Editor’s Note: This is the first of a four-part series on NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin. But that was because I had time to prepare for every race in between races,” Martin said. Steve was paying attention to what I was doing all the way back in 1981,” Martin said. “Jack wasn’t known in the industry and he was going to be an upstart team,” Martin continued. “Most of these guys were more interested in driving for established teams. So I became the guy that I had been racing toward for three years,” Martin continued. “Jack Roush gave young guys who wanted it really bad and were willing to work their ass off, the tools that they needed to succeed, was basically what it was,” Martin said. “There were a lot of missed opportunities, but that’s not really what defines me,” Martin said.

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