Mark Martin's Former Race Shop! Reunited With Lost 1985 ASA Trophy! (Shared With Alan Kulwicki)

Before Mark Martin made his rise to NASCAR he raced in the ASA series for Jerry Gunderman's All Star Racing team in Franklin Wisconsin. Originally founded in 1983 for Bobby Allison's part time ASA schedule with Jimmy and Jeffrey Fennig doing the cars, Alan Kulwicki ran some races for the team when Bobby wasn't racing. They went full time in 1985 with Mark in the Miller Brewing sponsored car. In 1985 Mark's team was on one side of the shop and Alan Kulwicki had the other. Only a thin wall separated the Martin/Fennig brothers team from Alan's independent operation and there was some competitive tension between the two future hall of fame racers. The current owner of the building, Rob Christiansen, saved a handful of busted up trophies from the dumpster when he bought the building from Jerry Gunderman many years ago. He saved them not knowing what they were... until today! One of them was won by Mark in 1985 and he only had one ASA trophy in his own collection survive over the years. We brought the pieces with us to IROC at Lime Rock to surprise Mark with the discovery! Huge thanks to Rob and his son's Milweb1 Vinyl Shop for allowing us to film and keeping those trophies safe for many years!
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[@Stapleton42]

Documenting history digitally is one thing but to go out and actually come back with a legitimate trophy for Mark when he lost almost all of them is absolutely amazing. Especially since Mark was instrumental to us starting out. I can’t explain how gratifying it is when things like that comes full circle. If you’re reading this I’m glad you’re here for the journey.

[@psinclairjr]

Great video, Mark has always been "My Driver". Have You and Logan ever thought about contacting the Petty Brothers to do something with them? They do a "historical" styled podcast. You and Logan are so true to Stock Car racing, very unassuming, very good interviewers, and have that "racer" mentality, id love to see what y'all could do in a video

[@Stapleton42]

We did a video with the Petty Brothers at their shop! February 2023. Search Maurice Petty’s engine shop! They’re super cool guys

[@psinclairjr]

@@Stapleton42 holy crap I missed it!!! I'll go find it now, love y'all's videos

[@Aubrey_2_Hotty]

Love it yall, this journey keeps going and going. Biggest regret is the Bud Moore shop for me (we're right by Spartanburg), shame about that one!

[@mitchellholroyd2837]

Coming across those old trophies is good karma.

[@MarkMartinArchive]

OUTSTANDING work, Mitchell! This is gold. Thank you for the 1985 ASA trophy. That trophy means more to dad than most of his NASCAR trophies.

[@Stapleton42]

You’re the man Matt 💪🏻 This was easily the coolest non planned shop visit we ever had. I’m grateful to even be in the position to do things like this.

[@unclecrusty2501]

Outstanding video Mitchell. It was nice meeting everyone at the old shop. I knew when I pulled the trophies out of the dumpster, that someday, somebody would be looking for them? And now they are in the right place. I’m very pleased that Mark Martin is happy with it. It seemed to bring him a lot of joy and memories. Glad to be a part of it. Keep in touch, Rob.👍🏼

[@bryonkidder6199]

From a Mark Martin fan, thank you!

[@Stapleton42]

I’m glad we happened to stop by that day and it all worked out. Couldn’t have made a better story

[@billtruett8593]

Dang you just reminded me how much we all miss Alan !! Could you imagine if he hadn’t gotten in the plane that day.

[@Stapleton42]

The guys life is one of the greatest stories in motorsports. Maybe even bigger than that. The American dream accomplished by a socially awkward dude from a tragic background and broken home. All for it to be taken from him so quickly after he made it and have no surviving family to carry the legacy. All gone. I don’t think the story of Alan is talked about enough. I want to help more people discover the story and learn lessons from what he did…the good and the bad.

[@billtruett8593]

@@Stapleton42 Mitchel I finally figured out the members ship thing. Nobody told me about the hoops you have to jump through on a IPhone. That’s what I watch most of my content on.

