06-28-2007 | TruckSeries.com Report
Mark Martin is the third most popular driver in NASCAR, according the 2007 Q Score Ratings. Martin ranks behind only Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon in the rating system conducted by N.Y. research firm Marketing Solutions. According to the firm, hundreds of millions in advertising decisions are based each year on the ratings. The survey is mailed each year to 2,000 people who identify themselves as fans of at least one sport. Martin's score is made that much more impressive by his 'part-time' driving status in 2007. "I don't pay much attention to that kind of stuff," said Martin. "But it is nice to know that you have fans out there that support you like mine do and that's what it all boils down to." "Coming into the year, I didn't know what the interest would be like," added Martin. "I was with a new team and only driving a part-time schedule, but we've found the interest to be really awesome and I think we are proving that you can make this type of scenario work for our team and our sponsors. "I think it says a lot about the type of fans that I have and the type of organization Ginn Racing is to be able to come into this thing and be so successful right off the bat." Martin's fast start in 2007 - including a dramatic second-place finish at the Daytona 500 and walking away from full-time action with the Nextel Cup point lead - helped in Martin's popularity boom. Martin's score of 22 ties with him with Danica Patrick as the third most popular driver in all of Motorsports, and is just behind Gordon (23) and Earnhardt Jr. (28). Michael Jordon topped the list with a score of 55. Martin will take this weekend's race at Loudon off, before returning to action next weekend at Daytona International Speedway for the Pepsi 400. He will then race in the next three races at Chicagoland, Indianapolis and Pocono before sitting out Watkins Glen as part of his limited schedule in 2007.