ALLSTAR: Brandon Martin - Series spotlight

Martin Takes Confidence Into 2008 to Gain Competitive Edge

Confidence is the name of the game for Attica, Ohio's Brandon Martin - driver of the BMI Racing #11m. Martin, who is running for top honors with the O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions in 2008, has been putting together the pieces of his team, not just with tools and hardware, but with the knowledge he has gained from 7 previous years of racing.

Brandon will be pushing the limits in his Level Performance Engines powered Maxim while juggling his day job in the other family business, Excavating. The family's business helped build and once owned Attica Raceway Park, home of several ASCoC events in 2008 and a hotbed of many local Ohio drivers.

The list of accomplishments in 2007 were short on paper, but that is not the only place BMI Racing will be looking to improve on in 2008. The team did gain a lot of momentum in the latter part of the season after Martin took home top honors at a non-sanctioned event and had an impressive run during the Ohio Sprint Speedweek.

"As far as on the track, we are wanting to improve on our 2007 points finish with the O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions and win a couple of races," Martin noted. "Our biggest improvement is gaining the confidence this team needs to be sure to stay out of trouble and bring the car home every night."

Martin was plagued with some bad luck in 2007 but is quick to point how much his family supports his dreams behind the wheel. A little bit of that bad luck followed him to Florida in 2008. Martin was caught up in a front stretch incident at Volusia that more or less destroyed the car.

"We need to get Florida figured out. We went there in 2007 for the first time, and went back this year. We enjoy going there and racing, but we need to get a few things figured out," Martin said. "The competition is getting tougher every year and racing in Florida proves it, but we like the challenge."

In the off season, Brandon got married to his biggest fan, Danette, after being together for 8 years. Martin added, "Without the family behind me, this is not possible. Danette is great and my mom and dad have been there for me through the good and bad. I just can't say it enough, without them this is not possible to do."

BMI Racing is looking at a lengthy schedule with the O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions as well as picking up local shows and other events where they can. The team is supported in 2008 by: Attica Raceway Park, Seaside Utilities, Bores Manufacturing, Burns, John Wright's Custom Chrome Plating, Elite Machine Tool, Gildemeister Dodge, Martin Excavating and Trucking, Sacsteader & Worland Insurance, Making Waves Salon, and Black Swamp Media Group.

-credit: all star