Mark Martin

buckaroo

buckaroo

Here kitty, kitty, kitty
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This will probably set off a nice discussion and that will be good, but my opinion will also probably tick off a few fans. So post your opinions.

I've never been a big fan of Mark's, but I've never rooted against him either. One of the times that I did root for him was way back when he was racing at Riverside in the Strohs car and ended up putting the car on it's side. I watched as he ran back to the pits, then later after the righted the car, he hustled back again and go back in and finished the race. He had lots of spunk back then and really never lost much of that spunk.

BUT, (y'all knew there would be that word) for all that he's done in NASCAR, he will probably forever be known as the best NASCAR driver to have never won the big title. Here's my problem with the guy, he races too nice! Everyone from the drivers to the fans will tell anyone that Mark will never intentionally wreck someone, though I think that through the years, I've seen him do this once or twice. And while that is probably true, for the most part, what has it cost him? A title! Recently, the loudest cries have been about Kyle Busch and what he does on the track. He's wreckless, he's too aggressive, he doesn't have any patience. But if I were to make a bet at this stage of his carreer, I'd say that he's got a better than average chance of winning a title. Now Kyle could be like Mark and drive nice and maybe become the next best driver not to win the title, but I'm pretty sure you won't hear him say that. In fact, he said Friday night that he would wreck as many cars as he had to to win. Of course that was said in the heat of the after-race, but he's got the drive. Did Dale Earnhardt have the drive? Now I'm not going to say that the younger Busch is in the same category as the elder Earnhardt, but I will say that Kyle is not in the same mold as Mark Martin and I dare say that no one will oppose that thought.

In closing, while Mark has the respect from most, if not all the drivers, all of them also know that he will always be the Bride's Maid.
 
buckaroo said:
This will probably set off a nice discussion and that will be good, but my opinion will also probably tick off a few fans. So post your opinions.

I've never been a big fan of Mark's, but I've never rooted against him either. One of the times that I did root for him was way back when he was racing at Riverside in the Strohs car and ended up putting the car on it's side. I watched as he ran back to the pits, then later after the righted the car, he hustled back again and go back in and finished the race. He had lots of spunk back then and really never lost much of that spunk.

BUT, (y'all knew there would be that word) for all that he's done in NASCAR, he will probably forever be known as the best NASCAR driver to have never won the big title. Here's my problem with the guy, he races too nice! Everyone from the drivers to the fans will tell anyone that Mark will never intentionally wreck someone, though I think that through the years, I've seen him do this once or twice. And while that is probably true, for the most part, what has it cost him? A title! Recently, the loudest cries have been about Kyle Busch and what he does on the track. He's wreckless, he's too aggressive, he doesn't have any patience. But if I were to make a bet at this stage of his carreer, I'd say that he's got a better than average chance of winning a title. Now Kyle could be like Mark and drive nice and maybe become the next best driver not to win the title, but I'm pretty sure you won't hear him say that. In fact, he said Friday night that he would wreck as many cars as he had to to win. Of course that was said in the heat of the after-race, but he's got the drive. Did Dale Earnhardt have the drive? Now I'm not going to say that the younger Busch is in the same category as the elder Earnhardt, but I will say that Kyle is not in the same mold as Mark Martin and I dare say that no one will oppose that thought.

In closing, while Mark has the respect from most, if not all the drivers, all of them also know that he will always be the Bride's Maid.
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It was never because Mark was too nice. I think Mark lost a couple championships because of penalties.
 
I keep having the feeling that Mark keeps his aggression all bottled up inside --- like he's afraid to let it out because he wouldn't be able to put in back in the bottle.

Personally, while I like Mark, I do wish he'd show some aggression.
 
TexasRaceLady said:
I keep having the feeling that Mark keeps his aggression all bottled up inside --- like he's afraid to let it out because he wouldn't be able to put in back in the bottle.

Personally, while I like Mark, I do wish he'd show some aggression.
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You might have something there TRL. I've seen him wired up off the track, but it seems that he just won't overdo it on the track.

Andy, while it's true that he did lose one title because of a penalty, the penalty was early in the season. Had he knocked some cars out of the way later in the season, he might have beaten Ironhead that year.
 
TexasRaceLady said:
I keep having the feeling that Mark keeps his aggression all bottled up inside --- like he's afraid to let it out because he wouldn't be able to put in back in the bottle.

Personally, while I like Mark, I do wish he'd show some aggression.
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I used to like him, but the whole i'm retiring tour really took it's toll on me and he is still driving. Still competitive i'll admit, but damn that retirement thing got old and i lost a lot of respect for Mark.
 
Mopardh9 said:
I used to like him, but the whole i'm retiring tour really took it's toll on me and he is still driving. Still competitive i'll admit, but damn that retirement thing got old and i lost a lot of respect for Mark.
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I didn't. He only came back for Roush, then to help Bobby Ginn.

Mark should keep going as long as he can compete. The U.S. ARMY is a great sponsor for a driver like Mark, and he's a great representitive on the track, well worthy of the U.S. ARMY colors. :beerbang:

:salute:
 
I was hoping that Mark would have put some sheet metal to Busch last night when they were side by side in the last couple laps. Alas, he's just too nice a guy.
 
I've NEVER liked Mark Martin. Can't exactly put my finger on WHY I don't like him. I just don't.
 
It's not that I don't like Mark but he's just there. Someone who's going to run good. That will help bring out the best in the other drivers but never one I'd pull for or against.
(Unless it was between him or Lil'E winning, then I'd pull for Mark. But then I'd pull for Satan so that's really no surprise).
 
I agree with mopar. But he is in a chevy now...so i do pull for him.

The rocking chair fox gave him, they asked Mark about it, and he said he does not know where it is. That's kind of sad. You would think something like that he would of took home, or some place he knew where it was.
 
Lap3Forever said:
I agree with mopar. But he is in a chevy now...so i do pull for him.

The rocking chair fox gave him, they asked Mark about it, and he said he does not know where it is. That's kind of sad. You would think something like that he would of took home, or some place he knew where it was.
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I think that was just his way of saying that retirement is no longer on his mind.
 
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