[@Jeffhoneck]

​@@Stapleton42Thank you so much for wanting to put Alan's story out for all of history. I'm from the same town as he was. I have a few minor stories from back in the day.

[@24Garland]

I have been watching you since the Yellowbelly days. It's amazing how you and Logan have turned out to be amazing, Nascar historians. I have been into Nascar since the 1960s. My first race was 1964 when I was 1. I know you and Logan put a tremendous amount of work into your videos 📹. I want you to know I greatly appreciate all that you two do.

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you very much! I’m sure not many people made the transition from those days to now. You’re a smart guy 💪🏻😂

[@misterhipster9509]

Nascar in the 60's Ford fan here, 1963 was a break out year.

[@bartarkis]

Some of us are around from the PFI Brent video. Where did the Newell get off to?

[@charlesd.3749]

Mark Martin is such a great guy. Always see him around helping other racers and giving all us golden age fans tons and tons of great stories. Thank you Mark for all the memories. Even though my favorite driver finished second to you several times. You were a wheelman…still are I bet! Edit- enjoyed once again Stapleton..

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you Charles!

[@chrisdawber3548]

The look on Mark's face in the end picture is epic!! Great picture!

[@tonypizzaro8919]

Mark is the king!

[@RobertEMuir]

Awesome! I just love Mark Martin. Just an honest lover of racing.

[@Flybynight2112]

Very cool! Mark genuinely looks to be enjoying all of this which so awesome. Thank you to everyone involved!

[@mrmbr]

Epic! from the garage finds to the scanned photos and dumpster diving trophy recovery. Mark's and everyone's reaction at the Gunderman garage.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man!

[@cbtbcd12]

I drove past that shop going to work for 15 years from 1990 to 2005..The Franklin inn was always packed at quiting time...never went there because the parkinglot was always full.

[@kevinschnepper8426]

I remember the first time I seen mark drive at Rockford speedway he was 15 years old and didn’t have a license he was so small and it was funny to see him trying to see over the dash this kid back then just came out and set a track record nobody could believe it he just came from nowhere and the following year he won the arco championship you could tell right out of the box that he was special I’ll never forget it seeing him race it Milwaukee mark alway looked like he was floating on air coming out of the corners nobody ever was able to do that

[@AnnaSchaetzle]

When I see a new video on your channel, it's like a holiday for my eyes and ears. Keep it up!✌️✌️ + 🐘,

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you so much!

[@jacobpollan858]

There ain’t nothing like that miller red. Mark’s such a badass!

[@whitfordpullingteam1468]

So many great memories of watching Gunderman cars in ASA, Artgo and always the big Wisconsin late model events. Always great looking cars and as a kid always liked them because he always ran chrome wheels. Many top drivers from all over the country ran his cars in the Madison and Slinger Nationals.

[@Rev1Kev]

So awesome Mitchell, gotta love the photos of that trophy after Mark got it restored, that is so cool it was saved from the dumpster

[@jfreddy9370]

Very cool to see the red white and blue trophy. That's definitely from my home track W.I.R. in Kaukauna Wisconsin where Mark raced a lot, among many other great racers. This was another great video! Thank you for documenting all the great racing history. I always look forward to watching a new video.🏁

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man!!

[@carguy0000]

Thankyou Mitchel and Logan I love seeing these old shops > thankyou for doing this, you guys are documenting Nascar History .😀

[@twoblacklabs904]

Getting that vintage ASA race-winning trophy back to Mark Martin is such a cool thing, Mitchell. No wonder you have such a large following…

[@Stapleton42]

Working hard! Thanks man

[@parentsbasement7734]

So cool how you've gone from the blue badass burb to cleaning chesnuts outta your dads old suburban to buying and working on busses and now your meeting and looks to me like becoming friends with alot if these guys none of us would know about and your also the #1 nascar historian on youtube. I hope you two keep knocking on doors and these stories keep coming. Get the blue burb going again already! Also cool that the guys at the shop welcomed you in and showed ya around and giving the trophy back to mark is a cool smdeal also. He could have said hey give me some $$$ but he was like here let me repack it here i got cleaner. Cool guys. Another banger video

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man we appreciate that very much! Life is fun when you’re always pushing to learn new things.

