Martin Aims for Unprecedented Third IROC Title
21 July 1997
Mark Martin International Race of Champions Race #4 Advance Michigan Speedway MARTIN LOOKS TO WIN UNPRECEDENTED THIRD IROC TITLE LIBERTY, NC - While most Winston Cup competitors will be enjoying a weekend off, Mark Martin will be at Michigan Speedway to defend his International Race of Champions title on Sunday, July 27. Martin, driver of the Valvoline/Cummins Ford on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit and the Winn-Dixie Ford in the Busch series, won the IROC championship in 1994 and 1996 and is currently leading the points going into the season finale at Michigan. In the first three IROC races, Martin finished second at Daytona and won at Charlotte and the new California Speedway. "As I've said before, it means a lot to me to drive in the IROC series," Martin said. "It's a great feeling to have such success against some of the best drivers in motorsports. Racing in equally prepared cars and not having to worry about pit stops and fuel mileage is really fun. It's been an incredible experience and it means as much to me as anything I've done in racing. I don't know why I've had so much success in this series. Maybe it's my 'Arkansas grip' on the wheel that gives me an advantage over the other drivers." Martin is in elite company having won two IROC titles. The only other drivers to accomplish that feat are Dale Earnhardt, Al Unser, Jr., and A.J. Foyt. Unser, Jr. is third in points (20 points behind Martin) and Earnhardt is seventh (38 points behind). No driver has ever won a third IROC championship. "It's not over yet, Michigan could be a heartbreaker," Martin said. "If I do win the championship, my focus will be on doing it again. I don't look at what I've done, I look at what I need to do. I want to win a fourth so I can be far enough ahead that it will be tough for someone else to break it." Martin is only 19 points ahead of second place, Robby Gordon. Moving up through the field will be a challenge for him since he will be starting last based on inverted points. Martin rose to the challenge at California and hopes to do it again at Michigan. The series champion will earn $225,000 of the $760,000 IROC purse. By Roush Racing Public Relations