Wheatland, Missouri (March 31, 2016) - There are times that Logan Martin wonders how he squeezes everything into a 24-hour window. Certainly, there are many short nights when sleep takes a backseat.
The 20-year-old from West Plains commutes to Springfield twice a week for classes at Missouri State University, where he is majoring in accounting. The other three weekdays, Martin works for an accounting firm in his hometown.
Week nights and weekends when Martin isn't studying, there are two race cars to care for with an eye toward the rapidly approaching 2016 season.
"We work a lot of hours," Martin said recently. "I told my dad last week, I was going to bed at midnight or 2 in the morning and waking up at 6."
He's not complaining. The 2014 West Plains High School graduate, who celebrated a birthday earlier this week, loves his busy life.
Martin plans another season of campaigning both an A Mod and B Mod at Lucas Oil Speedway. He wound up fifth in the Pitts Home USRA A-Mod points chase last season and sixth in the Ozark Golf Cars B-Mod division.
Without quality help in the race shop, Martin said he couldn't come close to being ready to race at a high level. Dad Brent Martin, along with uncle Duane Martin and cousin Michael Martin and Chris Johnson, provide necessary support.
"They work hard to make sure we have the best-prepared stuff," Martin said. "They're experienced and know what they're doing. Without those guys, there's no way we could run two cars."
Martin picked up 17 feature victories last season, including a night at Lucas when he won in both cars.
"A lot of guys will get a new car every year," Martin said. "We've stayed with the same cars and the same shock and spring package the last three or four years, with minute changes.
"I feel that I've gotten better as a driver. My IQ level, like knowing when to make passes, when to settle, when to throw a slide job on a guy ... things like that, I feel that I've gotten smarter. The chemistry in our team is better, too. All that adds up to good wins and quality wins."
Martin started racing at the age of nine in go-karts and moved into micro sprints a year later. He credits racing against open-wheel drivers like Andrew Felker, Tyler Thomas and Harley White in the micro sprints as giving him quality experience as he moved into Modifieds when he was 15.
But even with his success and a seemingly bright racing future, Martin's long-term goals are education based. He plans to become a CPA and possibly run his own accounting firm at some point.
"Either that or work for someone or maybe work at the family business," Martin said. That is Mr. Dent Collision Repair in West Plains, one of his racing sponsors.
"Running a Late Model would be awesome and driving for someone would be awesome," he said. "But those opportunities are few and far between. I'm not putting all my eggs in that basket."
For now, racing will continue as a hobby that is balanced with school and work. Martin finished sixth earlier this month at the Battle at the Bullring B Mod Nationals at Humboldt Speedway. That's the sight of the King of America this weekend, a race that Martin will skip for the first time in four years.
"We just have too much going on," he said.
"We're going to run both cars again and we'll race at Lucas quite a bit," Martin said of his season plans. "I don't think we're going to run anywhere for points. I have a guy wanting me to drive an IMCA Mod for him and run in some of the bigger IMCA shows, maybe five or six times throughout the year.
"Our goals are to just win as much as possible and have a good time doing it."
Sponsors, along with Mr. Dent Collision Repair, include: Adams Construction, Reliable Chevrolet, Steed Brothers Trucking, Bill Frye Motorsports, CPD Suspensions, Chariots Car Rental, Schoenfeld Headers, Fast Shafts, SCP Performance, Atnip Enterprises and Gary's Tire.
Lucas Oil Speedway's season fires up April 8-9 with the Lucas Oil MLRA Spring Nationals with the Budweiser Weekly Championship Series starting April 16.
Please visit www.LucasOilSpeedway.com for the most up to date information about "America's New Motorsports Destination," Lucas Oil Speedway.
Lucas Oil Speedway is located at Highways 83 and 54 in Wheatland, Missouri. A campground with shower and bathroom facilities is also available. With it's entrance located just outside the pit gate this sprawling scenic camping facility will continue to enhance the racing experience at the Diamond of Dirt Tracks.
Click www.LucasOilSpeedway.com for more information and detailed directions to the speedway or call the Track Hotline at (417) 282-5984.
In addition, fans can get social with Lucas Oil Speedway by following @LucasSpeedway on Twitter, clicking "Like" at www.facebook.com/LucasOilSpeedway and on www.youtube.com/LucasOilSpeedway.
