Backstretch Motorsports

Mark Martin’s experience in battles for a title hunt are legendary. The Man from Batesville, Ark. has just about seen and done it all in the modern era of NASCAR racing.

Include in that experience seeing the tracks at Martinsville, Virginia and Talladega, Alabama seal some deals in some pretty definitive fashions.

“It’s not over.” says the driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports livery, “I still say, like I’ve said all along, we’ve got to get through Martinsville and Talladega. Then we’ll have a clear view of what’s going to happen here with this championship. Give us those two more races to see.” [read more...]

Erase all doubt: To win the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship, the rest of the contenders will have go through Jimmie Johnson

When the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America is complete, it will mark the halfway point of the 2009 Chase. Through the first four races of the Chase, the top three drivers in the point standings – Johnson, Mark Martin (No. 5 Pop-Tarts/CARQUEST Chevrolet) and Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Lysol Chevrolet) have all brought their “A” game.

Heading into Saturday night’s race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Johnson has grabbed the points lead with his sights squarely set on claiming his fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title – an unprecedented accomplishment in the sport. [read more...]

Fontana, CA — Saying that 3-Time NASCAR Sprint Jimmie Johnson has a really strong affinity for the Auto Club Speedway is understatement.

For months, the defending champion has been saying the addition of ACS to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup was a gift to his No. 48 team.

In Sunday’s Pepsi 500, Johnson proved it—and grabbed the points lead from Mark Martin in the process. Johnson’s win also left runner-up Jeff Gordon conceding that his Hendrick Motorsports teammate is in a class by himself. [read more...]

The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings started with drivers bunched closely together points-wise. Three races into the Chase, some are thinking it’s just not going to happen for the ones that seemed so strong coming in.

Going into Sunday’s Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway, the man everyone is trying to catch continues to be Mark Martin (No. 5 CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet), as he is 18 points ahead of second-place, Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet), the three-time defending series champion. Martin has posted a series-leading and career-high seven poles plus five victories.

But don’t be fooled, the rest of the top 12 are not letting Martin just walk away with the title. [read more...]

Qualifying Fast Facts
Kansas Speedway
Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft Foods
Coors Light Pole Winner: Mark Martin
Age: 50
Team : No. 5 - CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet
Owner: Mary Hendrick
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson [read more...]

DOVER, Del. (Sept. 27, 2009) — Polesitter Jimmie Johnson threw down the gauntlet in Sunday’s AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway, but Mark Martin was up to the challenge.

The day was frighteningly marked early in the race with a tumbling crash by JGR rookie Joey Logano. The 19-year-old emerged unhurt from his damaged Home Depot No. 20 Camry to the relieved appreciation of the Dover crowd.

With his fifth victory at Dover and second at the track this year, Johnson affirmed that his No. 48 Chevrolet team is a serious threat to win a fourth straight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. [read more...]

Feeling the moods at Dover.. nobody, either from team or driver perspective, is in actual desperation mode, at least from the outward appearance.

“You know, with only 10 races in the Chase, there is a little bit of urgency, but it’s still 10 races.” says Carl Edwards, No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing driver, “Last week, for instance, wasn’t exactly what we wanted, but it wasn’t a disaster, either. We have to run well every race, and there’s still a lot that can happen. It’s a relatively short time, but a lot can happen in two or three races, you know?” [read more...]

Juan Pablo leaps over competitors to find fourth points position

Pure Mark Martin style - that’s the only way to describe it. He is truly “living the dream” in running for a championship in a Rick Hendrick-owned Chevrolet, a championship that is about the only thing he has not won in his career.

Starting from the 14th position at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Mark Martin opened the 2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup with a victory.

Four of the top five finishers are in The Chase for The NASCAR Sprint Cup.
[read more...]

“Do not go gentle into that good night” .. I doubt Dylan Thomas could’ve ever imagined his words would be used as a racer’s mantra for making the NASCAR playoff series.

But they work.

In truth, nearly all of the top finishers in the Sharpie 500 race at Bristol Motor Speedway could lay claim to the sentiments expressed in that poetic phrase. [read more...]

Qualifying Fast Facts
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan 400

Coors Light Pole Winner: Brian Vickers
Age: 25
Team : No. 83 - Red Bull Toyota
Owner: Dietrich Mateschitz
Crew Chief: Ryan Pemberton [read more...]