Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 5, 1995                   TAG: 9502080023
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                  LENGTH: Medium

MARTIN TEAM SET TO RACE FOR TITLE

\ The muscles in the lower part of Mark Martin's face tightened noticeably at the mention of a driving error that cost him dearly.

He's at a loss to explain how he hit a lapped car with considerable asphalt available both high and low, front and rear - forfeiting a victory that seemed his for the taking. Martin made no stab at an alibi.

``Sometimes we just aren't good enough,'' he said, although ``we'' seemed to translate to ``I.''

The 37-year-old Winston Cup star neither evaded difficult questions nor tried to cast himself in a more favorable light during a recent interview. But his emotional outlook appeared as strong as the V-shaped body he has honed from a slim, 5-foot-4 frame.

Despite 14 career victories, good for seventh place among active drivers on the Winston Cup circuit, and a propensity for running with the top five, Martin frequently is asked why he hasn't won the points championship.

``We just have to get better,'' said Martin, second in 1994 to seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt. ``That's what separates the men from the boys.''

There was a time in Martin's career - after a brief sojourn as a young driver who won some Winston Cup poles - when he decided the combination of driver and team wasn't good enough. So he left, concentrating for the better part of four years on other forms of racing before returning in 1988 armed with confidence he could ``run up front with the best.''

He has done just that, making the miscalculation that probably cost him the SplitFire Spark Plug 500 in September at Dover Downs the exception rather than the rule.

Now, as Martin tests the Jack Roush-owned Ford Thunderbirds for the running this month of the season-opening Daytona 500, the disappointment of Dover has given way to renewed optimism.

``This winter, we have had the least amount of turnover on my crew that we've ever had in a single year,'' said the native of Batesville, Ark. ``That's going to allow us to come out of the box, I expect, with good pit stops and really great race cars.

``We haven't always had winters like that in the past. We will have great race cars, great engines, solid personnel. Everything is working.''

Keywords:
AUTO RACING