Mark Martin: Mark of Excellence [Hardcover]

Larry Woody (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2004

Mark Martin may be one of NASCAR's most diminutive drivers but he has always been big for his size--big ambitions, big heart, and big determination. Born January 9, 1959, Martin grew up in rural Arkansas where he inherited his father Julian's affection for speed and daredevil driving, and by age 15 he was a formidable contender on the tough little bullrings around the area. Competing against an established cadre of crusty old veterans, the leather-tough little racer quickly earned a reputation as a force to be reckoned with. He fought--sometimes literally--and he not only held his own, more than often he won. Martin piled up victories and captured championships in some of the sport's lower and mid-level divisions, including four American Speed Association (ASA) championships. Higher up the ladder he won four IROC crowns and collected more Busch Series wins (45) than any other driver in the history of NASCAR's second-tier division. But Martin's aim was always higher, on the big target: NASCAR's Winston Cup Series, the major league of stock car racing. This book follows Mark's storied career from Batesville to NASCAR's big leagues.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Through the years he has overcome injury, adversity, and career setbacks that very well could have defeated other drivers. But as one of NASCAR's toughest and most tenacious racers, Mark Martin has always bounced back and forged ahead in spite of the circumstances, making him a fan favorite.

Mark of Excellence looks at the life of this racing superstar, who seemingly becomes more determined as he faces bigger and bigger hurdles. His late father Julian, a man he idolized, passed that toughness and tenacity on to his son, providing some of Mark Martin's earliest and fondest memories. Bouncing over the winding backroads around the family's home in Batesville, Arkansas, while perched on his father's lap, young Mark would steer the car as the motor raced, gravel flew, and his father roared with laughter and stomped the accelerator. Flush with excitement, a racer was born.

Mark Martin enjoyed a few early racing successes, but soon encountered a variety of career setbacks that led to problems in his personal life. It's no surprise, however, that he overcame all of those obstacles, both on the track and off, and along the way managed to meet the two people who would end up being the biggest influences in his life-his wife, Arlene, and his team owner, Jack Roush.

Even after establishing himself as one of NASCAR's greatest drivers, Mark Martin still experienced disappointments, like finishing second a frustrating four times in his bid for a NASCAR Winston Cup championship, including one that came after a controversial points penalty. He refuses to look back on those times with regret or bitterness, though, preferring to appreciate what he has gained rather than dwell on what he has lost.

Mark of Excellence presents a saga that is not merely a story of triumph on the track, but also a triumph of the spirit. People who say there are no more heroes in the sports world have not met Mark Martin, a diminutive man whose storied career has been highlighted by big ambitions, big heart, and big determination.

About the Author

Larry Woody is a sports writer for The Tennessean, the morning paper in Nashville. He began covering NASCAR racing in the early 1970s on the hometown track of Fairgrounds Speedway as well as on the national circuit. In addition to his racing assignments he has also covered Southeastern Conference sports, minor-league baseball, and the NFLÂ’s Tennessee Titans,and he was also the Vanderbilt football and basketball beat writer for 10 years. A three-time Tennessee Sports Writer of the Year, Woody is the author of four books and regularly contributes to a number of national sports magazines.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 159 pages
• Publisher: Sports Publishing LLC (June 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582617597
• ISBN-13: 978-1582617596
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 10.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,753,983 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Biography/Pictorial of Mark Martin's Life, December 13, 2007

By 

Winslow Bunny "Winslow_Bunny" (Rockledge, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mark Martin: Mark of Excellence (Hardcover)

As a Mark Martin fan, I looked forward to getting this type of book, one full of photos that covered the whole of Mark's life and racing achievements. I was not disappointed in this book at all. It is an oversized book, slightly smaller than a "typical" coffee-table type of book, but large enough to be kept on the sports fan's coffee table. It does a fine job of weaving the story of Mark's life in and around the photos, capturing the high point (and some low points) of his career. The book is part of the NASCAR Library Collection; normally I'm a little leery of series books as I think that they tend to gloss over the subject's life. This book isn't anywhere near a complete biography of Mark, but then I don't believe it was meant to be that: it's simply a well-put-together book for a race fan's perusing, with excellent photography by NASCAR (and some fine pictures courtesy of the Martin family).