It's not often Mark Martin is rendered speechless. But a blown engine during last Saturday's Michigan 200 did exactly that.

Martin had the No. 21 Bush's Baked Beans Ford in the lead for 35 of the first 47 laps when the engine started to vibrate. He shut his Wood Brothers/JTG Racing-prepared F-150 off before it blew up at the Michigan International Speedway.

Earlier this year Martin led the most laps at the California Speedway, only to have victory snatched from his grasp during a late-race re-start. He was knocked into the infield grass by Ron Hornaday Jr., ending his run as the leader.

He also ran in the Top Five at Charlotte, N.C., last month but suffered some damage to his race truck to keep him from contending.

Martin remains committed to sharing the driving duties in the No. 21 Ford with Kelly Bires. He's also committed to helping the team win.

Mark Martin, driver of the No. 21 Bush's Baked Beans Ford F-150: "We were getting ready to lose the engine. It was a great run for the Wood Brothers/JTG group, awesome on pit road. Great Ford F-150 here. They sure did deserve to win. I just can't seem to get it done for them.

"Our truck was awfully good. The guys were on the money on pit road. The truck was fabulous. These guys deserve to win. I just can't get the deal closed for them."

Race News

• Mark Martin earned $10,400 to push his career Craftsman Truck Series earnings to $708,411.
• The No. 21 Bush's Baked Beans Ford F-150 is ranked 20th in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series car owner standings.
• Martin led the second-most laps at Michigan.
• The top-five finishing order included Travis Kvapil in first, Kyle Busch in second, Brendan Gaughan in third, Mike Skinner in fourth and Ted Musgrave in fifth.
• The next race for the No. 21 Bush's Baked Beans Ford is the Toyota Tundra 200 next Friday at The Milwaukee Mile.