[@Ultimate23Dragon]

That was super cool that you were able to do that for Mark.

[@adamfulmer4092]

I live 25 min from here. I never knew this information. What a truly great channel. I'm involved with some ASA teams in the ASA Midwest Super Late races so this was cool to watch

[@ericfelty9990]

Totally awesome. Mark was my favorite driver. Thank you so much

[@Stapleton42]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tarheelpatch3386]

Got a little teary eyed, rembering back to those days and seeing mark at the end ,great job,Thank You

[@mikebougher3731]

Gotta be a pretty awesome feeling for you guys to have Mark Martin say what your doing is gold. I have to say I completely agree. What you guys are doing is awesome. Mark should have stood up next to the trophy I think it was taller than him.

[@view23015]

Thanks! I really want to applaud and thank you for all the work you do with your videos . Great details and passion for our sport’s history . All the best and I trust you are successful in this for years to come as we all benefit from this . Can’t say it enough & I trust a little cash from each of us helps you out .

[@metrickarma]

Thanks for helping keep us entertained around here!!!

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you very much and yes everything helps! Usually goes right into the diesel tank for more road trips like this one 😂

[@bennyhelgeson401]

Mark Martin said it best "You are gold" . Great video,great content, great editing. Thanks

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you Benny!

[@blacklisterd]

Nice job. I became a Mark Martin fan in the late 80's when i found i liked his ethical approach over Earnhardts shenanigans.

[@metrickarma]

What a great find!! You guys are the absolute best. Can't wait to see your car out doing laps at testing!!

[@CarolinaKid93]

The stories that today's "drivers" will tell in 40 years will be like "I stayed up all night playing video games" (at parents house) before the races ( referring to any of the top 3 series) There are a few stragglers that really "raced" and knew what a 1/2 wrench was, but...... Mark Martin is GOLD!!!! AWESOME vid!!!!

[@markcavaluzzi3920]

Absolutely awesome. Tossed through your efforts that you can make Mark Martin light up with such happiness by bringing back his past treasures. As Mark said you are doing something very special with your videos. Keep it up. From Mark Martins biggest New York fan that was at every watkins glen race to watch him.

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you mark!

[@MrShowbizguy]

First race I remember attending cayuga 85, I was 5 and Mark won

[@davidb9943]

Mitchell and Logan thanks for being the "conduit" from the past to the present. You can tell by Marks expression and others in your videos just how much these videos mean to them and us. As a person who was there and following alot of these times you two continue to trigger memories. Hopefully you got a chance to talk Butch Miller and also Bentley Warren that was just sitting in the background in a lawn chair. Thanks for reminding us of great times

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks David! We’d love to do more ASA stuff

[@giff427dg]

This may be the best one yet with allan and Mark

[@difusekitty3]

awesome stuff again, pretty cool to reconnect those trophies and tell the stories of history... love learning about stuff i know nothing i know about..

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man we do too!

[@coletrickle-km7cl]

1st Mitchell finds all that stuff in the old darrell waltrip race hauler....now mark has his old asa trophy back. its just collossal awesome. Bet he'll reunite another racer with something lost from the past again somewhere in the future....maybe mark martin can help you set up your race car now mitchell. That would be awesome.

[@josephgooch1451]

The buzzer is for when you’re in the shop working and it’s loud and the phone rings🙂

[@planetwisconsin9901]

Thought that building looked familiar! I drive by it everyday!

[@dennislamers986]

Wow fantastic finds. You guys are an awesome team. I'm from near W.I R. so Butch, Dick, Matt as well a others ran that track. The Red, White, & Blue series alway brought the big dogs here. Thanks and please try to get a Butch interview & hopefully a shop tour.

[@jjmckay6man1]

Another Amazing video! Thank You soo much for making these and preserving this history for all to see!

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man!!

