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18th
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Mark Martin hasn't forgotten to drive fast despite his part-time schedule in the twilight of his career.
The 53-year-old notched his 55th career pole with a lap of 199.706mph, in a Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota, around the Michigan International Speedway oval.
Obviously experience helps as Martin ruefully explained. "I've had a few years of practice," he said. I don't need a whole bunch of practice. I need a racecar like what I drove today. I need fast racecars."
He's also won five times at the track.
Another piece of the puzzle is that MWR has raised its' game, with fulltime drivers, Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr. solid contenders for NASCAR's playoffs, the Chase to the Sprint Cup. And still in only his 15th start of the year he's won four poles.
He recalled his 2009 season at Hendrick Motor Sports where he was a serious threat for the Championship.
"For me, I feel a little bit of the magic that I felt in 2009 working with Rodney Childers (crew chief) and working with my teammates and all the incredible staff at MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) I just really feel like this is a very, very lucky time in my career and in my life because I get to race on my terms and do things the way I want to do them."
On the other hand second fastest qualifier, Carl Edwards, is running out of time to make the Chase by earning a Wild Card by notching one victory this year.
"I think that it will go long green flag runs and if the speeds are as high as they seem to be - at least for the first part of the race it could be pretty tough to pass, so this could be big for us," Edwards said.
Then Edwards paid homage to his former Roush Fenway Racing Ford teammate "He's living the dream," Edwards said.
"He's had a successful career. He's able to come out here and pick and choose which races he's going to run and to perform well at them. I think it's pretty amazing, especially at his age. He's an inspiration for me, as to how well you can do for such a long period."
The pole speed was off the record of 203.241 mph set by Marcos Ambrose because NASCAR changed the tires to slow down the cars following that record run.
Jimmie Johnson aiming for a sixth national title will start third in a Chevrolet. Even he had only the kindest words for his veteran rival. "What keeps him going is his love for the sport," Johnson said.
"He's a racer through and through. We all know his dedication to fitness and nutrition and that's what keeps him sharp and at the top of his game at 53 years old. And you can't take out the fact that the guy has a ton of talent. That's why he's Mark Martin."
The 53-year-old notched his 55th career pole with a lap of 199.706mph, in a Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota, around the Michigan International Speedway oval.
Obviously experience helps as Martin ruefully explained. "I've had a few years of practice," he said. I don't need a whole bunch of practice. I need a racecar like what I drove today. I need fast racecars."
He's also won five times at the track.
Another piece of the puzzle is that MWR has raised its' game, with fulltime drivers, Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr. solid contenders for NASCAR's playoffs, the Chase to the Sprint Cup. And still in only his 15th start of the year he's won four poles.
He recalled his 2009 season at Hendrick Motor Sports where he was a serious threat for the Championship.
"For me, I feel a little bit of the magic that I felt in 2009 working with Rodney Childers (crew chief) and working with my teammates and all the incredible staff at MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) I just really feel like this is a very, very lucky time in my career and in my life because I get to race on my terms and do things the way I want to do them."
On the other hand second fastest qualifier, Carl Edwards, is running out of time to make the Chase by earning a Wild Card by notching one victory this year.
"I think that it will go long green flag runs and if the speeds are as high as they seem to be - at least for the first part of the race it could be pretty tough to pass, so this could be big for us," Edwards said.
Then Edwards paid homage to his former Roush Fenway Racing Ford teammate "He's living the dream," Edwards said.
"He's had a successful career. He's able to come out here and pick and choose which races he's going to run and to perform well at them. I think it's pretty amazing, especially at his age. He's an inspiration for me, as to how well you can do for such a long period."
The pole speed was off the record of 203.241 mph set by Marcos Ambrose because NASCAR changed the tires to slow down the cars following that record run.
Jimmie Johnson aiming for a sixth national title will start third in a Chevrolet. Even he had only the kindest words for his veteran rival. "What keeps him going is his love for the sport," Johnson said.
"He's a racer through and through. We all know his dedication to fitness and nutrition and that's what keeps him sharp and at the top of his game at 53 years old. And you can't take out the fact that the guy has a ton of talent. That's why he's Mark Martin."