Mark Martin's 2008 season - as well as the latest chapter in his storied NASCAR career - will come to a close this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway when he makes his final start in the No. 8 U.S. Army Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc.

AT PHOENIX Starts: 23 (20) Wins: 1 (1) Top 5’s: 9 (8) Top 10’s: 15 (14) Poles: 0 Highest finish:1st (10/31/93) First time: 11/6/88 (36th) Last time: 4/12/08 (5th) Last year: 4/21/07(12th)

Worthy Note: Martin will make his final start in the No. 8 U.S. Army/Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet and his final start of the season this weekend at Phoenix.

MARTIN AT PHOENIX

Martin will make his 24th career start at Phoenix this weekend, where he will look for his second career victory. Martin has nine top-five (track record) and 15 top-10 (track record) finishes at PIR, where he has led 676 career laps and won once on Halloween of 1993. The veteran's average finish of 9.2 is the fifth best in the track's history. Martin is also the only driver to have started all 23 races at PIR.

IN THE LEAD

Martin's 676 laps lead at Phoenix is not only the most led by any active driver, but 228 more than second best. Martin led 68 laps there in the spring, and has led almost 200 laps there in the last three seasons.

CLOSING THE DEAL

Martin and the No. 8 U.S. Army Team will look to go out in victory lane in their final outing together. Martin led 68 laps in the spring at Phoenix and exhibited the strongest car in the field, before coming up short on fuel mileage and settling for a top-five finish. The team will look to address what they call 'unfinished business' this week at PIR.

GETTING STARTED

Martin has earned six outside poles during the 2008 season. His average starting position of 11.6 is currently his best since the 2000 season by more than five positions.

NEXT WEEK

Martin will make his final start in the No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevy this weekend, and then hand the wheel over to co-driver Aric Almirola for the season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Martin will take the Homestead race off, before gearing up for a full-time championship run in the No. 5 car next season.

PART TIME RIDE, FULL TIME RESULTS

Martin and co-driver Almirola currently have the No. 8 U.S. Army Team sitting at 14th in the Sprint Cup owner points; the second position not in the Chase. Martin is 28th in Sprint Cup driver points, despite missing 11 races thus far in the season. He leads 15 drivers who have started all the events in 2008 and 18 racers who have started at least 10 more events.

MARK MARTIN QUOTES

"I know that (crew chief) Tony (Gibson) and the guys on the team feel like we have some unfinished business at Phoenix. We had a really fast car there in the spring and could have won that race, before coming up a little short on fuel. We are looking to go back there and finish the deal and put this No. 8 U.S. Army car into victory lane where these guys have deserved to be all season.

"It will also be our last start in the No. 8 car for Dale Earnhardt Inc. and our last race for the U.S. Army. I can't thank everyone at DEI enough for the opportunity to drive their race car. To be able to be in a championship caliber car with a ride like that, on a part-time schedule has been a real privilege and I can't thank Tony and everyone at DEI enough. It's also been the greatest honor of my life to be able to drive for the U.S. Army and to be able to represent all of our brave soldiers. A lot of us take for granted our rights and our freedom, and it has really been a eye opening experience to be able to visit with and see these brave young men and women who defend those rights."

FAST FACTS

• Martin has finished inside the top 10 in 65 percent (15) of his Phoenix Cup races.

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Martin has led 676 laps at Phoenix, including 206 in the last four races. •??

Martin won at Phoenix on Oct. 31, 1993. •??

Martin has finished second or better in six of 23 races at Phoenix. •??

Martin has the most top fives (9) at Phoenix and his 15 top-10 finishes are also a track record. •??

Martin finished fifth at Phoenix in the spring, after leading 68 laps. •??

Martin is the only driver to have started all 23 Cup races at PIR. •??

This will be Martin's final race in the No. 8 U.S. Army/DEI Chevrolet and his final race of 2008.