Mark Martin 2011 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
2010 Stats: Points Finish 13th, 0 Wins, 7 Top Fives, 11 Top Tens, Average Running Position 15.9, Average Finish 15.3, Laps Led 148, Driver Rating 82.7
2010 might be Mark Martin’s last season in the Sprint Cup series. I say might because he first announced his retirement half a decade ago. If you have his 2005 “Salute to you tour” T-shirt and it’s not worn out from aging on a hanger consider yourself lucky.
My question about Mark Martin’s possible retirement lies in does he really want to retire, or is Rick Hendrick forcing him out? Mark Martin’s a class act and will insist it’s his decision but I’m not buying it. I believe he’s more than happy to continue what he’s doing and there’s no evidence age has slowed him down.
The situation for Mark Martin looks peril in 2010. He’s a lame duck driver with what I believe to be a lame duck crew chief. I believe in 2011 Mark Martin will overcome all odds and once again become a Chase driver even though the adversity that faces him is great.
Strengths- Mark Martin’s at his best on intermediate tracks and flat tracks.
Weaknesses- Since his return to full time racing in 2009 Mark Martin has struggled on road courses. He’s only finished in the top fifteen once. Also I’ve never been a big fan of using Mark Martin at restrictor plate tracks. To me he’s always seemed like a “DNF magnet” at those venues.
Intermediate Track Grade- B+, Mark Martin certainly didn’t look like a B+ driver when you look at the totality of what he accomplished last year. However I believe the 5 team had a turning point at Dover. From that race until the end of the season his intermediate average finish was 10.2.
Flat Track Grade- A-, I expect Martin to be equally strong on both the big flat tracks and the small ones. He struggled at New Hampshire in 2010 but don’t forget who won there in 2009. At Phoenix he finished 4th and 8th so by no means does he struggle on the short flat tracks. Mark Martin was collected in the Pocono “big one” in the first race in Pennsylvania but in the other two big flat track races he finished 7th and 11th.
Restrictor Plate Track Grade- B, Don’t look for me to suggest him at a restrictor plate track anytime soon. In fact I won’t recommend him at this type of track for the rest of his career, seriously. In three of the four restrictor plate races in 2010 Mark Martin finished in the top 12. He was good in 2010, but I’m stuck in my ways and I’m not going to pick him.
Short Track Grade- B+, Every finish of Martin’s in 2010 had the number 2 involved except his 35th place finish at Bristol (race 1). His finishes for the year were 35th, 21st, 25th, 23rd, 20th and 2nd. Last year was a bad year for Martin, but it doesn’t mean 2011 needs to be. Like I said in a prior preview in fantasy racing you can’t be a prisoner of the moment. Do you remember what he did in 2009? His worst finish that year was 8th and his average finish was 5.33.
Road Course Track Grade- B, Historically these tracks have been among Mark Martin’s best tracks. Since he returned to the scene full-time he really hasn’t been competitive. However his level of competitiveness has increased from 2009 to 2010. Last year he finished in the teens in both races.
How to use Mark Martin from a Fantasy NASCAR Perspective in 2011? Forget about the first two-thirds of last season. Mark Martin will be better in 2011. Look for his Chase race performances to be the norm. Focus on using him on the intermediate tracks, flat tracks, and short tracks.
