NASCAR: Watkins Glen preview 


MARTIN GOES FOR FOURTH
BUD AT THE GLEN VICTORY


 WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Mark Martin will have a chance to make NASCAR 
 Winston Cup history when he returns to Watkins Glen International for 
 the August 8-11 Bud at the Glen. But the popular driver isn't 
 expecting to set a record. All he wants to do is have some fun -- and 
 win another race in the process.
 The driver of the Valvoline Ford Thunderbird will have the opportunity 
 to join racing legend Dan Gurney as the only drivers to win the same 
 event four consecutive times at a track at least one mile in length. 
 Gurney won the Winston Western 500 at the former Riverside (Calif.) 
 International Speedway from 1963 through 1966.
 Now, 20 years later, Martin will be looking for his fourth straight 
 victory in the Bud at the Glen. Ironically, he said he doesn't feel 
 the pressure he had last year coming to the Glen.
 "Last year there was a lot of pressure to repeat, and it took most of 
 the fun out of it," Martin admitted. "I had no fun at all, except 
 standing in Victory Lane. And that was more a feeling of relief that 
 we didn't lose. 
 "I'm looking more forward to it this year," Martin added. "Nothing 
 lasts forever, and to hope or expect to win the Bud at the Glen four 
 straight times would be foolish, it's really too much."
 Martin then added with it smile, "It just might happen. We're going to 
 bring the same car we've won with the past three years. We've got a 
 better shot than most of them. We've just got to be real careful not 
 to get caught up in the hype and expectations."
 The Batesville, Arkansas driver has rolled up very impressive numbers 
 at the Glen. After finishing 28th in his first Glen visit in 1987, 
 Martin scored seven straight top-five finishes. All three of his 
 victories have come from the Busch Pole position. He leads all Winston 
 Cup competitors at WGI in money won, $462,530, and in laps led, with 199.
 Martin's 1993 victory in the Bud at the Glen opened a four-race 
 winning streak that season, sharing the modern era record with five 
 other drivers.
 "When I won four in a row in 1993, the maddest I've ever been was when 
 we didn't win the five," Martin recalled. "Once you start winning, you 
 never want to stop. Losing is not something you look forward to."
 Martin's best finish this year came at the only other road course in 
 the Winston Cup Series, when he placed second behind Rusty Wallace at 
 Sears Point. Now with the "pressure" off Martin, he'll be looking for 
 his first victory of the season at the Bud at the Glen.
 The Bud at the Glen weekend opens with AtCall Practice Day on 
 Thursday, August 8, with opening practice and qualifying for the 
 NASCAR Busch North and SCCA Trans-Am series. Opening Winston Cup 
 practice is on Friday, RCA Qualifying Day, with Busch Pole qualifying 
 at 2 p.m. Highlighting Saturday's schedule is second round Winston Cup 
 qualifying, the Burnham Boilers 150 at 12:30 p.m., and Serengeti 
 Eyewear Trans-Am at 3:30 p.m. Opening ceremonies for the 10th 
 anniversary Bud at the Glen get underway at 10 a.m., with the green 
 flag falling at 1:10 p.m.
 Grandstand seats and reserved Family Camping locations are still 
 available. For additional ticket and camping information, or to place 
 credit card orders, call (607) 535-2481.


Media Contact: J.J. O'Malley (607) 535-2486, ext. 207; FAX: (607) 535-7854 
Compuserve: 73771,531; E-Mail: 73771.531@compuserve.com


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TENTH ANNIVERSARY BUD AT THE GLEN                                       
 Weekend Schedule of Events


THURSDAY, AUGUST 8 -- AT CALL PRACTICE DAY
10 a.m.: Gates open for spectator admission and camping
6 a.m.: NASCAR Busch North Registration and Inspection
8:30 a.m.: Mandatory NASCAR Rookie Meeting
9 a.m. - 11:25 a.m.: Busch North practice
11:30 a.m. - noon: Trans-Am practice
1 p.m. - 2 p.m.: Trans-Am practice
2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.: Busch North qualifying (European Style)
4 p.m. - 5 p.m.: Trans-Am Goodyear Fast Five Qualifying


FRIDAY, AUGUST 9 -- RCA QUALIFYING DAY 
5 a.m.: NASCAR haulers enter
6 a.m.: Winston Cup Registration and Inspection
7 a.m.: NASCAR Garage Opens
8 a.m.: Mandatory NASCAR Rookie Meeting
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Winston Cup practice
2 p.m.: Winston Cup Busch Pole qualifying (pos. 1-25), one lap espn2 Live
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.: Busch North practice
5:35 - 6 p.m.: Final Trans-Am qualifying


SATURDAY, AUGUST 10 
7 a.m.: NASCAR Garage Opens
8 a.m. - 10 a.m.: Winston Cup practice
10:30 a.m.: Busch Second Round Qualifying (pos. 26-36), one lap
12:30 p.m.: BURNHAM BOILERS 150, 62 laps  ESPN Live
2:15 p.m.- 3:15 p.m.: Final Winston Cup practice
3:30 p.m.:  SERENGETI EYEWEAR TRANS-AM, 42 Laps TNN Live


SUNDAY, AUGUST 11
11:10 a.m.: Driver and crew chief meeting
12:20 p.m.: Driver Introductions
1:10 p.m.: THE BUD AT THE GLEN, 90 laps ESPN Live
All information courtesy of MNI - Motorsport News International
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