[@lanceevatt2960]

This is awesome… I really enjoy seeing this type of content! . Keep up the great work 🏁🏁

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

🏁 Very cool, really enjoyed!!!!!! 🏁

[@nabqrules]

If I could like this video more than once, I would. You deserve a lot of credit for the work you guys are doing.

[@jimhaines8370]

Once again thank you two very much for all you do. That speaker could have been for an intercom put in by the phone company ties to the phone they had. Back then AT&T was the huge phone company for the country and their logo was a Bell and local regional companies were called baby bells. They put Bell System or Western Electric on everything because back then they owned all the phones etc and they came and put in you house your house or business.

[@Stapleton42]

Interesting!

[@jimhaines8370]

@@Stapleton42 Bell was the logo as in Alexander Graham Bell the inventor of the telephone which should help make some since out of a small part of the video

[@gordonlitz4824]

Always look forward to your videos, another great job

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks again!

[@FollowHisWord777]

Very cool! That 1990's ASA race with Mark's Valvoline car was in the Midwest somewhere and it was televised. I believe DW raced in it also. I am old though, sooooo.......

[@leighallen9255]

Awesome thank you I wish the people you have on your show would buy or get NASCAR back so we could have real racing again, I grew up with Gary balough, Dick Anderson and Butch mock keep up with what you and Logan are doing and does Mark Martin remember my sister from homestead speedway Janine Allen she spoke to him a few times or more

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man!

[@BrookieLikesCars]

This is amazing. Thank you for sharing it!

[@thesuneversets]

Need to bring the asa back, that series was great

[@buckfever3]

Awesome. Amazing you two come across this kind of History, Priceless !! If you guys need other ideas, I live in chardon,ohio real close to Hutter race engines. He built all of Dale Jrs motors for the Busch series. Five time National engine builder. Ron Hutter is his name.

[@davidemmons7631]

Your videos are almost as Kool as Mark no disrespect intended I watch them as soon as I can

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you David!

[@davidemmons7631]

@Stapleton42 no Thank You

[@ChristianHansard]

That picture at the end is gold.

[@xxkingslayemxxgamer5553]

Another great video guys thanks

[@tomriley4316]

That's friggin awesome you guys rock

[@vinewood8295]

I have those same black platform Puma's your wife is wearing. What's crazy is Mark drove all those years in Cup and never won a title, never won a Busch Series title. Kulwicki was there what 7 season's & won a Cup title albeit after Davey Allison had all that adversity but a win is a win. In my opinion anyways, Mark Martin go's down as the greatest driver without a Cup title, great video once again Stapelton, maybe one day when I am back home in the Carolinas, I'll visit & do a video at your race shop...

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you very much!

[@misterhipster9509]

All those great names coming back, thanks for the stellar content.

[@markarlene84]

Loved it! ❤🏆

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you Arlene. You were right about those trophies 😂

[@Mo-dad]

Thanks guys another awesome job this stuff is great I do appreciate it

[@samuelbeatty5017]

What a wonderful story. Keep up the great work. Love your channel. ❤❤😊😊

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you so much!

[@jdhaase1417]

Awesome stuff kids!

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks JD!

[@turng41]

Thank you for dong this for us fans!

[@glennfoster7288]

Thanks for sharing. Your dedication to the all this history is amazing.

[@georgedreisch2662]

Damn y’all! Now I’m watching a friggin’ video, instead of doing the dozen things I should be doing…

[@Overtorqued2.0]

As always, great work

[@hotrodfeguy]

What are the odds a guy buys a shop and pulls old smashed up trophies out of the dumpster. Then packs them up thinking someone will come looking for it. I mean you can't make that up. But it's just as stunning it was mark's. Because Alan has passed. It makes it going back to it's owner so much more Sweet

[@Stapleton42]

I agree completely. Makes you wonder if a guy is pulling strings from the great unknown 🤔

[@jasonfields2798]

Of course as always love the video.. I think Ray Dillon built Dale Earnhardt's ASA cars I think if you go on KZbin there is a video of Ray working and building on Dale Sr's ASA car AND Mark does remember every shock setup he won at my local track and told me the springs he drove on his car

[@Stapleton42]

I’ve seen that video so I’m pretty sure you’re right.

