Martin wins IROC 27 opener.

NASCAR Winston Cup Series veteran Mark Martin captured his eleventh career True Value International Race of Champions [IROC] victory last night, in the 2003 series' opener at Daytona International Speedway.

Martin, averaging 177. 253mph, won by a mere 0.123secs over Winston Cup team-mate Kurt Busch, who was making his first appearance in the inter-series competition. Third was World of Outlaws representative, Danny Lasoski, ahead of NASCAR's Jimmie Johnson and reigning Busch champion, Greg Biffle. Martin led the 40-lap, 100-mile event three times for a total of 21-laps, taking the five-point bonus for leading most laps.

There were six lead changes among four drivers during the race. Johnson claimed three bonus points for leading the second most laps (14) and fellow NASCAR driver, Kevin Harvick, finishing seventh, posted two bonus points for leading third highest number (4). World of Outlaws driver Steve Kinser, finishing sixth, led for one lap.

The race one victory gave Martin a share of the lead in terms of most IROC series wins with Al Unser Jr and the late Dale Earnhardt. He already ties Earnhardt with four True Value IROC championships and holds a record three consecutive titles.

"It was just one of those battles, right down to the end," Martin said, "Had I gotten a little bit further out ahead, then they would the have caught me with such a rate of speed that I wouldn't have been able to hang onto it. It's a great race."

"Lasoski and I were running the last lap and I was trying to get by him," Busch reported, "Just like any other person, I didn't have much help from behind because fourth and fifth were running side by side. So, Lasoski and I were duking it out and maybe we should have helped one another to get by Martin. I have to talk with Mark on a daily basis, so I was just trying to get second away from Lasoski."

"I tell you what, I had the time of my life," Lasoski, the highest ranking open-wheel driver, agreed, "It was an absolute learning experience. I was here last year and didn't have a clue what we were doing. Today, Kurt and Mark Martin were the pros out here. I tried to learn everything I could. I was running second and Kurt was behind me. We were trying to stay with Mark. I got a good run and tried to go by him and Kurt went left and I went right and Mark won the race. It was a good race and I had a great time out there doing it."

The only incident of the day came on lap 14 when Martin and IRL IndyCar Series driver Felipe Giaffone bumped coming out of the tri-oval, sending the unfortunate Kinser spinning into the infield. Kinser managed to avoid contact with anything solid, however, and returned to action after being serviced by the True Value IROC crew.

Eighth placed Sam Hornish, Jr, who topped the IRL IndyCar Series contingent confirmed that it had been 'an exciting race'.

"I had a lot of fun," he said, "I tried to make a pass with about five laps to go and nobody went with me, but that is part of the deal. You have to find somebody to work with. Nobody was helping anybody today. If I had stayed in line where I was, I might have finished better, but you have to try to make a move. It just didn't work out."

NASCAR Truck champion Mike Bliss finished ninth, Giaffone tenth ahead of fellow IndyCar Series driver Helio Castroneves and Winston Cup star Ryan Newman.

Race Result - IROC 27 - round one:

1. Mark Martin 40 laps 21 points
2. Kurt Busch 40 laps 17
3. Danny Lasoski 40 laps 14
4. Jimmie Johnson 40 laps 12
5. Greg Biffle 40 laps 10
6. Steve Kinser 40 laps 9
7. Kevin Harvick 40 laps 8
8. Sam Hornish Jr 40 laps 7
9. Mike Bliss 40 laps 6
10. Felipe Giaffone 40 laps 5
11. Helio Castroneves 40 laps 4
12. Ryan Newman 40 laps 3

Point standings - IROC 27 - (after round one):

1. Mark Martin 21 points
2. Kurt Busch 17
3. Danny Lasoski 14
4. Jimmie Johnson 12
5. Greg Biffle 10
6. Steve Kinser 9
7. Kevin Harvick 8
8. Sam Hornish Jr 7
9. Mike Bliss 6
10. Felipe Giaffone 5
11. Helio Castroneves 4
12. Ryan Newman 3