I like grits, and I have actually attended a NASCAR event (the 2007 Pepsi 400 at Daytona), and so I should have a favorite NASCAR guy, right?
For me, that would be Mark Martin, a Christian guy with a lot of class, and a terrible pile of bad luck. He’s fifty, and has never won the ‘Cup’ or the Daytona 500, racing’s biggest prizes. He was coaxed into racing a full year this year, despite his age, by an offer from NASCAR’s most elite racing team, Hendrick Motorsports. Everything was going his way. In three races, his cars have suffered two blown engines and a blown tire.
“I do have a history of not being the luckiest guy out there,” he said Monday, softly chuckling a day after yet another malfunction ruined what was on pace to be a top-five run.
Jenna Fryer, AP motorsports reporter writes that “His unbridled optimism at the start of the season was so out of character for the 50-year-old pessimist.”
A 50-year-old pessimist? I’ve never known one of those….
“I’ve been so bad over the years at judging my self-worth off of the results,” he said. “I told everyone that I am mentally tougher now than I’ve ever been in my life, and I am working at living up to that. I could run off behind the house and slash my wrists, but I’ve got some good things to focus on. I am disappointed, but I am not down in the dumps and I don’t feel worthless. I feel like I have helped make a contribution to the (No.) 5 team and I will continue to work as hard.”
Judging self-worth off results? Mark, you are my hero.