[@misterhipster9509]

Damn, I forget how compact "The Martian" is.

[@misterhipster9509]

Always a huge fan, still am.

[@jasonholmes6137]

Hell yeah Mitchell this a sweet episode

[@robertadams6017]

Wow that’s a blast from the past. Lived in the Kulwicki side of the shop a short time after both he and mark left. Gerry made an apartment type place we lived in after that was the beauty shop after. Was a crew guy with Dotter after mark left. Tough year we won a couple races but overall a disaster lol

[@robertadams6017]

Btw pretty sure that picture where nobody was sure where it was from may have been Topeka road course. Car next to his was a road course guy named Leighton Reese is why it could be there?

[@terryrichardson975]

Another great video!!!!!

[@1revwilly]

For some reason each time you post a new video it becomes my favorite video of yours! How do you accomplish that? :-) I've been a huge Mark Martin fan for many years, in my opinion he is the absolute best and seeing the last image of Mark with his rebuilt trophy is pure gold! I love what you are doing and it's awesome to know that Mark helped get you into this video format, planting the seed for what has become completely fantastic! Keep up the great work! :-)

[@giff427dg]

I miss asa

[@craig655]

Incredible video.

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you very much!

[@braylenmckay4857]

Your the best

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man!

[@bryonkidder6199]

Great video, once again! It'd be cool to see a video about Mike Eddy, Harold Fair, Bob Senneker, Butch Miller, and/or Bob Sensiba too...imo

[@whitfordpullingteam1468]

Agreed. Throw the Sauters, Scott Hansen and Bryan Reffner in there too. Have you guys had Musgrave on? I don’t remember. He’d have great stories.

[@sametozkan9175]

I wish he won in 2007 Daytona 500 and drove full-time in #01 Army car.

[@alkennedy1124]

Good stuff m thanks historians like you need to get it right m and I think you are, I went to the first LA Grand Prix, and marks Roush number six Ford was there, I did not see it run , but it was parked on Jack stands in a part of the track that we could not get to, 1995 or so, thanks BigAl California ,that day was Vera vintage race cars, and they ran , and I did not go to other races there, thanks BigAl California

[@CoopCooper.]

Polish victory lap. Alan will always be remembered.

[@Tally0002]

Hey sir, we breifly had talked before about that race shop n my pops. well that 22 car ther on thumbnail, I own that body, complete. I grew up in that shop that sht blows my mind that someone is talking about this shop! msg me if your interested in that car body or someone you may know is interested. Great video brings back lots of memories

[@Stapleton42]

I’m interested! I don’t think I can send messages on KZbin. Send me an email [e-mail]

[@Guidostripes]

Dammit lol you were literally 10 minutes from my house lol b

[@kevino70sdawg54]

When cars didn't look like gum ball machines and the drivers were real men that didn't have 10 million dollars coming into big time and knew what a truck arm is

[@Stapleton42]

😂 yes

[@rolandnolandboland1307]

I know somebody who has 2 of the blue 98 doors of ted musgrave and has that truck decal on them

[@Stapleton42]

That’s awesome!

[@to8860]

Mark Martin drove weak!! Prove me wrong!!! Dale owned him......

[@saddletramp6935]

Gee, I didn't Dale raced in Asa. Or did I miss somthing?

[@saddletramp6935]

Also who had the most IROC wins and Championships?

[@Flybynight2112]

Does it really matter anymore?

[@Stapleton42]

Carb spacer. That’s all I’ll say

[@PerryWhyte]

49:33 Judging by the 7 and 28 stickers on the C-post, I would say this car was from 1993. Mark's car from the LA Street race was co-sponsored with Valvoline and Hot Wheels in 1998. Both Mark and that car were seen on an episode of Baywatch.

[@Stapleton42]

Interesting!

[@ronfedor5172]

@Stapleton42 another homerun sir keep it up

[@Stapleton42]

We will!