This was the first race I ever attended in person, I was 14 at the time. Mark Martin became my favorite driver that day, and I'm glad he did. Mark's a class act, a true champion to the people.
Watching this after Dale Jr's Podcast talking about Mark Martin's rear shocks in this race. It's great how stories bring you back to reference different things throughout the history of the sport.
This was my first race working for Nascar. Went on to work at Talladega for another 19 years before hanging it up at the end of the 2015 season. If I'm not mistaken, this race was rained out in April and ended up being run in May on Mother's Day weekend. Will probably never see them run on Mother's Day weekend again.That day it was rained out was miserable. Cold and rainy... never got above 50 degrees I'm sure.
Other than the CBS crew lead by Ken Squire when Ned worked with him through the 80s into the early 90s, Bob Jenkins, "Gentleman" Ned Jarrett, the late Benny Parsons and Dr. Jerry Punch during ESPN's first stint of NASCAR coverage were the best TV broadcasters
the best nascar race ever ;cars to the limit ! green flag all the way fastest driver and car of all time mark martin ; no stupid lucky dog pass or green white yellow or manditory yellow ; martin set the record straight ! you can pass me but first ya gotta catch me !!! martin out front with earnhardt; gordon on his tail and they still couldnt hook up to pass him ; plus a record over 188 mph ave speed which i think will never be broken because of the smaller fuel tanks and more pitstops ; its been a pleasure spending the years watching in my opinion the best driver and most classiest driver of all time ; congrats to mark martin ; hope you get into the hall of fame soon !!! you have definately earned it !!!!!!!!
Anyone here from the Mark Martin podcast ? He talks about how they ran qualifying shocks in the car and it was fast but rough as hell! Look at the in car view. He's bouncing around in there
Dale tried that in the fall race weekend according to Larry Mac but he couldn't drive it for some reason - Since that was the reason Mark beat him in the Spring
@Holy shit, it's a talking muffin If we are talking that way, Petty won 4 titles under 4 different formats. It's the rules in place. Johnson might've drove more consistently in the summer months if they knew there wasn't going to be a reset. Dont trust my word? Listen to Chad Knaus on the Dale Jr Download. He practically said as much
My second race I watched on tv. Instant Mark Martin fan, instant NASCAR fan. To hear other drivers describe Martin, this is a man to strive to be. ☆MM4EVR☆ Still my favorite Martin win even though I there to see him win at California
I turned 6 years old the day this race was run. It's cool to see what race this was. I am hearing good things about this race. I was a kid and knew what NASCAR was but I never watched it back then. This seems like an incredible race. Back when America was still great; simpler and prosperous days.
The other two Talladega races that ran caution free were the 2001 Spring race won by Bobby Hamilton and the 2002 Fall race with Dale Earnhardt Jr. getting his third Talladega victory in less than a year.
I was there that day. I wasn't worried Mark Martin would get freight trained. I worried Earnhart would wreck him to win like he has done so many times before.
If it had been any other driver, Earnhardt may have booted him, but Martin was a driver who had the kind of attitude and respect that other drivers reciprocated in kind.
This was my first Talladega Cup Race. I was a regular at Atlanta and Bristol but I always said I had no desire to go to Talladega because I thought you could see it better on TV than in person. Man was I ever wrong. I was 31 and had just recently got divorced and I had taken my vacation in April and went to the Busch race at the Nashville Fairgrounds for Steve Parks first win and then the next weekend saw Mark Martin win the Busch race at Talladega with Steve Park right on his back bumper and we listened to Dale coaching Steve on the radio in the final laps but he couldn’t pull it off. Then the monsoon came and the rest of the weekend was ruined. I worked weekends and my boss was very upset that I asked for the weekend off two weeks after returning from vacation. For this race we just drove down the day of the race and luckily ate breakfast in a McDonalds with the Valvoline crew that morning then got to see them win the race. For the next several years I never missed a Talladega race. Awesome Memories.
I was at this Race. the Last 25 Laps Mark Martin was Leading Dale Earnhardt and the Guy standing next to me was yelling Go Dale Go, while I was Yelling Make that Ford Wide Mark. Back and Forth we Yelled. When it was over and Mark Martin had Won this Guy and I shook Hands and His Wife Hugged me and we Exchanged Numbers and Said we'd meet in the same place in the fall and walked away Friends. I got so Drunk and I didn't spend a Penny for Beer, everyone around me kept handing me one when I would finish one. What a Day.
