full-time NASCAR Cup career, but he ranks racing with U.S. Army sponsorship on Memorial
Day as one of them.Mark joined Ginn Racing's No. 01 for this season and is sharing the driving duties with Regan Smith, but Mark will be the one behind the wheel in this weekend's Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
"The Coca-Cola 600 has always been a big race, but this year it has even more meaning for me," Mark said. "It's such an honor to represent these soldiers each week, especially on Memorial Day weekend. I'd like nothing more than to take this U.S. Army Chevy to victory lane and dedicate that effort to all the soldiers who have paid the ultimate price for freedom, and to our men and women in uniform who are fighting every day to protect us."
Mark is one of several drivers who will carry a special decal in honor of fallen heroes.
His team is clearly ready for the 600 after a strong showing in last week's Nextel All-Star Challenge at the track. Mark finished third in that race, which is a smaller version of this weekend's main event.
He won the Coca-Cola 600 in 2002 and has finished in the top five in two of the last three spring races at the track. He also has three wins in the fall Cup race, two victories in the All-Star Challenge, six Busch Series and two IROC wins at the track.
"It's just a great race track," Mark said. "It's been the site of some of my greatest racing memories. I can still remember that Coke 600 win like it was yesterday. We really went after that race, and there was a great sense of accomplishment once it was over."
Could this be the weekend he repeats at the track? Mark admits that he's longing for a win in this race and points to some strong past performances of his team when teammate Joe Nemechek was behind the wheel as signs that they are ready to win there, too.
Can they go to victory lane Sunday?
"I am really hungry for another Coke 600 victory," Mark said. "We had a great car last week and should have an even better one for this weekend. The guys on this 01 team came really close to winning this race a couple of years ago, so I know they are just as hungry. One thing you can always count on is that we will never give up. We're like our soldiers, who inspire us every weekend."
