Looking to defend his INEX Pro Dirt National title, Preston Martin, is the friendliest adrenaline junky you will ever meet. With the help of an unmistakable paint job, a questionable taste in music, his persistence and hard work could lead him to another INEX title this year.

Hometown: Bismarck, North Dakota.

Division: Pro 

Number: 77

Team: Martin Racing

1. How did you get into racing?

I got into racing because of my older brother, Casey. He moved at the time, and just so happened to move next to the Legend dealer out here at the time. So, Casey got into racing and then about a year after that is when I got into it.

2. Why did you decide on dirt racing?

Well up here in our region, right in the middle of North Dakota, the closest asphalt track is somewhere in Minnesota. But from where I live, I can get to four different dirt tracks in under two hours. So, it really is nice and convenient.

3. What has been your favorite track to race on?

My favorite one is Dacotah Speedway in Mandan because it has been the most challenging for me. And when you finally figure it out, it’s even more rewarding because it is so difficult. So, it’s been my favorite one because it has been the hardest to learn, I always love a challenge.

4. Is there a story behind the Minions themed paint job on your car?

It’s funny because Casey is behind that as well. When we first started racing all of our cars were painted with the same theme. It was nothing special or unique. But when Casey got a backup car, he wanted to have a little fun with it, so he turned his car into Lightening McQueen. Well, we all work really hard to try and get people into racing, particularly kids. If you look around racing there are a lot of old people and not a lot of young people, so we always try to participate in different events or car shows to help get people interested. So, every year, we always do the Fourth of July parade up here. We have a huge trailer that would fit all four of our cars plus another one or two.

Well, the year when he got his backup, we fit it on the trailer and all you heard that year driving through the parade was “Look Lightening McQueen,” coming from all the kids. We thought it was so great, so I wanted to try something like that. So that very same year I told him I was going to wrap my car with Minions, and he wrapped his car with Scooby-Doo. The same thing happened the following year, all you heard were people excited about the cartoons. So, the year after that, Dauntae painted his blue with purple dots and put Sully from Monster’s Inc on the side of it. And then my oldest brother Travis, painted his car like Shrek. So, it really all became a bragging rights thing from the Fourth of July parade, trying to get the most kids excited about your car.

5. How do you get focused or in the zone before you race?

I’m a little different than a lot of the racers around me. I always tell people don’t take it too seriously and have fun. Otherwise, you are going to get too frustrated and end up quitting. So, I’m usually walking around with a Hawaiian shirt on before the races, trying to just be that fun-loving goofy guy. I’ll be chit-chatting with people, checking my tire pressure, and always will have a little bit of music playing. But it’s not the music you’d think. It’s generally weird pop songs or rock versions of Disney songs. I that’s pretty goofy, but I like to keep it fun. There are also two songs that I must have in the playlist no matter what.  Fantasy by Mariah Carey, because when you finally win a race that’s the song that plays in my head, and I Just Can’t Wait to Be King from the Lion King.

6. What has been your favorite racing memory?

Honestly, I am an adrenaline junky, so it’s more so just instant moments during a race that are my favorite memories. For example, there was this race where I was just barley touching tires with the two guys next to me. We were are all literally touching tires, heading straight through the middle of a corner. So, for me, that’s where I get that adrenaline rush and those favorite memories in my car.

7. Who is your role model in racing/someone you look up to?

I look up to Don Hayes a lot. The biggest reason I look up to him is because of his attitude. Back to wearing the Hawaiian shirts and having fun, Don Hayes has rolled his car three or four times, he just has had terrible luck. But despite that, he constantly goes around the track telling people good luck or have fun. He’s never the guy to be mad after a race, and he really could have the biggest reason to be mad considering his luck, but he stays happy and optimistic. It is really inspiring to me. I try to look at life as, you never know how long you are here, and winning or losing a race isn’t going to make a difference when you are gone. It’s the same way I think about points.

I race as much as I want to race because I love racing. When I get tired, I stop racing or take a break. If I find myself in the points then I’ll go for the points, but that’s not my driving factor. I just don’t think it’s worth getting mad in the car. It’s not worth it. I’d rather have friends after the race that I can hang out with and drink a beer with, rather than making enemies. And I wouldn’t want to look back at all my time racing and only have memories of being angry, because we should all be racing because we love it. I want my memories to reflect that.