Don't forget the infamous stage racing. Brian France should be very ashamed of himself. His Grandad, Big Bill France Sr is rolling around in his grave right now.
mark said not today !!!!!! jimmy fenig (martins crew chief ) said the tranny was only hanging on by a thread !! cracked main tranny shaft ; fastest nascar race ever with average speed set by martin at over 188 mph
Strange that they didnt just postpone this event to the Monday after the original race date. I'm assuming that more bad weather happened that week? Would be very odd if the delayed a race to a scheduled off weekend today
They did attempt on Monday,but it rained that day as well. So they pushed it to the Saturday of Mother's Day weekend which back then was an off-weekend for the Cup Series.
This was the first race I ever attended in person, I was 14 at the time. Mark Martin became my favorite driver that day, and I'm glad he did. Mark's a class act, a true champion to the people.
Mine too! I was 13. Liked Mark but Dale was always my man.
This was my first Talladega race. I was 17. I went to the two rainouts too. After this, I went to every Dega race until DE’s last win in 2000.
@@goodeyebrian3598 Right? The rain was a mess. Sunday and Monday.
Watching this after Dale Jr's Podcast talking about Mark Martin's rear shocks in this race. It's great how stories bring you back to reference different things throughout the history of the sport.
Yeah I just heard it on Martin's podcast. It's insane how much he's bouncing even on the victory lap
@@default123default2 Would you remember which episode of his podcast this was?
@@pj2cray It's on the Larry McReynolds episode of Dale Jr's show.
Two paint schemes I'll never forget #98 RCA and #46 First Union. This was around the time I started getting into nascar. Really miss these days
This still remains as NASCAR'S fastest ever race.
From crowd to drivers , the shear amount of people involved is mind blowing to say the least !
This was my first race working for Nascar. Went on to work at Talladega for another 19 years before hanging it up at the end of the 2015 season. If I'm not mistaken, this race was rained out in April and ended up being run in May on Mother's Day weekend. Will probably never see them run on Mother's Day weekend again.That day it was rained out was miserable. Cold and rainy... never got above 50 degrees I'm sure.
I miss Ned and Benny in the booth. They didn't treat the viewers like they were morons. Especially the hardcore ones.
The Best announcers in Nascar. Bob,Ned and Benny.
Buddy Baker was good too.
Add a little Dr. Jerry Punch...
Other than the CBS crew lead by Ken Squire when Ned worked with him through the 80s into the early 90s, Bob Jenkins, "Gentleman" Ned Jarrett, the late Benny Parsons and Dr. Jerry Punch during ESPN's first stint of NASCAR coverage were the best TV broadcasters
One of the greatest races in NASCAR history. Some of the rocket scientists racing now should watch this and take notes
the best nascar race ever ;cars to the limit ! green flag all the way fastest driver and car of all time mark martin ; no stupid lucky dog pass or green white yellow or manditory yellow ; martin set the record straight ! you can pass me but first ya gotta catch me !!! martin out front with earnhardt; gordon on his tail and they still couldnt hook up to pass him ; plus a record over 188 mph ave speed which i think will never be broken because of the smaller fuel tanks and more pitstops
; its been a pleasure spending the years watching in my opinion the best driver and most classiest driver of all time ; congrats to mark martin ; hope you get into the hall of fame soon !!! you have definately earned it !!!!!!!!
Mr.Consistency!!!
this was my first race at the age of 13 (now I'm 37) sitting down low at the end of the front stretch. Can't believe how time flys
Anyone here from the Mark Martin podcast ? He talks about how they ran qualifying shocks in the car and it was fast but rough as hell! Look at the in car view. He's bouncing around in there
Dale tried that in the fall race weekend according to Larry Mac but he couldn't drive it for some reason - Since that was the reason Mark beat him in the Spring
This one is special to me. I graduated in '97 and I recorded this race right around the time i did. I might still have it on tape somewhere.
Ol' Mark Martin. My favorite driver at the time.
Best era in NASCAR. The restrictor plate race cars sounded AMAZING back then.
