As far as the NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division is
concerned, Darlington Raceway could be renamed Mark Martin
Raceway.If there is a NASCAR Busch Series record at Darlington, chances are that Mark has it. The veteran pilot, statistically the finest competitor in series history, holds the record for most victories, seven, and Bud Poles, six.
This weekend, Mark will make his final series start in the Dura Lube 200 (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN TV and PRN radio) at Darlington, a track he has learned to tame in the No. 60 Winn-Dixie Ford.
Mark's most recent addition to the Darlington record book came in March when he won from the Bud Pole for the second time in his career. After spending much of the race battling Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth for the lead, Mark took the lead for good with 24 laps to go. Kenseth went high to challenge for the lead with two laps remaining, but could not pass Mark. Burton and Mark were side-by-side on the final lap of the race, but Mark pulled ahead just enough to claim the third of his four series wins this season.
"That was a great race up to the final lap," Martin said. "I had a great time racing Jeff and Matt, and it got pretty intense there in the end. I was determined to keep my lead. That car was one of my favorites, which is why we're bringing it back this weekend."
Martin also leads all drivers in career series wins. He earned his 44th victory at Texas in April, and still has five races remaining on his schedule this year.
"We're going to try to win them all," Martin said. "I'm sure the Busch guys will be glad when I'm gone next year. I've worked hard for a lot of years in the Busch Series and won a few races and lost a lot of them."
You can bet Burton, Kenseth and a number of series regulars will give Martin all he can handle this weekend. Series points leader Jeff Green has never won at Darlington, but has notched four top-10s and got his first top-5 ever last spring. He's due for sure.
"Darlington is just one of those places I've never been able to get a hold of," Green said. "In the spring, I posted my first top-5 finish there in my entire career, which is hard to believe since I've raced there 10 times now.
"I really love racing at places that are wide where you can pass easily and Darlington just isn't one of those places. It is so tight that passing is tough to do. In fact, the place is so narrow, you'll be successful if you just don't hit the wall all day long."
