Auto Racing is a sport where so much revolves around family involvement. This is also very much the case here at Ransomville Speedway. One of the more notable examples of family devotion that can be found on both sides of the speedway each Friday night is the Martin family.

             Mike Martin and his son Brett Martin campaign weekly at Ransomville in the DIRT Pro Stock division. While they are circling the track, others near and dear to this duo are helping the cause on the grandstand side.

             Mike’s fiancée, Jennifer Jankowski and Brett’s girlfriend Ashley Schaal are part of the hard working core of the weekly 50/50 raffle volunteers who sell these tickets of which a portion goes into the driver’s annual point fund.

             Mike’s sister’s Roxanne Moden and Tina Henning also serve this race team as scorers and other duties. In the pits Bradley Martin assist his dad and brother turning the wrenches that help keep their machines running.

             “I grew up at Ransomville Speedway,” says Mike Martin who was raised in Barker. “I first came here when I was a year old. I’ve been around here all my life. This is all that I know and all that I enjoy.”

             Like many local race teams, the Martin Racing Team is not made of money. They are hard working and have a small cadre of sponsors who help fund their efforts. In fact Mike works two jobs to make ends meet and keep the team going.

             “I work two jobs,” said Martin. “I work in the detail shop at Howell Ford in Wrights Corners and in the evenings and weekends I install satellite television at people’s homes. When you work a lot and the guys that have time to work on race cars seem harder to find, it gets tough.”

             Mike started his driving career racing Go-Karts at the Lime Rock Speedway from 1982-84, where his best season yielded a third place points finish. He later drove Go-Karts here at Ransomville from 1993-98. He also helped DIRT Sportsman driver Mark Potter.

             Then in 1999 Martin bought a used DIRT Pro Stock and was on his way with this portion of his career. He also campaigns weekly at the Genesee Speedway in Batavia.

             “I’ve had an up and down set of results over the years at Ransomville and won my first DIRT Pro Stock race two years ago at Genesee,” recalled Martin. “I like racing at Ransomville a lot but not being one of the better financed teams makes it hard. But I’m enjoying the race car driving and that’s what matters.”

             Mike’s car, a 2003 Cannizzaro-chassied Monte Carlo, is sponsored by Pippard Automotive, Durrett’s Taxidermy, the Basket Factory Restaurant, Bucolo Cold Storage and Able Auto Insurance.

             Brett is following in his father’s footsteps. He enjoys the close relationship with his family that comes through his racing participation.

             “I didn’t run a full season when I started in Pro Stocks mainly due to financial concerns,” said Brett, 19. “But we’re planning on running at Ransomville each week this year and I’m figuring out more of what the car needs and how I can drive better.”

             Like his dad, the younger Martin also got his start in Go-Karts running one season at Ransomville where he won a divisional championship. The Go-Kart was eventually sold to allow the purchase of a DIRT Pro Stock for his dad to race with.

             “I knew for a while that I wanted to drive a race car like my dad and I was just waiting for finances to fall into place, to get a little older in age and get some help,” said Brett who graduated from Newfane High School in 2004. “Working with my dad is great.”

             Brett Martin also grew up watching the racing action at Ransomville where DIRT Sportsman pilot Mark Potter became his early driving hero. He also is good friends with another current DIRT Sportsman campaigner, Steve Schumacher.

             Funding for Brett’s car come from Stedman’s Old Farm Nursery, Performance Manufacturing, Phat Dogs Concessions and Hoppy’s Tree Service.

             Brett looks to move up to DIRT Sportsman or DIRT 358 Modifieds, perhaps as early as next season. Mike Martin may hang up his helmet at season’s end to better devote more time, money and energy to his son’s racing effort.

            Whatever they do, just as this likeable family has been around Ransomville Speedway for generations, one has the confidence to know that they will be around this popular Niagara County oval for generations to come. It’s family blood pumped through the heart of local racing that makes it all work.