Martin Gears Up for Record 14th Consecutive Budweiser Shootout

Mark Martin

Daytona, Fla. - The 2002 Winston Cup season is just days away, as the season 'unofficially' gets underway with the preseason Budweiser Shootout this Sunday. A record 22 drivers will compete in this year's Bud Shootout, which is a no points event. For Roush Racing's Mark Martin, the race will mark his record 14th consecutive Shootout.

Martin, who will drive the No. 6 Kraft Ford Taurus in the race, joins this season's all-star event after winning a pair of poles last season (Food City 500/Bristol and Pontiac Excitement 400/Richmond). This will mark Martin's 15th appearance in the Shootout overall. The field in comprised of drivers whom either captured a pole during the previous season or is a past champion of the Shootout. Only Bill Elliot (16) and Rusty Wallace (15) have competed in the Bud Shootout on more occasions.

Martin made his first start in a Bud Shootout 20 years ago on Jan. 2, 1982, finishing eighth in the event. He would not take place in the event again until 1989, but he has not missed a Bud Shootout since. He claimed his first Bud Shootout victory in 1999. Conversely, Roush Racing teammate Kurt Busch will make his first start in a Bud Shootout this Sunday.

The race consists of 70 laps around the 2.5 mile tri-oval at Daytona. The order of the field will be decided in a drawing on Feb. 7 and the event will be televised live on TNT. MRN will carry the event live on radio.

Martin finished eighth in the event last season. All in all he has averaged a seventh-place start in the event and evened out with a seventh place finish average. He has completed 310 career laps in the Bud Shootout during his 14 previous starts.

The 2002 Winston Cup season officially gets underway with the starting of the 2002 Daytona 500 on Feb. 17. The 500 is set to begin at 12:30 PM est.