Martin wins Busch title -- as series' greatest driver

Martin wins Busch title -- as series' greatest driver

NASCAR
November 15, 2006
02:07 PM EST (19:07 GMT)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Mark Martin has been ranked No. 1 among the "25 Greatest NASCAR Busch Series Drivers" in Internet polls on NASCAR.COM and NASCARMedia.com in conjunction with the season-long celebration of the 25th anniversary of the NASCAR Busch Series and its association with series sponsor Anheuser-Busch.

Martin, the all-time series leader in wins (47) and Busch Poles (30) despite having run only one full season (1987) throughout his 220 starts, received the most votes in both polls, which allowed fans and media to rank their top 25 selections from a list of 41 nominees. A write-in candidate also was permitted among the 25 choices. One vote per Web site was allotted per fan or media member.

Inside the Numbers
Mark Martin' Busch Series stats
Year Races W T5 T10

1982 1 0 0 0
1987 27 3 5 13
1988 13 1 2 6
1989 17 1 6 8
1990 12 1 3 5
1991 1 0 0 0
1992 14 1 5 9
1993 14 7 7 7
1994 15 3 8 11
1995 15 3 9 11
1996 14 6 11 12
1997 15 6 10 12
1998 15 2 6 9
1999 14 6 9 10
2000 13 5 12 13
2004 5 0 1 4
2005 8 2 5 6
2006 7 0 5 5
Totals 220 47 104 141



"We had a lot of fun racing in the Busch Series," Martin said. "There has been a lot of talent in that series over the years, both with the full-time Cup guys and some of the Busch regulars, so to be voted at the top of the top 25 really does mean a lot to me.

"I'd just like to say thanks to both the fans and the media. We've always gone out and given 100 percent to whatever we were doing and to be recognized for our effort means as much as any of the wins or any trophies."

The series' first two-time champion, Sam Ard, finished second in the NASCARMedia.com poll; followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in third, another multiple champion; Jack Ingram, the first series champion in 1982 (he won again in '85) in fourth and Dale Earnhardt, who won the first NASCAR Busch Series race at Daytona International Speedway in 1982, in fifth.

The NASCAR.COM fan poll ranked Earnhardt Jr. second. Kevin Harvick, the newest multiple champion following his 2006 title, finished third. Earnhardt was fourth and Martin Truex Jr., the 2004-05 series champion, was fifth.

Drivers with one or more Busch Series titles were automatically among the list of nominees. Other criteria included a minimum of 150 series starts and/or top percentages of wins versus starts, top fives versus starts and top 10s versus starts.

More than 152,000 fans voted in the NASCAR.COM poll, while more than 160 individuals voted in the NASCARMedia.com poll. Voting began on Oct. 16 and ended Nov. 12.

The 25th anniversary NASCAR Busch Series season culminates Saturday with the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The race begins at 7:10 p.m. ET and will be televised on TNT.

NASCAR Busch Series 25 Greatest Drivers Poll Results
NASCAR.COM Rankings NASCARMedia.com Rankings
No. Driver Votes No. Driver Votes
1. Mark Martin 10,590 1. Mark Martin 1,428
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 10,250 2. Sam Ard 1,378
3. Kevin Harvick 9,938 3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1,376
4. Dale Earnhardt 9,039 4. Jack Ingram 1,343
5. Martin Truex Jr. 7,342 5. Dale Earnhardt 1,295
6. Harry Gant 5,963 6. Harry Gant 1,273
7. Matt Kenseth 5,818 7. Kevin Harvick 1,244
8. Jeff Burton 5,388 8. Tommy Houston 1,239
9. Bobby Labonte 5,204 9. Randy LaJoie 1,113
10. Greg Biffle 4,868 10. Tommy Ellis 1,077
11. Darrell Waltrip 4,763 11. David Green 995
12. Kenny Wallace 4,508 12. Greg Biffle 988
13. Joe Nemechek 4,034 13. Jeff Green 953
14. Randy LaJoie 3,848 14. Matt Kenseth 932
15. Dale Jarrett 3,474 15. Bobby Labonte 929
16. Johnny Benson 3,413 16. Chuck Bown 922
17. Sam Ard 3,293 17. Martin Truex Jr. 898
18. David Green 3,259 18. Jeff Burton 871
19. Michael Waltrip 3,096 19. Larry Pearson 868
20. Ron Hornaday Jr. 2,967 20. Jason Keller 848
21. Jack Ingram 2,964 21. Johnny Benson 843
22. Jeff Green 2,872 22. Darrell Waltrip 813
23. Tommy Houston 2,674 23. Joe Nemechek 801
24. Jimmy Spencer 2,652 24. Rob Moroso 733
25. Brian Vickers 2,503 25. Dale Jarrett 715