Mark Martin's last lap around the Nextel Cup circuit this season is hardly a celebration of a fading career. At 46, Martin is as competitive as any driver in NASCAR right now. And he will leave as a champion.
Martin, who announced this would be his final year after 19 full seasons in Cup competition, won the Nextel All-Star Challenge on Saturday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway. It was a nonpoints race, but it rewarded Martin with a US$1 million check for the victory.
Martin confirmed after the race that he was not reconsidering his decision to leave, but he vowed that he would defend his title.
"I told 'em, man, if they give me a ride, I'll come back next year," Martin said in victory lane. It was his second All-Star victory; he won in 1998, as well.
The only challenger in the 20-lap final segment of Saturday's event was Elliott Sadler, but he could not catch Martin in the end. Sadler, handicapped after taking two tires on the final pit stop to Martin's four tires, finished second. Brian Vickers was third.
Martin passed Sadler with 19 laps to go.
"If we can get one more race out of him in 2006," the car owner Jack Roush said, "that would be better than nothing."
The All-Star Challenge is run in three parts, with a 40-lap segment, followed by a 30-lap run and a 20-lap sprint to finish. Ryan Newman won the 30-lap second segment, but he found himself in fourth after pit-road stops heading into the last segment. Newman was stuck in the pack and crashed.
Martin won the opening 40-lap segment, but he found himself starting in sixth place for the 30-lap second segment. That was because of NASCAR's odd inversion of the field, an annual twist thrown into the event. A random selection called for the top six cars to be inverted for the second segment, putting Brian Vickers in the lead.
Martin was fourth after the second leg. Pit stops moved him up to third on the restart for the sprint, behind Sadler and Jeff Gordon.
The opening segment featured a nine-car wreck that forced a red-flag stop as debris was strewn over the front stretch. Tony Stewart bumped Joe Nemechek from behind to set off the crash, with Nemechek taking out Kevin Harvick and the rest collected behind including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne, Terry Labonte, Michael Waltrip, Carl Edwards and Martin Truex. Earnhardt and Edwards were the only ones to return; seven were finished for the night.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely