08/06/2026
There was one little secret we were hoping to pull off on August 8 at Colorado National Speedway.
The plan sounded simple enough around the shop. Roll the Sunbelt Rentals Pro Truck out front. Roll the Figure 8 car out beside it. Let everybody's jaw hit the floor at the same time.
Well...
The Race Cars had other Ideas.
Anyone who's spent much time around a racetrack already knows the oldest rule in racing.
"The race car doesn't care what your plans are."
The Figure 8 engine decided it was going to arrive on race shop time instead of calendar time. Which, for racers, isn't surprising at all.
There wasn't any panic.
Nobody pointed fingers.
Nobody complained.
The team did what racers have done for generations.
They adapted.
After talking everything through, Nick Martinez and the crew made the smart decision.
Instead of rushing the Figure 8 program and hoping for the best, we're planning to debut it on August 29, giving everyone time to finish the car exactly the way they want it. Then, on September 19, Nick will compete in both the Pro Truck and the Figure 8 on the same night, showcasing the team's dedication and progress.
The Figure 8 will make its debut on August 29, giving everyone time to finish the car exactly the way they want it. Then, on September 19, Nick will tackle both the Pro Truck and the Figure 8 in the same night.
If you've watched Nick during testing, I wouldn't bet against him.
The funny part is the fans only see the green flag.
They don't see the countless hours spent inside the shop. They don't see the late nights, the scraped knuckles, the discussions over gear ratios, tire pressures, and stagger.
They don't see the hundreds of little decisions that happen before an engine ever fires.
That's where I got my surprise.
Watching Nick's crew during our private track rental was almost more enjoyable than watching the truck itself.
Nobody stood around waiting for instructions.
Everyone already knew what needed to be done, reflecting the crew's strong teamwork and reliability that fans can respect and trust.
Joe Woertman kept things moving.
Daniel Martinez jumped in wherever he was needed.
Danette Martinez quietly became mission control, recording tire sizes, stagger, tire temperatures, and every piece of information that would help Nick become faster every time he rolled back onto the speedway.
Grizz wasn't able to make the test session, but the crew never skipped a beat.
That impressed the old Duck.
I've been around race teams for over fifty years.
You can tell within five minutes whether you're watching people trying to become a race team or a real race team.
This Was a Real Race Team.
We even changed tires once to give Nick a little more tread as his speed continued to improve. Lap after lap, he settled in, found his rhythm, and became more comfortable with every run.
Sure...
There were a few things I probably would have done differently.
That's called experience.
But experience teaches another lesson too.
Sometimes the smartest thing an old racer can do is stand back and let the next generation work.
They had it covered.
They respected my opinions.
They left the final decisions to me whenever they needed one.
In return, they earned something much more valuable.
My trust.
That means I can finally begin enjoying this part of racing again instead of carrying every responsibility on my shoulders.
Now I know why Nick seems so comfortable around race cars.
Racing didn't simply become his hobby.
It became part of his family's history long before he was born.
The Martinez family name reaches back to the glory days of Englewood Speedway, where Nick's grandfather, Ben Martinez, helped start a racing tradition that continues today.
Ben was one of the early Figure 8 competitors when that division was becoming one of Colorado's most popular attractions, reflecting a deep-rooted racing legacy.
The passion didn't stop with Ben.
It was handed down to the next generation.
Nick's uncles, Anthony Martinez, Terry Martinez and Jerry Martinez, all climbed into Figure 8 cars, carrying the Martinez name onto the racetrack week after week.
Among them was Terry Martinez, Daniel's father, who continued the family tradition and helped pass that same passion on to his own son.
The racing family tree kept growing.
Nick's first cousin, Ronnie Hults, became another familiar name at Colorado National Speedway. Ronnie's mother, Jessica Martinez Hults, is Nick's aunt, making another branch of the Martinez family deeply rooted in Colorado racing.
The history doesn't stop there.
On his mother's side, Nick is also connected to longtime Figure 8 racer Bill Quintrall, a name well known by fans of Englewood Speedway, Lakeside Speedway and Colorado National Speedway.
For years, Bill thrilled crowds with the fearless style that Figure 8 racing demanded.
When you stop and look at both sides of Nick's family, it's easy to understand why racing feels so natural.
He carries racing blood from both parents.
Generation after generation, the Martinez family has spent countless weekends at Englewood Speedway, Lakeside Speedway and Colorado National Speedway.
They've built cars together, repaired wrecked cars together, celebrated victories together and picked each other up after disappointing nights.
They represent what grassroots racing has always been about.
Family.
Hard work.
Respect.
Friendships that last a lifetime.
That's something you can't buy.
You earn it over decades.
As I watched Nick and his crew work together that evening, I wasn't simply watching another young driver preparing for his next race.
I was watching another chapter of a Colorado racing family continue.
So, if you were hoping to see the Figure 8 on August 8, you'll have to wait just a little longer.
Some things are worth waiting for.
August 29 belongs to the Figure 8, and September 19 is a big night for both the Pro Truck and the Figure 8.
Knowing this crew, I recommend arriving early to support the team and be part of the next chapter in Colorado racing history.
September 19 belongs to both the Pro Truck and the Figure 8.
Knowing this crew...
I'd get there early.
Something tells me the Martinez family isn't finished writing its Colorado racing story just yet.