8. What are your ultimate racing goals?

My biggest goal with racing is to be remembered. Not necessarily for being the fastest or best, but being remembered, like Don Hayes, as one of those guys with a good attitude. And by no means am I comparing myself to Kyle Larson here, but I’d eventually try to be like him. I want to run Legends for a few more years, but once I save up some more money, I’d love to run a stock car or a modified for a little bit. I don’t want to beat one thing to death. I’d want to try to be a jack of all trades.

9. What is the biggest lesson that racing has taught you?

The biggest lessons I’ve learned from racing are, persistence and focusing on yourself. Part of the reason it took me nine years to win my first race is because I was always chasing everyone else’s setup. You always hear, “Oh this guy has this spring” and, “this guy runs this, and that guy runs that”. When you are chasing everyone else’s stuff, you are never going to be able to master your own. So being able to block out that noise and focus on yourself and what you need to do is so important. The second lesson is persistence. When you are focusing on yourself, be patient and be persistent. Give it time and work hard to learn it.

10. What advice would you give to someone just starting out their racing journey?

I would tell them that patience is key. You have to settle down, relax and realize that it’s not going to happen right away. Like I said, it took me nine years before I won my very first race. It does not happen right away or all the time. Be patient with it, and don’t take it so seriously that you ruin it for yourself. Never be satisfied but have fun. Always strive to make it faster always strive to get better, but don’t take it too seriously that you wreck for yourself because you could end up giving up before you finally get it.  

11. How did you feel taking home your first INEX title last year?

It was awesome. But believe it or not I’m mad at myself for it. The reason I say that is because last year I had a decent points lead. I knew that even if someone finished five cars ahead of me, I could still win so I was driving pretty safe. They were calling cautions differently than we do up here, so I was trying really hard not to get spun out or anything like that because you would automatically go tail. Usually, I love running the topside of the track because you come into the corners so much faster, back to the adrenaline rush for me. So, I really love the topside, but that whole race I was running the bottom, just being extra careful. I think I took seventh, and I was darn glad to be in that position that I could still win the title that way but looking back I’m a little mad at myself for not giving it my best. I’m hoping this year, because I’m in the points again, I can get there and not hold back.

12. What does it mean to you know you are positioned well to take home the title again?

I’m looking forward to it because I’ve actually raced against Jackson Lewis a couple times.  We are usually neck and neck, side by side, so I really do love racing with him. He’s a very cool guy. Being in the points running with Lewis is exciting, and I think it’s going to be a fun race being able to try and compete with him again.

13. What is your role at Dacotah Speedway?

This year was the first year I was president of Dacotah Speedway. For the past six years I was a board member. It has been pretty stressful honestly. We are a unique track because we aren’t out of town, we are right in town, so we are one of the few tracks that have a curfew. We have to be done by a certain time otherwise we get in trouble, so I have to keep the show moving along. It’s hard to be the nice guy while trying to make sure we don’t get in trouble either. But it’s just about finding a balance, and like everything there’s a learning process and it takes time.

14. What does community and family support mean to you?

That’s huge for me. The biggest thing for me is that dirt track racing is a safe way for an adrenaline junky to get all his adrenaline out. I want to keep it going and growing as much as I can. Any time there is a car show or a parade, we are always doing our best to get there. And like I said that’s why we ended up going with the cartoon themes. In fact, one of the current Semi-Pro drivers actually was at a car show when he was younger, and sat in Casey’s car. It’s what got him interested in racing, so that was a super cool full circle moment to learn about. It really goes to show you that it’s just the little stuff you do for people, and yes it might not be the most convenient always, but it’s worth it in the end.

15. What do you like to do outside of racing? Any hobbies or anything?

I love four wheeling. I shouldn’t say this but I’m the guy that runs around without a helmet on. I love the feeling of the wind through my hair, and it just makes you feel so alive. And yes, I know that is dangerous, but when I put on a helmet, that’s when I start doing stupid stuff, because I feel like I’m invincible. My brother went skydiving, so I’m a little jealous of that, but I have kids right now. I figure I’ll wait till they are graduated and then I can go skydiving, because like I said I live for the adrenaline rush. Right now, it’s all about racing and that’s it. When I do have a break though, I spend my time on anything with a motor.