They sound like cars. Good ol' american muscle.
No competition cautions, no stages, no Playoffs...... just flat out good ol' Nascar racing. No Free Passes either though ......
This race feels like it was yesterday. I can't believe it was 24years ago.
Tell me about. Time flies.
My wife and I drove from southern Indiana for this race and Mark Martin my favorite driver won 🎉
Good ol days where you had to be good all year to win a championship.
I feel you. Although, Truex was preeety good all season.
Hence why JJ should never be put on the same pedestal as Petty and Earnhardt.
@Holy shit, it's a talking muffin If we are talking that way, Petty won 4 titles under 4 different formats. It's the rules in place. Johnson might've drove more consistently in the summer months if they knew there wasn't going to be a reset.
Dont trust my word? Listen to Chad Knaus on the Dale Jr Download. He practically said as much
Nothing like a beautiful day at the track. the grass is so nice you can eat it.
Don't you mean smoke it.
@@michaelkilgore8358 If you feel like smoking it...feel free!! It's a beautiful day at the track.
Back when the cars were race cars, and the racing was real racing.
My second race I watched on tv. Instant Mark Martin fan, instant NASCAR fan.
To hear other drivers describe Martin, this is a man to strive to be.
☆MM4EVR☆
Still my favorite Martin win even though I there to see him win at California
Back when someone said "I'M FASTER THAN YOU AND I CAN PROVE IT" AND OF COURSE THE CARS FROM THE 1995 TO 2000s WAS FAST
I turned 6 years old the day this race was run. It's cool to see what race this was. I am hearing good things about this race. I was a kid and knew what NASCAR was but I never watched it back then. This seems like an incredible race. Back when America was still great; simpler and prosperous days.
188 laps without a caution, not one styrofaom cup or napkin to bring a yellow.
LOL not even a bubble gum wrapper!
And was still a great race,wish Nascar would take note,but they wont
aebking #1 got to cater to the casual ADD fan
More like the corporate CEOs who probably only watches the highlights on fox sports1 lol!
The other two Talladega races that ran caution free were the 2001 Spring race won by Bobby Hamilton and the 2002 Fall race with Dale Earnhardt Jr. getting his third Talladega victory in less than a year.
From a time when the race was the main story, not an hour pre-race show where we get to find out what a driver's favorite movie was last year.
Rear Shock’s were beating Mark to hell!
Fastest Race in Nascar History. Look who was the Pusher.
The 3 should have won it.
@@michaelkilgore8358 No Way! Mark had the fastest car!
Best driver to never win it all. Damn good racer
500 miles, caution free. They did this again in 2001. I miss the days when this was possible.
Also fall race in 2002, that was the last caution free race in Nascar to this date.
I was there that day. I wasn't worried Mark Martin would get freight trained. I worried Earnhart would wreck him to win like he has done so many times before.
But Earnhardt just went, I’ll race you clean, just don’t brake check me
If it had been any other driver, Earnhardt may have booted him, but Martin was a driver who had the kind of attitude and respect that other drivers reciprocated in kind.
Dale and Mark always respected each other
This was my first Talladega Cup Race. I was a regular at Atlanta and Bristol but I always said I had no desire to go to Talladega because I thought you could see it better on TV than in person. Man was I ever wrong. I was 31 and had just recently got divorced and I had taken my vacation in April and went to the Busch race at the Nashville Fairgrounds for Steve Parks first win and then the next weekend saw Mark Martin win the Busch race at Talladega with Steve Park right on his back bumper and we listened to Dale coaching Steve on the radio in the final laps but he couldn’t pull it off. Then the monsoon came and the rest of the weekend was ruined. I worked weekends and my boss was very upset that I asked for the weekend off two weeks after returning from vacation. For this race we just drove down the day of the race and luckily ate breakfast in a McDonalds with the Valvoline crew that morning then got to see them win the race. For the next several years I never missed a Talladega race. Awesome Memories.
