Frustration for Roush is over

When the team owner entered Winston Cup in 1988, he put all his hope on Mark Martin.
By JENNA FRYER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- After four runner-up finishes and 16 years of frustration, nothing could spoil Jack Roush's drive to the championship with Matt Kenseth.
Not bad luck, not rule changes, not even NASCAR brass' perceived dislike of Roush could derail this trip.
The 61-year-old car owner took off his trademark hat and leaned back in his transporter as he explained all the heartache while chasing the Winston Cup title.
"I'm kind of in shock over the whole deal," Roush said after Kenseth finished fourth Sunday at Rockingham to win the title. "It's kind of like breaking through a plate-glass window not knowing what's on the other side. It has been painful getting through it. It has been really tough emotionally to think about the four times we were so close with Mark and came up just short."
Disappointments
His most recent disappointment was last year, at Rockingham of all places, when Mark Martin's team was penalized 25 championship points for using an illegal spring. The penalty ruined Martin's momentum as he headed into the season finale in pursuit of Tony Stewart.
The Roush camp bitterly protested the penalty, appealing it on the eve of the finale only to lose and watch Stewart edge Martin for the title.
"You have to understand, I have been close before -- close enough to touch it -- and ended up so disappointed," Roush said.
When he entered Winston Cup racing in 1988, he put all his hopes on Martin. Together the two battled the NASCAR establishment, always on the outside looking in.
They came close in 1990, but a 46-point penalty in the second race of the year over an infraction pointed out to NASCAR by rival Richard Childress ultimately played a role in that championship, too. Martin and Roush lost the title to Childress and Dale Earnhardt by 29 points.
They came up short three more times -- to Earnhardt again in 1990, Jeff Gordon in 1998 and Stewart last season -- and so it was perhaps bittersweet that the first title came from Kenseth.
Eschews glory
"This is a good thing for all of us, for everybody involved with Roush Racing," Martin said. "I'm not bitter about the things I haven't accomplished in my life or my career. I'm very proud of the things that I have accomplished."
But the joy is also tempered somewhat. Roush wants Martin to participate in the champion ceremony next month alongside Kenseth, the driver Martin discovered and begged Roush to find a seat for. Martin said there's no way he'll even consider it.
"It's not mine to celebrate," he said. "I am happy for Matt. I am happy for Jack. But this belongs to them, not me. I have no place being part of it."
And that's OK with Roush, who won't be celebrating for very long, anyway.
The championship trophy will be accepted, then Roush will move on to preparations for 2004 and his five-car operation.
"I'd trade a championship to have all five of my cars in the top 10," Roush said. "Every time one of my teams wins a race, I've got four other losers and believe it or not, that's hard to deal with."