a lot about life from that man. He is the person everyone believes he is. Then, working for Larry McClure has been very special. He is a friend and class act."
Hamilton has three victories, 17 top-5s, 58 top-10s and five poles.
The noteworthy starting accomplishment doesn't mean that much to Hamilton. He feels it is something that is just supposed to happen if you are fortunate enough to be in NASCAR long enough.
"It is sort of like turning 40 or 50," he said. "It is something that is going to happen if we are fortunate enough to be here."
Mark, on the other hand, can't believe that is has been that
long since he made his first series start on Feb. 14, 1988. He
has been behind the wheel of a Roush Racing Ford for each one
of those."It is hard to believe Jack and I have been together for that many races," Mark said. "It seems like just yesterday that we opened the shop in Liberty, N.C., and started the Stroh's Light team. We've come a long way since those days."
Along that way Mark has garnered 32 victories, 180 top-5s, 264 top-10s and 37 Bud Pole Awards. He will be pulling double duty when he participates in the NASCAR Busch Series Miami 300 on Saturday. It will be his 200th start, though not consecutive, in that series.
His statistics aren't too bad there, either.
He is the winningest driver in NASCAR Busch Series history with 45 Victory Lane visits, and he has 91 top-5s, 125 top-10s and 27 poles. The driver of the No. 60 Winn-Dixie Ford isn't going to look back on his accomplishments, though, and would rather concentrate on what's to come.
"I never spend much time looking back on what I've done," he said. "Someday when I retire from racing I'm sure I'll look back and see how much I have accomplished. For now, there is too much to be done."