My first race at talledega. And I was a matin fan,
I was at this Race. the Last 25 Laps Mark Martin was Leading Dale Earnhardt and the Guy standing next to me was yelling Go Dale Go, while I was Yelling Make that Ford Wide Mark. Back and Forth we Yelled. When it was over and Mark Martin had Won this Guy and I shook Hands and His Wife Hugged me and we Exchanged Numbers and Said we'd meet in the same place in the fall and walked away Friends. I got so Drunk and I didn't spend a Penny for Beer, everyone around me kept handing me one when I would finish one. What a Day.
good racing and caution free too thanks
Modern day NASCAR fans should watch this race and to this day, I still can't believe there were NO cautions during the entire race
those were the days
Had my first communion on this day...
NASCAR would never let this happen now. They NEED their phantom debris yellows.
Yep
gotta have those debris cautions, green white checkers, wrecks and junior
Don't forget the infamous stage racing. Brian France should be very ashamed of himself. His Grandad, Big Bill France Sr is rolling around in his grave right now.
love classic nascar
Fastest race in the sport's history.
This was apparently before stereo was invented
Probably recorded on a mono VCR
I love how the caution flag just said NAH during this race 😂😂
I was at this race
Anyone else find it weird that Firestone is sponsoring a NASCAR race? Much less one at Talladega?
They probably were a sponsor of ESPN's SpeedWorld, not the race itself
I'm pretty sure Firestone was a sponsor of the coverage, not the race. I recall seeing a lot of Firestone commercials during NASCAR races.
The very first NASCAR race at Talladega to be postponed to a Monday, and the very first Talladega race to go completely caution free.
Isn't this also the fastest race in nascar history?
What's the song at the very beginning
mark said not today !!!!!! jimmy fenig (martins crew chief ) said the tranny was only hanging on by a thread !! cracked main tranny shaft ; fastest nascar race ever with average speed set by martin at over 188 mph
What's the song they played at the beginning?
NO debris cautions, because they had to race on Monday! NOBODY watching on TV, sad to say.
Race the truck dale we love the truck❤
It wasn't to me. Andretti's restrictor-plate cars were top notch in 1997.
Ya, that 98 car was bad ass fast on the restrictor plate races that year. Love that paint scheme on the 98.
Amen, dude.
NASCAR is dead. I miss these days.
It died with Earnhardt. Never watched it sence. All i watch now are races of the past.
Proof that 'plate' tracks can have great racing without stages and riding around in a pack all race.
Probably the Washington Redskins, considering their ties to Bobby's team owner at the time, Joe Gibbs.
My parents were at that race
Strange that they didnt just postpone this event to the Monday after the original race date. I'm assuming that more bad weather happened that week? Would be very odd if the delayed a race to a scheduled off weekend today
They did attempt on Monday,but it rained that day as well. So they pushed it to the Saturday of Mother's Day weekend which back then was an off-weekend for the Cup Series.
Andrew Hayes It rained that Monday as well, they tried and teams had to move on to the next race.
they had to move across for Sears Point, so a Tuesday race just wasn't possible
I liked ss races like this, now they just bump the hell out of each othet
No cautions like with April 2001 and October 2002
Here’s a multi million dollar idea. There is
Anybody know the song they keep using during the race?
I was there that day. I thinking Earnhart was going to crash Martin. I was surprised he didn't.
Not surprising at all.
Most other tracks he would’ve except Talladega is too dangerous
@@donnievick3076
Earnhardt’a way of racing was “if you can’t beat um, wreck um” He wasn’t called the intimidator for nothing.
I miss these days, I haven’t watched NASCAR in like 18 years. Just doesn’t feel like racing.
People wanna see the truck race dale🎉
Old school🎉
What song is that at 0:50-1:20. They used this music for the intro on Fox Sports Net Formula One Coverage
It's called "Pit Stop" by Jean Christophe Soullier
and Kamil Rustam.
@@AlexLozanoRacing Link to whole album:
www.universalproductionmusic.com/en-us/discover/albums/378/Rock-The-Factory
This was racing.
man oh man.. I do too!!!!
Drivers had to be exhausted after going caution free all race
4:24 Oh my God what a lie. 😂
of all time?
ABSELOUTLY NO CAUTION! there shold be the big one
Does anyone know music at 2:50
+David Matthew Vinot, Jr song is gerry rafferty called ---> right down the line
Dick Trickle? Poor guy. "Hi, I'm Dick Trickle"
#newnascarsucks
Please. Both sides of my headset!
1997 is when NASCAR peaked imho.
10:30 Start
Audio sucks!