Mark Martin Museum Full of Memories

One of the highlights of my recent trip to Arkansas for the running of the COMP Cams Topless 100 was visiting the nearby Mark Martin Museum. The museum, located inside Mark Martin Ford in Batesville, blew me away. No joking, there is memoribilia in every room of the car dealership. "We can't get away from him," one of the finance employees said jokingly. The entrance includes several of the famous cars Martin once drove ... cars from Jack Roush, Rick Hendrick, and IROC.

Encased firesuits and helmets line the main hallway, along with a rocking chair given by the Fox Sports crew and autographed by Darrell Waltrip. The real fun starts in a room next to the gift shop. The 1989 Stroh's Light Thunderbird that Martin drove to his first Winston Cup win sits there, along with other famous cars, trophies, gifts, and displays he earned over the years. The photos and newspaper articles are endless.

"It's just an awesome thing to be able to bring back all of these cars and trophies to the place where it all started and the place that I consider home," Martin says in a museum brochure. "I hope that all of the fans will get a chance to come out and share in all of the memories with us."

I did ... and had a blast.

KC, Sept. 2

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Stars at Stateline

Here are some photos from the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series race at Stateline Speedway in Busti, New York, on July 24, courtesy of Racechaser9.

KC, July 26

Best Appearing Car: How About This One?

It won't be long and Eldora's World 100 will be here. Of course, along with that comes the event's best appearing car competition. I have a nomination from earlier this year: John Blankenship's Vietnam memorial car. The wrap on this car was riveting. Blankenship, who recently announced that he was going to do some NASCAR Nationwide Series racing this year, said his team also printed 200 shirts and gave them away at the races. His uncle and crew chief both served during in Vietnam. God bless them.

KC, July 22

Texan Brown to Leave Late Model Racing

Texan Chris Brown, who really started to make a name for himself in 2011 with several notable finishes—including a fifth-place run at the Show-Me 100 at Lucas Oil Speedway—has decided to step away from his pursuit of a full-time dirt late model career. Brown announced on his website Monday that he was planning to sell his late model equipment and return to modified racing in the Casey's General USMTS Open Wheel Modified tour. The modified racing would keep him closer to his Spring, Texas, home.

When reached by email Thursday, Brown cited a couple of factors in his decision. First, he has a new son, Hudson, who was born in November. Second, he said that racing out of an Oak Ridge, Tennessee, race shop and all of the commuting from Texas that goes along with that wasn't going to work out. The Tennessee venture was initially done so that Brown would be more centrally located in traveling to high-profile races.

KC, March 15