SCR - How did the deal with Cunningham Motorsports come about?
MM - With Ergon coming on board we want
to make sure they are happy. We both want to run up front and we just felt like with Cunningham Motorsports and having the
opportunity with these three races was a good deal, all of us talked about it and we made the deal.
I feel like the 4 car is a fast car and Ergon wanted to come over here and try something
different and I did to so that is what we are going to do. We are going to try something different and see how it works out.
SCR - Your first race with Cunningham Motorsports is at Nashville, what other
tracks will you race for them?
MM
- I will run Nashville, Milwaukee and Gateway
SCR - Is it possible to run more than three races with Cunningham Motorsports?
MM
- Right now it is just a three race deal. Coming on board with them mid-season they kind of already had their plans scheduled
out. Luckily, they had an opportunity and they were looking to recruit a driver and they found me and it was a good opportunity
for both of us to make a change.
If we go out there and win all three races and we would probably continue to run with
them. We would find a way to make that work where we could keep on running, but right now it is a three race deal and if we
perform well we will probably try to figure something out.
SCR - What are racing plans for 2008?
MM
- Right now I don’t we have a plan in the works. A couple more good finishes and we will be able to put something strong
together for next year. That is what my plans are, we started off the season well and thought we would be able to carry it
through the season but unfortunately we have not been able to do that. If we can get a couple of good runs like at the start
of the year we will be able to do that.
SCR - What do you like to do in your free time away from the track?
MM
- Right now I am working in the race shop. When we are not at the track, I am
mounting seats in these cars here at Cunningham Motorsports. Even with as much traveling as I do, I still live in Tallahassee because
I do not have a full time ride but hopefully I will make the move up to Charlotte and find a place to live and a full-time
ride.
Of course, I would like to make the move up to the Busch Series to prove I belong there
and have the talent to be there.
Off the race track and living in Florida I like to take the boat and do some fishing.
I don’t get to do it as much as I like to but that is what I like to do when I get some free time.
SCR - What driver do you admire most and why?
MM
- It is hard to say, coming up in the sport I really admired the short track guys more than I did the Nextel Cup guys.
I grew up racing with the Clanton Family, Joey and Rusty Clanton. They pretty much mentored
me from the start. When I first started racing Legend cars, I started with Joey
and then moved into Late Models and worked with Rusty Clanton. Those two people are the people I have really looked up to
and I try to mirror their talents in the way they drive.
If I were to name a Nextel Cup driver, I would probably pick somebody like Matt Kenseth.
Somebody who started off in the Late Models worked their way up, worked in the race shop, worked on their on cars and then got the opportunity to shine and has shown he has the talent to be in the Nextel Cup.
2006 StockCar Review.
