DMF Communications For Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Press Release

After a solid outing in Las Vegas, Mark Martin and the No. 8 U.S. Army/Dale Earnhardt Inc. Team head to Atlanta where they will look to build on their third-place qualifying effort and top-10 finish last weekend.

At Atlanta

Starts: 44 (22)
Wins: 0 (2)
Top 5s: 13 (6)
Top 10s: 22 (11)
Poles: 1 (1)
Highest finish: 1 (twice)
First time: 11/7/82 (10th)
Last year: 3/18/07 (19th)
Last start: 10/28/07 (43rd)

Worthy Note: Martin has 22 top-10 finishes at Atlanta Motor Speedway, dating back to 1982.

BURNING UP THE TRACK AT ATLANTA

This will be Martin's 45th-career Cup start at Atlanta, where the veteran has posted 22 top-10 finishes, 13 top fives and two wins. Martin ran his first career Cup race at Atlanta 24 years ago on March 21,1982, finishing 19th. He returned there that fall and drove to a top 10. He has posted top-10 finishes at AMS in five of the last seven races including a 10th-place finish there last spring.

FOURTH ANNUAL MARK MARTIN FAN APPRECIATION DAYS

Martin will host the fourth annual Mark Martin Fan Appreciation Days and Open House at his museum and dealership in Batesville, Arkansas on March 21 and 22. Martin will be joined by Dale Earnhardt Inc. teammate Aric Almirola along with, Ken Schrader, Joey Logano and MotoX Champion Ricky Carmichael. Martin will be on hand both days signing autographs and taking questions from fans.

THE 700 CLUB

Martin became only the 13th driver in NASCAR history to start 700 Cup races when the green flag dropped earlier this year at California Speedway. Martin currently has the 13th most Cup starts in NASCAR history. He is scheduled to make 23 more starts in 2008, bringing his total to 722, which will be the ninth most at the end of the season. Martin's total is the fourth most of active drivers. Martin started his first Cup race on April 5, 1981 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

MARTIN'S 2008 SCHEDULE

This will be Martin's last race until April 6 at Texas Motor Speedway. Martin will pilot the U.S. Army No. 8 car in 26 races this year, including 24 point events. Aric Almirola will drive the car in the remaining 12 races, including upcoming events at Bristol and Martinsville. In addition, Martin will drive the No. 5 Hendrick Busch entry in five events this season.

QUOTING MARK…

"Atlanta's a big, fast racetrack, and I've always enjoyed racing there. The pavement has gotten a little older and it has finally given up and made it a really fun place to race again. From top-to-bottom, it’s one of the best places that we go, and it usually makes for a great show and a great race. We ran a lot better last weekend in Las Vegas and I'm excited about getting to Atlanta and seeing what we can do to build on that this weekend.

"Tony (Gibson) and the guys on this No. 8 U.S. Army Team continue to do an outstanding job. I really enjoy working with these guys and I'm looking forward to getting some more races under our belts. They have done an outstanding job in the pits and the cars are getting better each week. Hopefully we can go to Atlanta and put together another strong run and a solid finish."

FAST FACTS

· Martin has tallied 22 top 10s and 13 top fives at Atlanta, with top-five runs in four of the last seven.
· Martin has won twice at Atlanta. Both wins came in the fall race ('91 & '94).

· Martin has started in the top 10 in 26 of his 44 races at Atlanta. He has started inside the top five 18 times. He has earned one pole (3/92) and has started on the front row six times.

· Martin scored his first top 10 at Atlanta in only this second start there on November 7, 1982.

· Martin has led 924 laps at Atlanta, including 227 in the fall of 2004.

· Martin has three wins and two poles in the Nationwide Series car at Atlanta.

LAST YEAR AT ATLANTA...

MARCH 18, 2007 –
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Started 4th, Finished 10th


Mark Martin closed out the then longest consecutive starting streak in NASCAR with a top-10 finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway. With the finish, Martin maintained his lead in the Cup point standings, despite the fact that he would walk away from full-time Cup racing a week later.

With the finish, Martin had opened the season with four consecutive top-10 finishes for the first time since 2000 and for only the third time in his career. Martin then bowed out of the car the following weekend as the oldest driver in NASCAR history to lead the points for more than one week.

Martin and the U.S. Army Team started the race fourth after a strong qualifying effort, but struggled early with a loose race car, dropping as far back as 16th during the race. However, the No. 01 team refused to give up, continuing to work with the car under caution in hopes of improving the handling. By lap 270 Martin had driven the car back to 11th position before the race’s fourth caution was called. The team stepped up in the pits with one of its quickest stops of the day, sending Martin back out in ninth position. The veteran driver would run the remainder of the race inside the top 10.


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