It was a year filled with tremendous highs and also a year filled with some heartbreaking lows.

One thing is certain: 2011 is a year Joey Martin will never forget.

Martin and the Pro Extreme Lowmad burst back on the ADRL scene with an incredible year, winning two races and finishing second in the final world championship points standings.

Martin and the team also experienced a tremendous loss during 2011, as team owner Toney Russell, 57, lost his long battle with cancer and passed away in August.

It left everyone heartbroken and saddened following the loss of an influential and genuine man who touched the lives of many.

It was a year filled with tremendous highs and also a year filled with some heartbreaking lows.

One thing is certain: 2011 is a year Joey Martin will never forget.

Martin and the Pro Extreme Lowmad burst back on the ADRL scene with an incredible year, winning two races and finishing second in the final world championship points standings.

Martin and the team also experienced a tremendous loss during 2011, as team owner Toney Russell, 57, lost his long battle with cancer and passed away in August.

It left everyone heartbroken and saddened following the loss of an influential and genuine man who touched the lives of many.

It also left plenty of questions for the 2012 racing season.

Martin, though, expects to be behind the wheel of the ’55 Chevy Nomad once the 2012 ADRL season begins in March.

“We’re going to try to race and we’re going to try to do it without getting any money from anyone,” Martin said. “For sure, we’re going to run the close races whether we get sponsor money or not.

“How many we run depends on the money situation.”

That makes sense for the low-budget, family-owned team.

Martin said Toney’s wife, Fonda, and the rest of the Russell family debated on what to do following the 2011 ADRL season.

Once the ADRL released its schedule for 2012, Fonda made the decision to keep the car in operation for at least the next year. Martin said the centrally-based schedule for the upcoming year was a major reason the Russell family, who are Alabama natives, committed to race in 2012.

“Memphis, St. Louis and Bristol are a lot closer for them and that played a part in it,” Martin said. “It’s hard, but we’re going to try to run, and for sure run the close ones.
“It was good news to hear that.

“I know it’s going to be a struggle for Fonda and the family, and it’s going to be hard with the money situation. But we’re all happy about racing next year.”
 
The Lowmad was once again a fan favorite at each track it visited in 2011, and

Martin delivered a number of standout performances.

He ran 3.584 – and momentarily set the ADRL PX world record – at Maple Grove, which was sandwiched in between Martin’s two wins of the season.
The first came at Palm Beach in April and Martin followed it up by an impressive victory at Heartland Park Topeka in June.

That moment will always be special for Martin in the Russell family, as it marked the final race Toney attended. In a touching winner’s circle celebration, Russell joined Martin in raising the trophy, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

“That car was Toney’s drive. It kept his mind positive and that car was medicine for him,” Martin said. “It was what he lived for, to see it go down the track.”

Tragedy came on August 23 when Toney passed away at Crestwood Medical Center in Huntsville, Alabama after a long bout with multiple myeloma blood cancer.

The team rallied around Russell’s memory at the final three ADRL races of the year, but his presence was undoubtedly missed.

“It was just different. I wouldn’t say it was difficult but it was just sad knowing he wasn’t going to be at the end of the track,” Martin said.

“It affected us as individuals, but it didn’t affect us as a team or our performance at the track. We kept a positive memory of him and we wanted to win for him.”

Martin and the Lowmad stayed in championship contention until the final race of the season, but not much went their way in the final three races.

A fitting on the oil pressure line broke at the 3-second mark in Rockingham and it oiled the tires, allowing Jason Scruggs to chase him down in the semifinals.

From there, a blower belt broke and the starter burnt up at the final two races, and Martin was unable to chase down eventual champion Jason Hamstra.

“It was just some mechanical gremlins,” Martin said. “But we had the fastest wagon on earth and it was one of the most consistent door cars on earth as well

“The car was a crowd favorite, too, so we were real happy. The season was a huge success for us.”

Now, it seems the Lowmad will be back for 2012 as well.