AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > February > 18 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMartin’s moment denied
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Daytona Beach, Fla. — He was supposed to have retired two years ago, but here was the grizzled American racer, about to win the Great American Race for the first time in a life that has spanned 48 years. With one turn to go, Mark Martin led the Daytona 500.
A wreckless race for 153 laps had gone all squirrelly near the end, cars careening and caution flags flying, and the upshot was that Daytona was about to be taken by a part-time driver on his 23rd try. Martin will work a half-schedule for his new employer, Ginn Racing, and how would the cutthroat world of NASCAR — Cheaters ‘R’ Us — react if a semi-retiree won its grandest race?
One turn to go, history at hand. Martin managed to fend off Kyle Busch for the first lap and three-quarters of the green-white-checkered finish, and Busch looked to have the fastest car still running. But then, just as AARP card-holders were about to lift their weary arms in exultation, here came another car screaming around the top of the banked track.
Here came Kevin Harvick, who’d started the last lap in sixth place. Harvick nosed ahead of Martin. Martin nosed back. Behind them, cars began banging and spinning yet again. (Clint Bowyer crossed the finish line on his roof.) Would the caution light wink before Martin and Harvick flashed across the line? Would Martin be declared the winner on a technicality?
“I have no idea what happened behind me,” Martin would say. “From what my spotter said, I was ahead when they started wrecking.”
Then: “Nobody wants to see a grown man cry, and I’m not going to cry about it. [NASCAR] made their decision, and we’re going to live with it.”
NASCAR’s decision: Harvick was the winner. Just how, NASCAR wasn’t quite sure. At first it was believed Harvick had won because he took the checkered flag two-hundredths of a second ahead of Martin. Then, an hour and 50 minutes after the race ended, came this announcement: “When the 07 car [Bowyer] went sideways … the 29 [Harvick] was ahead of the 01 [Martin] and was declared the winner.”
Then, 10 minutes later, came further “clarification”: “The race ended under green.”
So which was it: Green or yellow? Checkered flag or caution light? After such a confused week, you expected clarity? From NASCAR?
As best as anyone could discern, Harvick won by some means, which meant Martin lost, which meant the best possible story of the worst possible week got shredded at the end. Said Harvick: “I knew when I got out of the car, I wasn’t going to be the good guy.”
Said Martin: “I didn’t ask for a win in the Daytona 500. I asked for a chance. I let it get away, and I’m fine with that.”
He’d walked away from Roush Racing after last season — a full year after he was supposed to have walked away from racing, but he delayed his announced retirement — and found new and unexpected semi-employment. He has a new car (a Chevy, as opposed to a Ford) and a new number (01, as opposed to the familiar 6) and a new sponsor (the U.S. Army, as opposed to Viagra). He has never liked restrictor-plate racing, and yet with his new arrangement he came as close to winning Daytona as he ever had. Or ever will.
“I don’t care if Mark Martin wins a championship; he’s a champion,” said Jeff Burton, the third-place finisher. “I don’t care if he ever wins the Daytona 500; he’s a champion. … He’s a world-class individual.”
Someone asked Martin, a runner-up in what would have been the crowning race of a distinguished career, how he’d have felt if Harvick had eased up on the gas and let him win. “No one ever races less,” Martin said. “If that had been the case, it would’ve broken me in half.”
He tried to win and wound up losing. He’s fine with that. But you’ll pardon the NASCAR audience if it feels a bit deflated. After a week of cheating, the improbable sight of Mark Martin in victory lane would have been finer than fine. It would have been a godsend.
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By Bo
February 18, 2007 11:02 PM | Link to this
Good call Mark, it would have been a godsend and I was hoping he would win. I also agree with Jeff Burton, Mark Martin is a Champion on and off the track. NASCAR sometimes makes to many rules that favors the Most popular or hot drivers and that sucks. Nothing in NASCAR is cut and dry.
By ssmith
February 18, 2007 11:56 PM | Link to this
Mark Martin is the true winner.
