Fast Facts: Mark Martin

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He has been described by ESPN as the “best driver to never win a championship,” but that’s just in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Mark Martin, part-time driver of the No. 55 Aaron’s Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing, has been runner-up in NASCAR’s top series five times, but he does have a collection of championships from the ASA and IROC Series lining his trophy cases. Here are a few fast facts on this Arkansas native.

• Mark Anthony Martin was born January 9, 1959 in Batesville, Arkansas and started his racing career on his hometown dirt tracks. He moved to asphalt in the late 1970s, winning the ASA Rookie of the Year title in 1977 while racing against the likes of Dick Trickle, Jim Sauter and Bobby Allison. Martin won 22 ASA races in his career and four titles (1978, 1979, 1980 and 1986).
• Martin made his NASCAR debut in 1981, driving for six different teams by 1987. His troubles led him back to the ASA for three years; following his championship in 1986, Martin landed a full-time Busch Series (now Nationwide Series) ride with Bruce Lawmaster and caught the eye of Jack Roush, who brought Martin to the Winston Cup (now Sprint Cup) Series in 1988.
• Martin raced for Roush Racing from 1988 to 2006 with a variety of sponsors, including Stroh’s Light, Folgers, Valvoline and Viagra. In 2005, Martin announced he would be cutting back on racing and embarked on the “Salute To You” tour in 2006. Martin moved to Ginn Racing in 2007, splitting seat time with Regan Smith for the season; the team was sold to Dale Earnhardt Inc. mid-season, and for 2008 Martin split seat time with Aric Almirola.
• Martin left DEI following the 2008 season and returned to full-time competition with Hendrick Motorsports in the No. 5 in 2009. With Kasey Kahne joining the team in the No. 5 for 2012, Martin returned to part-time competition this year with MWR.
• As of the end of the 2011 season, Martin has 40 wins, 439 top 10 finishes and 56 poles. He has also won five IROC championships (1994, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2005).
• Find out more about Mark Martin at http://www.markmartin.com/.