A decade later, veteran looks to return to victory lane at Vegas
DMF Communications For Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Press Release

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 27, 2008) -- Mark Martin has visited victory lane on many occasions during is 26 year plus NASCAR career. In fact, the veteran of 700 Cup starts has hoisted NASCAR trophies more times than he can recall. However, his victory in the 1998 inaugural Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) is one of the few instances where Martin allowed himself to take a moment and reflect on the accomplishment.

“Very rarely in my career have I allowed myself to stop for a second and think about a win,” said Martin, who will make his first start at Vegas for Dale Earnhardt Inc. this Sunday. “I was always a lot more focused on the next race or what we needed to do to get better.

“But that day as we left the track, I can remember looking down from the helicopter at the track and thinking, “wow.” This wasn’t some dirt track win. It was a big deal to win at Vegas and we had done just that. It was and still is a very special win for me.”

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the inaugural Cup run at Las Vegas and Martin’s victory. He led 82 laps in route to the win, the 23rd of his career. It would be the first of a career-high seven for Martin during the 1998 season. The victory would also kick off one of the most successful runs in LVMS history, becoming the first of a series-high eight top-10 finishes for Martin at the 1.5-mile track.

In fact, in 10 starts at LVMS Martin has finished inside the top five 50 percent of the time, including a fifth-place result in last year’s event. No other driver has scored as many points at the D-shaped oval and 72 of his career 258 laps led there have come in his last two races.

“Really it’s hard to believe it has been 10 years since that win,” said Martin. “I’ve always loved the track at Las Vegas and we’ve had some great runs there over the years. We have not been able to get back to victory lane, but we’ve been really fast.”


In addition to Martin’s accolades in the Cup series at Las Vegas, he boasts two wins, two poles and four top-10 finishes in four starts in the Nationwide Series, including a win in his 2005 start. He will make his first Nationwide start at the track since then this Saturday behind the wheel of the No. 5 Chevrolet.

Martin started the inaugural race in 1998 with a brand new team and uncertain promise. This year he will do the same, as he sits behind the wheel of the No. 8 U.S. Army/Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet for just the third time. He would like nothing more than to make his return to the Vegas victory lane – 10 years after his first visit.

“Tony Gibson, this No. 8 team and everyone at Dale Earnhardt Inc., have been awesome to work with,” said Martin. “They’re really on their game and they are a great group of guys to work with. We missed the setup and were a little off at California last week, but not one person on this team gave up. I like the fight that I see in this team, and I know we have some really good runs ahead of us. I’m confident we can win races and it would be really cool to get the first one this weekend in Las Vegas.”


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