NASCAR’s culture of rivals helping rivals is a bit unusual

By HANK KURZ Jr. - The Associated Press

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MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Twice in the first five races of NASCAR’s season-ending, 10-race Chase for the championship, Juan Pablo Montoya’s frustration because of something that happened on the track has been aimed at Mark Martin, a fellow contender for the title.

The first time he was annoyed that Martin, running just ahead of him, faked him out on a late restart. And last week, Martin ran into him from behind, denying both a solid finish.

But for all his frustration with Martin in the heat of the moment, Montoya has often sought the respected veteran’s advice as he made his transition to NASCAR racing.

“I ask Mark Martin a lot of questions and he helps me out a lot,” Montoya said Friday as the Sprint Cup Series arrived at Martinsville Speedway, the sight of today’s race.

During his Formula One days, Montoya said, rivals not only don’t give other racers advice, they revel in watching them struggle trying to figure out what they are doing wrong.

NASCAR is different, he said.

For today’s race, Ryan Newman won the pole on Friday with a lap at 96.795 mph, followed by Jeff Gordon at 96.519. Mark Martin, who trails Jimmie Johnson and Gordon at the midpoint of the 10-race playff, will start fourth, giving Hendrick Motorsports two cars in the front two rows.

The pole is Newman’s second of the season and 45th of his career.

Johnson, the points leader and winner in five of the past six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, qualified 15th Friday.

Martin is among the most sought-after for advice, and the most willing to help.

“First of all, one of the biggest forms of flattery is to have someone come and want to talk to me and want my opinion or advice,” he said. “It’s very flattering.”

Martin also isn’t alone in his willingness to help out the new guys.

Montoya’s first experience came during a test session in Miami, before his debut, when Kevin Harvick saw him taking the wrong line around the track and offered some pointers.

“He came to me and said, `You’ve got to go a little deeper and do a little of this and a little of that,” he said. “I was like, `Are you kidding me? You actually came to help me?”

Tony Stewart, another former open-wheel racer, lists Martin, Jeff Burton and former Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Bobby Labonte among his early mentors as he made his transition.