"The most important race of the year is the next one" has always been the driver's point of view. But this week's race carries a little added emphasis -- it's the longest of the season, the ultimate test of man and machine -- 600 miles at Charlotte Motor Speedway
The Coca-Cola 600 is one of NASCAR's crown jewels -- and by the way, a race I wanted to win more than any other. This race to me has always represented the greatest physical test for a driver and the greatest mechanical test for a team.
No, it's not the Daytona 500, but there are no restrictor plates on these engines, and I prefer that.
No, it's not the Brickyard 400, but unlike Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which always seemed like a track we were borrowing for a week, this track belongs to NASCAR. Its banked turns accommodate the heavy stock cars, and Charlotte is home for most drivers and teams.
Competitors this time of year are benefiting from a second consecutive week of being able to leave home for work each day and sleep at home each night. That won't happen again until late November or early December.
Who Wins: Kevin Harvick
Dark Horse: Kasey Kahne
Three Keys to Winning:
1 . Restarts. The outside lane is brutal on restarts, so restarting first or third on the inside line is a priority.
2. The ability to change lanes in the turns enhances your ability to pass.
3. Be first off pit road, because passing late on fresh tires will be a challenge.
Hall of Fame Redux
The NASCAR Hall of Fame votes were tallied Wednesday, with five deserving individuals comprising the class of 2016.
Terry Labonte was a very good race car driver. The gentleman's personality he possessed outside the car would best describe his personality in it. He drove smart, clean and fair, but he wasn't a pushover. Terry took his piece of the track, and gave you yours. If you took from him, he would return the punishment. A two-time Cup series champ, he always had his head in the game. And as a teammate, Terry served as an excellent mentor, modeling the right way to go about your business.
Bruton Smith is a pillar in the sport. It's obvious how much energy, creativity and financial know-how Smith brought to the equation. What's not so obvious is what a contrast his childhood and humble surroundings were in the early part of his life compared to today. Smith and I spent an hour on a golf cart driving around the course last year, and I ended the day with a greater appreciation for how hard he has worked and how much risk he has taken. In many ways, we are all beneficiaries of that risk.
Bobby Isaac had two remarkable seasons in 1969 and 1970, winning a title in the latter. He had 37 total wins, with all but two coming during a four-year period from 1968 to 1971. Those are amazing numbers, considering they came in Richard Petty's and David Pearson's prime years.
Curtis Turner never competed in a full Cup schedule, yet he won 17 times. He earned hundreds of other wins in a variety of other racing series. Curtis raced before my earliest memories, but I've heard enough amazing stories to confirm his Hall of Fame worthiness.
Jerry Cook is a name I was very familiar with growing up in the Northeast. Before the major accomplishments of Richie Evans in the Modified series, there was the domination and longevity of Jerry Cook. He has been a contributor to the sport in many capacities outside of driving. I don't think there will ever be an individual more appreciative of being enshrined in NASCAR history.
I'm always filled with curiosity in the days leading up to the Hall of Fame vote. And in the end, there are never any bad choices. But I feel strongly that one individual was deserving in his first attempt.
The Bottom Line
Mark Martin did not get a first-ballot election.
My perspective on Martin is different than most. Mine comes from having shared the track with him, and I can say with conviction that it's hard for me to name many race car drivers who were better.
There were more aggressive drivers. There were more exciting drivers. But there weren't any drivers capable of driving faster or exceeding Martin's car control. Clearly, his not winning a championship weighed heavily, but I contend it shouldn't have.
Ted Williams never won a World Series, but most who competed against the Splendid Splinter suggest he was the purest hitter, and his numbers support that opinion. Martin's numbers are no different -- for example, in 11 consecutive seasons he finished no lower than sixth. That's Jimmie Johnson-like.
Martin has 89 wins in NASCAR's top two series. And in equally prepared IROC race cars, competing against the best the world had to offer, Mark won five titles. In 47 races, he won 13, and those were against the likes of Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt and Tony Stewart.
But Martin didn't win a title -- finishing second five times -- which is a rare example that the old adage "the numbers don't lie" is false. The number 0 next to Cup championships doesn't take into consideration that perhaps the best equipment Martin ever competed in came when he was 50, his first full season with Rick Hendrick. And despite being later in life, he finished that season with five wins, and his fourth career runner-up points finish, this time to Johnson.
The greatest testimonial I can give you to Martin's ability behind the wheel of a car is my inside knowledge of the drivers' fraternity seeking Mark's help, asking from time to time if he would shake down their car. He was that trusted and that highly regarded. On a handful of occasions, top drivers asked Martin to take their car out for a few laps to confirm what they felt, or support what they were struggling with. (I won't name drivers, but they are brand names.)
In each case, Martin would almost immediately post a quicker lap than the car had at any time that day, and the car's driver had his feelings hurt. It wasn't long before no other drivers asked him to drive their car.
I was not a great driver, but I was good enough to compete and challenge, and good enough to recognize the handful of drivers who separated themselves from the hundreds of others who chose the same career. Mark Martin was one of those, and I was smart enough to never ask him to drive my race car.