---

NASCAR Winston Cup Brickyard 400 Preview -- #6, Mark Martin

24 July 1997

 #6 Mark Martin, Valvoline Ford Thunderbird                            
 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
 Brickyard 400 Advance
 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
 
             MARK MARTIN NOTES & QUOTES: BRICKYARD 400



 
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Mark Martin is looking forward to the Brickyard 400 based 
on the improvements the Valvoline/Cummins team has made since their last trip 
to Indy in 1996. The team's season has been very successful to date with two 
victories, 10 top-five and 13 top-10 finishes and two poles. Martin is 
currently second in Winston Cup points, trailing Jeff Gordon by only 64 
points. Heading to Indy last year, Martin was ninth in points with only six 
top-five and 10 top-10 finishes.

"We've had a great season so far," Martin said. "We made some mistakes at 
Pocono last weekend with that loose wheel, but we recovered really well with 
a fifth place finish. This team and these cars are championship contenders 
and I feel confident we can improve last year's fourth place finish at Indy."

The team spent two days at the speedway testing after the New Hampshire race 
working on the set-up of their Roush chassis. Part of Martin's success this 
season is based on a better understanding of the Roush chassis.

"We came to Indy last year and it was the first time we ran our own chassis," 
Martin said. "It was a good car but we didn't have it all figured out yet. It 
took us until Darlington this year before we really figured it out. Last year 
the car was tight all through the race and no matter what adjustments we 
made, nothing seemed to work. Now we know how the car will respond to the 
changes we make."

Martin sat on the outside pole last year, and led 19 laps early in the race. 
He remained in the top-five all day, despite the tight race car. The final 
pit stop on lap 127 for the right side tires put him out sixth, and he 
patiently worked his way up to fourth by the final lap.

This year, Martin is hoping to work his way to victory lane to become a 
"legend of the Brickyard."

     Mark Martin's Career Record -- Indianapolis Motor Speedway
   
  Date     Event            St   Fn     Laps     Reason      Money Won
  8/3/96   Brickyard 400     2    4      160     Running      195,235
  8/5/95   Brickyard 400    14    5      160     Running      144,850
  8/6/94   Brickyard 400    10   35      140     Running       34,300

                  Races  Wins   Top 5   Top 10   Poles     Money Won    
  Brickyard 400     3     0       2       2        0        374,385

By Roush Racing Public Relations