He could have pushed Harvick up into the wall and gone on and won.
But a gentleman racer would never do that.
He raced Harvick clean.
By rid0617
February 19, 2007 01:34 AM | Link to this
I quit watching NASCAR. I really used to be in to it until last year when I kept track and realized in the first hour of the Daytona 500 there was 41 minutes of commercials. I refuse to sit through that many commercials.
By Elmo
February 19, 2007 01:39 AM | Link to this
It looked like 285 without the Rubber Necking. This “sport” is dying on the vine from knee jerking regulation from the France family.
By DWolfe
February 19, 2007 01:39 AM | Link to this
Mark Martin has always been my favorite driver and frankly, I don’t know who I will pull for when he does stop racing. Mark did show the character of a true champion with his attitude after the race. I was wondering why the caution didn’t come out myself. I as a fan was heartbroken at the outcome.
This is just another example of something that I will never understand: Why fate seems to always deny and turn its back on the guys who are the most deserving of something.
By CoastDog
February 19, 2007 04:50 AM | Link to this
Nascar decides who it wants to win just like TV wrestling: caution now or later, debris on the track, etc. I’m never going to another race.
By Todd Green
February 19, 2007 05:28 AM | Link to this
Nascar took too ong to drop the caution. In other situations the caution is thrown; In my opinion and right mind, Mart Martin actually won, but Nascar Officials cost him the race. Even if the accidents are behind the racing leaders, when srecks happen, the caution is thrown. he was ahead of Harvick. Nothing against kevin; he’s just runing his race and actually did a great job in the closing end of the race. Being a Bill Elliott/Kasey Khane fan, I am just happy he creeped in with a top 10 finish. Boo Nascar; suspend officials for 4 aces for cheating Mark Martin out of a victory.
By Kudzu
February 19, 2007 07:04 AM | Link to this
Harvick is half-pint sawed off runt. I was pi**ed when he won. I was pulling for Martin, my wife started to cry and she never watches racing. As bad as I don’t like K.Bush, I was ready for him to win, pass on the last lap, whatever, just don’t wreck Martin to do it. At least Bush was up front all day, he was battling.
Harvick was just too dang fast on that outside (at the end) and he seemingly comes out of no where. How could he have been there at the end? No one else could make that move. Weird to me that he could have that kind of (sudden boost).
By Sick and Tired
February 19, 2007 07:59 AM | Link to this
Well it comes as no surprise that NASCAR once again dropped the ball here and violated their own “rules.” Any other time the caution comes out and the field is frozen. Mark Martin doesn’t sell soap like Kevin Harvick. That’s why you saw the convoluted explanations because either Harvick was going to be ahead when the caution came out or they were going to let the finish line result take precedence. NASCAR’s governing body is a joke. Can you imagine the NFL having a rule book that had so much interpretation allowed? It wants to be a national sport and it is. It’s time for the France Mafia to bring the rules and interpretation of said rules into the new millenium. God help us all if Michael Waltrip had swept past Litte E at the finish line like that. What do you think would have been the ruling then?
By Chris
February 19, 2007 08:02 AM | Link to this
ESPN’s report says that NASCAR officials would’ve thrown the flag immediately had it not been the last lap. But since it was, and the wreck was behind them, with 1 turn left, they decided to let them stay on the gas until the end. Had they thrown the flag, people would be up in arms about not allowing the 2 leaders to duke it out coming out of the last turn. Grow up. I like Mark Martin, but he’s had over 20 triew to win this race. I feel bad for him, but all of this “they should’ve thwrown the caution” is just sour grapes.
Kevin Harvick crossed the finish line .02 seconds ahead of Mark Martin. That’s why he is the winner and Martin got 2nd. Period. No more whining.
By mart
February 19, 2007 08:41 AM | Link to this
Harvick raced like a champ; Martin, bless his heart, got out raced. (If this were another sport, say golf for example, we’d say Martin choked.)
