Off Week Chillin' with Miss Sprint Cup Madison Martin

Miss Sprint Cup Madison Martin is glad she has the same taste in music that her dad has. Looking at the album covers in the picture below, it looks like she's an 80's girl. But she was born in 1990. The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and Chicago are just some of the albums she proudly shows off as she "takes it easy" on the NASCAR off week and celebrates fathers day.

Madison also made a stop for a bite to eat at one of her favorite pizza places while visiting family in Maryland.

Did you know Maddy was a writer?

Before becoming Miss Sprint Cup in 2014 joining Kim Coon and Julianna White, she was a writer for her local college newspaper, The Bottom Line. Below she is seen interviewing ESPN race analyst Marty Smith during a 2012 Nationwide race. 

Madison Martin interviewing ESPN commentator Marty Smith during a 2012 Nationwide race

Here is a few excerpts of her days as a college newspaper reporter covering a variety of topics 

IndyCar Loses Dan Wheldon

By: Madison Martin

Published: Saturday, October 22, 2011

The drivers were well aware of the issues that they could face heading into the final race of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In fact, since 2000 IndyCar has not raced at the Las Vegas track, leaving many inexperienced and unprepared for the high-banked oval that is Las Vegas Motor Speedway. With the largest field to hit the track this season and drivers racing at over 220 mph, there is practically no room for error.

It was supposed to be a ground-shaking final event on Sunday Oct. 16, but instead the race turned into a disaster.

FedEx Cup, Fair Game – September 22nd, 2011

You would never think that NASCAR and the PGA Tour have something in common, but they do. Both NASCAR and the PGA Tour hold a season-long championship that is based on a cumulative points system. In NASCAR it is called the Sprint Cup Series and in the PGA Tour it is called the FedEx Cup.

The FedEx Cup began in 2007 and now, as of 2011, has become one of the more exciting parts of the PGA Tour. The cup gives those who have not won a major, a chance to win the final championship if they have played consistently all season.

There are four playoff events in the final weeks to determine the winner of the championship: The Barclays, the Deustche Bank Championship, the BMW Championship, and the Tour Championship. The player with the most points after the Tour Championship wins the FedEx Cup itself and a $10 million.

As the end of the 2011 season approaches, there are roughly 30 players in the PGA Tour that could potentially grasp the Fed Ex Cup Championship. There are many scenarios in which any of those 30 players could manage to win. There are currently five players at the top of the FedEx Cup Points list and any of those five players can win the cup with a win at the Tour Championship.

Currently at the top of the 2011 FedEx Cup Points list is Webb Simpson with 2,500 points. Simpson turned professional in June 2008 and had his best result in a Major Championship just this year when he finished tied for 14th at the U.S. Open. If Simpson wins the Tour Championship, he will also clench the FedEx Cup. Simpson can even finish as low as 29th at the Tour Championship and still have a mathematical chance of winning. Simpson, someone who is less experienced in the PGA Tour, will avoid posting any high number rounds during the final tournaments of the season.

Second in point’s standings is 27-year-old Dustin Johnson. Johnson currently is 250 points behind Simpson, a margin that can easily be made up in the remaining tournaments of the season. Johnson also joined the PGA Tour in 2008 and had his best career finish this year when he tied for second at the Open Championship. Johnson has potential to take the cup title. He has proven that he can handle pressure during the major tournaments, which is a key factor in winning the overall championship.

Justin Rose is third in point standings followed by Luke Donald in fourth. Both Rose and Donald are experienced players in the PGA Tour and have a good chance of clenching the FedEx Cup Championship title. Rounding out the top 10 is Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker, Nick Watney, Chez Reavie, John Senden, and Jason Day.

Some veteran favorites are in contention for the championship as well; however, they have some work to do to win the cup overall. Steve Stricker is 12th in cup point standings, followed by K.J. Choi in 13th, and Phil Mickelson in 14th. Each of these experience golfers need at least Simpson to do really bad in the final four tournaments that determine the winner of the FedEx Cup Championship title.

Other fan favorites in the top 20 are Bubba Watson sitting at 18th, Adam Scott at 19th, Vijay Singh at 23rd, and Geoff Ogilvy at 24th. It would be interesting to have such a comeback from one of these experience players, but in the final weekends of the season the golfers to watch are Simpson, Johnson, and Rose. If one of those three can keep a calm mindset, they may make for one interesting final weekend at the Tour Championship.

