LITTLE ROCK, ARK. ? Mark Martin’s love of racing and cars took him away from his Arkansas hometown.

Now it’s brought him back.

He opened a car dealership in Batesville, about 100 miles northeast of Little Rock, that eventually will include a racing museum and plans to build a home on the banks of the White River.

“Cars have been part of my life since I was just a kid, I mean an important part, not just a part,” Martin said. “I have an enthusiasm and a passion for that that I haven’t had for anything other than racing.”

With 34 career wins, Martin is tied for 17th on NASCAR’s all-time victories list. He ended his 72-race losing streak last weekend by winning the MBNA 400 at Dover International Speedway, and he is 13th in the points standings heading into Sunday’s race at Pocono.

Martin had wanted to open a dealership in his hometown for seven years, but couldn’t find time until now. So he and business partner Lance Landers bought an existing Ford dealership and spruced it up, even putting one of his race cars in the showroom.

“I had influences that were interested in me being a part of a dealership in big cities where it would stand to be more successful, a bigger draw, and I wasn’t interested,” Martin said. “I was only interested in the one in Batesville.”

When it opened in April, some 3,000 fans waited hours in the rain to get the racing star’s autograph and snap photos of him. Winston Cup Champion Matt Kenseth and NASCAR owner Jack Roush also came to support Martin.

“The community is really excited by what’s going on,” said Landers, who runs the dealership in Martin’s absence. “They’ve been really involved in helping us, anything we need.”

During the next three years, Martin plans to add memorabilia from his three-decade long racing career.

“In the showroom we’ll make a display of all my race car collection, all my trophies, all the great history of my career,” said Martin, who drives for Roush Racing. “Because I have that stuff collected now in a private place where no one is able to see and enjoy it.”

He said the dealership was a first step toward returning to the Arkansas community and supporting the people who helped him through his years in NASCAR.

Martin has a home with his family in Daytona Beach, Fla., but he is building another house on five acres they recently bought along the White River. He anticipates spending more time in Arkansas because of the dealership.

NASCAR DRIVER MARK MARTIN signs a model car at his Batesville, Ark., Ford dealership. The dealership eventually will include a racing museum.