By Terry
February 19, 2007 08:50 AM | Link to this
NASCAR has lost what little credibility it still had. I saw my first NASCAR race in 1955 and first JOINED NASCAR IN 1967. No more. Put a fork in me — I’m done. Is there any “rassling” in town?
By Kudzu
February 19, 2007 09:04 AM | Link to this
I don’t have a caution flag issue, since the wreck was behind them, last lap, “race for it”. I just don’t see how the runt comes up with so much speed on the last lap. I saw no one with that ability, even while bump drafting, be that (surge) quick.
Also, since everyone is being penalized now days, how about penalizing a driver for running over any pit crew member.
By Maddawg
February 19, 2007 09:05 AM | Link to this
For all you bleeding heart MARK MARTIN fans I can personally tell you he is not the gentleman everyone claims! In 1989 my family had the opportunity to be the guest of Mark Martin’s sponsor! My daughter was 12 years old! She went up to MR. MARTIN in the paddock area where they had him set up to greet race fans and asked for an autograph! HE REFUSED AND WAS VERY RUDE TO MY 12 YEAR OLD!!! He did give her a picture but refused to sign it! Now if you upset my daughter you upset me! If he could not give an autograph to a child (which his sponsor was paying him to do) I do not have much use for him! NEEDLESS TO SAY HE HAS NOT BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITE DRIVERS SINCE THEN!!! I think HARVICK WON FAIR AND SQUARE!!
By Sick and Tired
February 19, 2007 09:16 AM | Link to this
Well that settles it. Mark Martin is a jerk and therefore Nascar should run their business like professional wrestling. Once again, I have to ask, if Michael Waltrip had passed Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the finish like that, who would have won?? If you say Jr., case closed.
By nascarsafety
February 19, 2007 09:23 AM | Link to this
So Fox sports new pre-race segment “photo-finishes” started at this years Daytona 500. 1st guest was guess who “Kevin Harvick”. Interesting choice fox! Why not choose the reigning Mextel Cup champ…maybe someone had a premonition???
This result is BS. Nascar! You are made to believe that they are so concerned about safety drilled hollowed out bolts, illegal fuel additives, cars to low etc… but they let cars race back to the finish line while cars are wrecking? So having a car go over the finish line on his roof on fire is concern for Driver safety? maybe in Bill France-land…
Nascar you stold a victory from a true champion. The race should have gone under caution before the finish line. It was unsafe to have cars race to the finish under those conditions.
No other race league would have made the decision you made. In the Indy 500 a similar situation occured when a crash happened behind the leaders the yellow was thrown and the car that passed for the so-called victory was disallowed.
Nascar needs to be consistant on safety of drivers. They talk out of both sides of there mouths.
By yellowjax
February 19, 2007 09:39 AM | Link to this
I am a lifetime Mark Martin fan. I’m “old school” and to see an “old school” guy leading the last few laps and on the verge of winning his first Daytona 500 was awesome. BUT, I must say that NASCAR made the right call (although they should not have let themselves appear wishy washy to the media). The wreck was behind the leaders so let them race off of turn four to the flag. If the wreck had been in turn one/two that would have been different. There would be a need to get emergency crews to the drivers ASAP but with cars still wrecking as Martin and Harvick crossed the line, the crews could not have gotten on the track anyway. Mark Martim let that one slip away because he is such a gentlemen. He could have run Harvick up the track, maybe eve wrecked them both, but he raced clean like he always has. Some people have knocked Martin in the past for not being agressive enough. I don’t know. If it had been me, I would have been in Victory Lane and they would be towing the 29 to the garage (and Harvick would have understood - Last lap at Dayton and all that)but thats not Mark Martin. I bet he slept well last night.
