Martin begins his 31st season with Daytona Unlimited and 500 qualifying

Cornelius, N.C.— No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota driver Mark Martin begins his 31st season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series when he takes to the track in Saturday’s Sprint Unlimited (formerly Shootout) and Sunday’s single-lap qualifying runs in preparation for the 55th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 24.

Martin expects a busy first week in Daytona. He’ll join in NASCAR’s annual media day on Thursday, practice for the Unlimited Friday then race Saturday night. He’ll also practice his Daytona 500 car Saturday and join in single-lap qualifying for the 500 on Sunday.

Mark Martin, Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

2014 Plans: “I’m still working on that. All I can say at the moment is I don’t expect to be in the No. 55 as the driver. My goal is to see MWR, (Crew Chief) Rodney (Childers) and the No. 55 car race for a championship. I want to help build MWR.

It might still be driving some or it might be working with the pit crew or the drivers, who knows. It’s too early to tell. I’m focused on 2013.

I’m having fun doing what I am doing now and plan to do everything that I can to try to win races and perform. The 2014 season is still a long way off, but I’m not going anywhere.”

DAYTONA 500: “I’m not superstitious and I don't believe in lucky charms or anything like that. In fact, I avoid all that stuff. But I have noticed this is the 55th Daytona 500 and the No. 55 is a pretty cool number, don't you think?

We want to get Speedweeks started right with a good lap on Sunday. That gets us a good spot to start Thursday’s qualifying race. I think you are going to want to be as close to the front of the pack as you can be this year. Nobody knows what to expect.”

SPRINT UNLIMITED: “Saturday night is going to be fun. Not only will the fans vote on some of the race rules, but this is the very first time we will race the Gen-6 car.

We really don't know what to expect. Based on all the wild stuff we saw in just a few laps of drafting at the test, I can guarantee it’s going to be exciting.”

GEN-6 CAMRY: “The best thing about the car is the manufacturers’ identity is so much stronger. It is a really cool looking race car, they look like Toyota Camrys and they look like the Camry you can get at a dealership, with of course a lot of muscle thrown on them.

That’s probably the best thing. There are subtle changes about the car that are improvements from a handling, from a speed, from a safety standpoint -- all those are more subtle. It’s a good looking race car.”

WOULD ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SEASON SOLIDIFY MWR AS TOP-TIER TEAM? “Without question it would solidify them. This year will judge whether you really get your position up there with the very top teams in the sport -- owners and teams.

If we’re able to come back and do what we were able to do last year or more than I think we’ll be seriously considered like the Roush and the Hendricks -- the very top teams.”

Michael Waltrip Racing