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Martin takes IROC 'Crown'

NASCAR star Mark Martin claimed the Crown Royal International Race of Champions (IROC) race at Daytona International Speedway last night (Friday), and in doing so became the most successful driver in the history of the series.

Martin, a four time IROC champion, survived a huge incident midway through the race which claimed a number of drivers before fighting off Roush teammate Matt Kenseth to take a dominant 12th IROC victory.

"I had a sad, sinking feeling tonight that this might be coming to an end, because they won't keep inviting me back forever," Martin, all smiles, acknowledged after the race. "I wasn't thinking about making history."

The race was led off by Champ Car star Sebastien Bourdais, who claimed pole in a blind draw on Thursday. He soon fell down the grid - NASCAR drivers traditionally draft each other and snub the open-wheelers in IROC races, and yesterday was no exception.

On lap 36 Scott Pruett and Danny Lasoski came together, catching out a number of drivers behind them. By the following lap Pruett, Kurt Busch, Steve Kinser, Helio Castroneves and Bourdais were watching from pitlane.

Shortly after there looked to be another major incident when Martin, Kenseth and Lasoski ran three wide for the lead, but Martin held his nerve and took the chequered flag, with also Martin Truex Jr and Bobby Hamilton claiming Kenseth's scalp.

"The king of IROC won the race, and I'll finish second to him any time he wants," Truex said. Martin, who is retiring from a fulltime NASCAR drive at the end of the year, will be hoping the others think the same way tomorrow.

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