By calvin
February 19, 2007 09:44 AM | Link to this
The flagman, probably under orders from the France family, actually stole the race from Mark Martin….the rule is when they have a wreck, caution comes out…why did that not happen….it is history but millions of people now know who cheats the most…NASCAR…not the drivers
By Brenda
February 19, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this
I was very upset and angry over the finish of the first race of the year. Not only did Harvick NOT deserve to win, but NASCAR called that last caution a second or two too late, just after Harvick had passed Martin…what a f*&king crock
By Pope Brian France
February 19, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this
I have called an emergency meeting of the NA$CAR executive staff. We need to find out why the Hendrick “company” cars didn’t win. We are developing rules to penalize RCR in future races so hopefully that will put Hendrick’s boys back in the winner’s circle.
Love,
Brian
By Kay in Kennesaw
February 19, 2007 11:25 AM | Link to this
What a class act! Mark Martin is, and will always be, a true champion. Nothing against Kevin Harvick, but I’m truly disappointed.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
February 19, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this
I’m a Jeff Gordan fan and have no Dawg in this fight. I’m happy as a fan that they raced to the finish;however, I don’t care when a wreck takes places, I’ve never seen NASCAR hold back on the “Yellow” flag. It hasn’t mattered in the past that an incident has taken place behind the leaders so I don’t understand why they changed things yesterday.
By Pope Brian France
February 19, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
Dear Bloggers,
Just let me clear up the confusion over the caution on the last lap. You see, Mark drove for Jack Rousch for many many years. As you well, know me and my family hate Jack’s guts, so we penalized Mark as a way of getting back at Jack. We realize he doesn’t drive for Jack anymore, but we figure we gave him what he had coming because of his long association with our hated enemy.
Love, Brian
By no name
February 19, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this
I think that Mark Martin is a true champion even if they did take the race away from him. Remember last year or the year before when Dale Jr. lost point because he said s**. What will Kevin Harvick get for saying hell?
By dede
February 19, 2007 01:16 PM | Link to this
Nascar as usual was inconsistent with the call on the caution. Allowing 30 cars to continue racing under green while cars are wrecking in front of them is DANGEROUS. Nascar needs to decide which is more important Greed or protecting our drivers. I guess we Know the answer to that already. Oh by the way to those who believe jr. is the golden boy. Jr gets 25 points for saying a naughty word and Jeff gets nothing for being an inch or more to low. I guess Hendricks is again the flavor of the year.
By woody
February 19, 2007 01:19 PM | Link to this
That is it for me, I won’t waste any more of my time with NASCAR. I can’t stand how the rules change at NASCAR’S liking. I have been to many races and have watched hundreds of hours watching it on TV. Frankly, I feel liberated-I will be spending my week-ends doing nothing related to NASCAR. The caution should have flown, Mark was in the lead when they should have thrown it, he should have won, NASCAR is a joke and so long.
By spdracr94
February 19, 2007 01:24 PM | Link to this
All I look for in any sport is consistant officiating. ESPN said NASCAR did not throw the caution because it was the last lap. Lets go back to Talladega last year. You know the 8/48/25 incident on the last lap. Kasey Kahne beat Vickers back to the stripe, but NASCAR said the caution was thrown and Vickers wins. In the long run the only winner will be NASCAR. Why? We will be arguing this all week. Harvick & Martin will be asked about it for most of the year. Harvick will be a second guessed Daytona winner, not exactly enjoyable. And NASCAR will get press about this controversy, and remember there is no such thing as bad press if you can spin it right.
By spdracr94
February 19, 2007 01:26 PM | Link to this
Also, Kudzu, go back to the replay of the race, #31 rammed the #17 into the #29 on the back straight. 3 cars bump drafting with momentum on the outside. It was amazing they didn’t wreck on the backstretch.
By Bob C
February 19, 2007 01:37 PM | Link to this
While we canonize Mark Martin, please remember he was driving a car whose points were earned by Joe Nemechek who had to race his way into the 500 in a new car with a new team so Mr. Martin would not have to bother with things like qualifying the first five races. Nemechek has driven junk for the past couple years. Let’s hope the infusion of some fresh capital will not all be diverted to the Martin team at Ginn racing - leave a little cash for one of racing’s truly nice guys.
