MARTIN TO MAKE MILESTONE 600TH CONSECUTIVE CUP START THIS WEEKEND

Martin holds current longest active steak in NASCAR Nextel Cup, fifth
all-time longest streak

CONCORD, N.C. (July 10, 2006) - Mark Martin will make his 600th consecutive
Cup start this weekend when the green flag drops on Sunday at New Hampshire
International Speedway. The run is currently the longest running streak in
NASCAR and the fifth longest of all-time. Ironically, Martin made his 500th
consecutive start in 2003 at New Hampshire in September.

Martin's streak dates back to Feb. 14, 1988 when he first teamed with Jack
Roush in the Daytona 500. Martin finished 41st that day; humble beginnings
for what would become one of the most successful partnerships in NASCAR
history. Nineteen years, 35 wins, 41 poles and 366 top-10 finishes later,
Martin is scheduled to make his 600th consecutive start this Sunday.

Martin ran his first Cup race in 1981, running a total of five races, while
winning two poles and earning a pair of top-10 finishes. The following year
he ran a full season. Martin was unable to find adequate sponsorship and ran
only a handful of Cup races from 1983-87, before hooking up with Roush in
1988.

"The first thing that comes to mind is that I've been around for a long
time," laughed Martin. "But really, I've been fortunate in a lot of ways.
I've never had a sick day. I've never had big enough tragedy to keep out of
the seat and I've been able to go to work and do my job for a long time.

"It says a lot for those around me over the years that have also worked
really hard to make that be able to happen. It says a great deal about Jack
Roush, who basically gave me a second chance and a great opportunity to
pursue my dreams and fortunately for us, we've been doing that ever since."

During that span Martin and Roush have finished inside the top-10 of the
final point standings 15 times, including four runner-up finishes and 12
top-five finishes.

"My relationship with Jack is what stands out the most," added
Martin. "How
it has grown and changed over that period. Jack and I have been doing this
for a long time and we've been through it all. We've been through some
agonizing disappointments and we've experienced the highest of highs. We have
been though it all together and we have a lot to show for it.

"As for the streak itself, I really don't read that much into streaks and
stuff like that, it just doesn't mean that much, other than the fact that
I've been in good health, had good cars and was always able to make the race.
Still, it is good knowing that I never had to call in sick. We've had hard
times, and we've had times of great sadness, but we've been fortunate to make
them all and I am thankful for that.

"I'm actually very thankful for everything that I have been fortunate to
accomplish," added Martin. "I'm thankful to everyone around me
over the years
that worked so hard for it and I'm thankful to all of the fans out there who
have stood by me for all of these years. Heck, I wish I was 25 and had that
many ahead of me, but I'm still very thankful for everything that I have been
able to do in my career. It really is a dream come true."

THE STREAK

Race #  Date            Track                   Start   Finish  President
1st     Feb 14, 1988    Daytona                 38      41      Ronald Reagan
56th    Oct. 22, 1989   Rockingham(1st win)     7       1       George Bush
100th   June 16, 1991   Pocono                  1       3       George Bush
200th   Sept. 18, 1994  Dover                   4       19      Bill Clinton
300th   Nov. 16, 1997   Atlanta                 9       3       Bill Clinton
400th   Nov. 12, 2000   Homestead               11      3       George W. Bush
500th   Sept. 14, 2003  New Hampshire           33      28      George W. Bush
600th   July 16, 2006   New Hampshire                           George W. Bush

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