Aaron’s 499
Talladega Superspeedway
May 1, 2006
Started 10th – Finished 35th

MARTIN GETS CAUGHT UP IN EARLY ACCIDENT AT TALLADEGA

Martin maintains top-five position in point standings despite early wreck

“It’s Talladega…It’s hard to have fun when you know that the pin is out of the grenade. It’s just a matter of time before it goes off.”
- Mark Martin after Monday’s 35th place finish at Talladega

TALLADEGA, ALA. – Mark Martin was not a huge fan of restrictor-plate racing heading into Monday’s rain delayed Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway; the latest installment at Talladega did little to change that opinion. Martin and his No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion were caught up in a multi-car accident after only eight laps of the 500-mille, 188-lap event. The Fusion sustained severe damage and had to be taken behind the wall for extensive repairs. Martin and the team would later return to the field, picking up the pieces for a 35th-place finish.

“I don’t really know what happened,” said Martin moments after the accident. “It’s Talladega – what can you say. You have all of those cars running in one pack like that and it’s only a matter of time.

“It would be ignorant for me to be mad about it,” added Martin. “I’ll just be glad when I don’t do it anymore. It’s a tough deal. It’s too bad. It was one of the most fun places I ever came. In 1982 it was just a blast to race here, but in today’s day and age it’s hard to have fun when you know that the pin is out of the grenade. It’s just a matter of time before it goes off.”

Martin started the race 10th and was shuffled back to 24th by lap four. A handful of cars in front of Martin attempted to go five wide through turn three and the result was a multi-car accident that saw Martin and several other cars caught up in a chain reaction that saw the majority of those involved either forced from the race or behind the wall for repairs.

The AAA crew worked feverishly to repair the damage and Martin was able to return by lap 88 of the race in 37th position. He was able to stay ahead of those around him, while picking up two positions to 35th. The finish marks the third consecutive race for Martin at Talladega where he has been caught up in an accident and finished 33rd or worse.

“The team did a really fine job of getting in there and repairing the damage to the car,” said Martin. “We were beat up pretty bad, we were able to go back out and pick up a lot of points, which can be really important down the stretch.”

Martin and the AAA Team will look to rebound next weekend when they travel to Richmond for a Saturday night race. Martin has 12 top five and 22 top10 finishes in 42 starts at the .75-mile short track.

After nine races, Martin is currently fifth in the Nextel Cup point standings, 184 out of first place and just three points behind fourth.