By Chris
February 19, 2007 02:15 PM | Link to this
You don’t throw a caution when 2 cars are duking it out coming out of turn 4 for the Daytona 500. Had the roles been reversed and Martin crossed the line 1st, but NASCAR awarded a victory to Harvick because of the wreck, you Mark Martin sympathizers would be howling that NASCAR stole the race from him.
Tough break. Beat Harvick to the line and we’re not having this conversation. Let’s instead discuss how Martin blew his best chance at winning the Big Race.
By spdracr94
February 19, 2007 02:34 PM | Link to this
I agree with letting race back to the yellow. I wish they still did. The rules state that once the caution is thrown the field is frozen. Did they throw it? Yes, then no.
Reason why they didn’t - We didn’t throw it because the wreck was behind the leader. 95% of all wrecks that happen on the last lap, happen behind the leader, but they have thrown yellows on the white flag lap and frozen the field before. I’d be saying the same think if it was Martin in victory lane. I actually picked Harvick to win this race. If NASCAR stays consistant to how they call a race, this is a story for today and tomorrow its gone. Make a special exception, there is a controversy and the story will linger. I feel bad for Harvick, because people will second guess his win. This is NASCAR’s doing, not his. If you don’t let them race back last October in Talladega, where the cars that wreck were off the track and in the grass, you shouldn’t have let them race back there because that is the consistant call.
By spdracr94
February 19, 2007 02:38 PM | Link to this
And if you can’t remember another race where they didn’t let them race back, because of a wreck behind them was the May 2005 Talladega race. Jeff Gordon passes DE Jr. on the last lap of OT going into turn 3. There is a wreck on the backstretch caution comes out before Jr. passes him back, and the Budweiser can shower begins.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
February 19, 2007 03:32 PM | Link to this
CHRIS, I’m not a fan of either driver and Harvick beat him to the line and as I said earlier, as a fan I enjoyed the race to the line but, I’ve seen so many races won under caution on the last lap and the wreck occured BEHIND the lead cars so even though they were close to the finish, I don’t understand the decision and it surely took NASCAR a while to explain it. I’m happy Harvick won it, sad for Martin and sadder still that my man didn’t fair so well. Jeff Gordan.
By hurray harry
February 19, 2007 03:50 PM | Link to this
I’m reading all the coments and i love it there’s gonna be more room at the races now that nobodys going anymore and i won’t have to put up with all the drunks and whinners with their comp tickets from there boss. Hey lets start something new its kyle busch’s fault if he didn’t spin and stayed behind mark martin another 500 feet he might passed mark and have won ! how po’d would every be then !!!!!!!!!!!!
By Akennas
February 19, 2007 05:03 PM | Link to this
I’ve watched the replay over and over, and I must be missing something - to me, it looked like Harvick WAS ahead of Martin BEFORE the crash behind them started. Martin had bobbled, which scrubbed off some speed, and that was all Harvick, who already had a head of steam, need to put his nose ahead. They stayed virtually locked in that position to the finish line as all hell broke loose behind them. I was rooting hard for Martin, but I think Harvick won it under either scenario. It was a great finish! Just enjoy it!
By raceman94
February 19, 2007 05:41 PM | Link to this
Once again NASCAR screwed Martin out of a win.
By Sautee Dawg
February 19, 2007 08:33 PM | Link to this
To all you bloggers that think racing and wrestling have some resembelance. Does anyone remember the race at Daytona where Richard Petty won his 200th race with President Ronald Regan in attendance? Coincidence?
Wish Martin could have won just for sentimental reasons, but, NASCAR has never been consistent with anything. Saw Dale Earnhardt win at Darlington in the late 80’s in the pouring rain after the 1st place Davey Allison spun out because of rain on one lap, next lap 2nd place Bill Elliott spun out because of rain, next lap 3rd place Harry Gant spun out. Next lap race was called for rain with Dale Earnhardt leading under caution. Seems like in 2001 Michael Waltrip won Daytona on the last lap under caution.