2012 NFL Predictions – September 7th, 2011

On August 20th, 1920, what some would say was the beginning of American athletics, began. That August marks the beginnings of what we recognize as the National Football League. Now over 90 years later the NFL has grown to be more than a sport. With this years NFL season in full swing, there are several predictions of where teams are going to end up come playoff time.

AFC North

Contenders in this division are the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, both are strong teams that have a lot of returning talent. With the Ravens picking up wide receiver Lee Evans, quarterback Joe Flacco will now have another option opposite of Anquan Boldin.

AFC East

The AFC this year it will be a toss up between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets. This year the Patriots have a lot of returning talent. They also have added big names like Chad Ochocinco and Albert Hanyesworth. However, the Jets may just have the combination of defensive and offensive skill to take down the Patriots.

AFC South

With Peyton Manning not playing in the first game of the season for the Indianapolis Colts, it could make for a really interesting show in the AFC South. If Manning is able to play in the following weeks, the Colts are without a doubt the forerunner in the AFC South. However, if Manning can’t return, the team with the most potential is the Houston Texans. Danieal Manning and Johnathan Joseph should help, but it still might not be enough to get the Texans past the Colts.

AFC West

The Kansas City Chiefs were a total surprise to most last year, going 10-6. This year the Chiefs have practically a full team returning, minus offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. The San Diego Chargers are definitely a contender in the AFC West, but the Chiefs have the potential to be real contenders again this season.

NFC East

The Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles are the top picks for the NFC East. The Eagles have recently added multiple free agents to their team, which may help or hurt them. The Cowboys this year will have a healthy Tony Romo and a favorable schedule, which could potentially power them to the top of the East.

NFC West

The NFC West is somewhat of a free-for-all. There is no single outstanding team, but based on last years results and the recent addition of quarterback Kevin Kolb, the Arizona Cardinals look to be the best team in the West. Kolb will have Larry Fitzgerald to throw to and will have Todd Heap to help open things up.

NFC South

During the off-season the Atlanta Falcons really worked on fixing their weaknesses. The Falcons obtained quarterback Matt Ryan, and lets not forget Julio Jones and Ray Edwards. The New Orleans Saints have been strong contenders the past few years, but the question is do they still have what it takes this year? Look for the Falcons to take the South.

NFC North

The Cheese heads and the Bears, otherwise known as the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears that is the story for the NFC North this year. The Bears may have a better offense this year after adding Roy Williams and Marion Barber to their roster. However, the Packers still have Aaron Rodgers and added rookie Randall Cobb that could enable their offense to be even more killer than last season.

I had the great pleasure to meet Madison in 2014 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. She was sweet enough to let me take a selfie with her. 

Madison also has done some video interviews, the most recent with NASCAR artist Sam Bass

About Madison:

Martin, a graduate of Frostburg State University where she majored in Mass Communications, previously worked for WSOC-TV in Charlotte. She also served as an intern for Fox News Channel and was a student reporter at Richmond International Raceway.

"My mom took me to my first race (at Richmond) and I got pulled up on the Miss Sprint Cup stage by Monica (former Miss Sprint Cup Monica Palumbo Hancock)," Martin said. "That was actually my introduction into Miss Sprint Cup and my introduction into NASCAR. And I ended up becoming a huge fan after that experience."

Expect to see Martin in demand when there's a charity golf tournament tied into the Cup schedule -- she was captain of her high school golf team and was ranked as one of the nation's top 100 female golfers.

"I started golfing when I was 13 and kind of became obsessed with it," she said. "I got super into it and worked really hard. I was captain of the boys' team -- we didn't have a girls' team -- but I ended up being the No. 1 player, going to state and going to a national tournament. It was just an amazing experience."          She knows the "shuffle" -- how best to make sure she's seen behind the driver in the Victory Lane shot -- and she's been warned about the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing team, who Werner said "likes to douse you in Gatorade and make you all rainbow colored."

"But not really anything scary," Martin said, laughing. "I think it's an honor to have this job and it really is a dream job. We're on the road a lot … you have to be thankful for that. Not everybody gets to have that experience.