Batesville’s Mark Martin was on the verge of clinching a recordtying fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup runner-up finish in November when the subject was brought up.
Might Martin be the greatest stock-car driver without a championship?
Martin quickly went into humble mode during the news conference at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
“My record does notstand up against the greats in this business,” Martin said.
Jimmy Johnson, one of the greats, refuted Martin.
“He’s too humble of a man and doesn’t understand what he’s done in this sport, for this sport, and how many young guys have respected what he’s done,” said Johnson, Martin’s teammate with Hendrick Motorsports and the winner of four consecutive Sprint Cup championships. “You are one of the greatest. We all think the world of you and respect thehell out of you.”
Martin quickly replied, “Thank you.”
That type of mutual respect remains the linchpin in Martin’s career, from his time as a 12-year-old tearing up the Arkansas dirt tracks to his status as one of NASCAR’s most popular stars as a 50-year-old.
Martin, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s 2009 Sportsman of the Year, is as respectful of others as they are of him.
“I am one of the luckiest guys in the world,” Martin said shortly after the final checkered flag of the season, “to have done what I’ve done and worked with the people that I’ve worked and earned what I have earned.” SHINING BRIGHT
Heading into the 2009 season, there was hardly a guarantee that Martin, in the twilight of his career, would achieve the same type of success he had in his early years.
He had not won a race in nearly four years and he had not made a serious challenge for the series championship since 2002.
But racing against many drivers half his age, he delivered one of the most successful seasons of his career.
He won five races, his most since he won a career-high seven times in 1998, and won a career-best seven pole positions. His final 2009 earnings of more than $8.2 million were also a personal best.
The season came after it appeared Martin was heading toward retirement. Martin spent 19 seasons at Roush Racing before switching to GinnRacing and a limited schedule in 2007. He skipped 12 races in 2007 and 12 more in 2008 after Ginn Racing was absorbed by Dale Earnhardt Inc. He did not record a victory in either season and finishing second by a bumper to Kevin Harvick in the 2007 Daytona 500 was one of the few bright spots.
ButRickHendrickconvincedMartin to drive for his fourth team and race a full schedule for the 2009 season. The partnership did not immediately shed positive results as Martin did not record a top-15 finish in the first four races and was 34th in the series standings.
“I’m mature enough to realize that there’s more to this sport than four races, the firstfour,” he said.
A sixth-place finish at Bristol, Tenn., started a run of four consecutive top-10 finishes. The string was capped by a dominating effort at Phoenix, where he won the pole and led 195 of 312 laps to end a 97-race winless streak. He became the third-oldest driver to win a Cup race.
“We didn’t just fall into this one,” Martin said afterward. “It was cool. That’s the way I want to win right there, not stumble around and fall into it. Man, go out there and take it.”
Martin won two races later at Darlington, S.C., three races later at Michigan, and again three races later at Chicagoland.
All the while, in a sport where contact and on-track treachery are often the norm, Martin maintained his “nice guy” stature. Throughout his career, he has made a point to keep his bumpers to himself.
“If you go out there and you race people the way you want to be raced, you don’t have to use a mask and a gun,” Martin said. “That’s not how I want to come out ahead, with a mask and a gun, you know? I’d rather go out there, work hard, earn it.
“I’m the guy that rolls up my sleeves and I never put that mask on. I work real hard and try to win the game, whatever it is, fair and square.”
“There’s nobody that dislikes Mark,” said Tony Stewart, a two-time series champion. “Mark has taught us all a lot about what it takes to be not only a good driver in this series but a good competitor and somebody that everybody respects.”NOT SLOWING DOWN
Martin was the top seed when the season-ending, 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup began. He added to his points lead by winning the Chase opener at Loudon, N.H.
He only had three finishes outside the top 10 during the Chase, but Johnson took four victories during the same period.
Martin became the third driver to finish second in the final points standings five times. But the others, Richard Petty and Bobby Allison, have won the championship.
Martin said he doesn’t really know if he is missing anything.
“I don’t have one of those trophies, so I don’t know what one of those things would mean to me,” he said.
Martin might not ever win a Cup trophy, but he’s not slowing down. He has signed a contract extension with Hendrick through 2011, and Martin said there is no doubt how he will feel when the season begins at Daytona in February.
“Happy. I’m going to be happy,” he said. “This is the first time in as long as I can remember that I’m not glad [the season] is over with. I’ve had a blast all year, and I do look forward to starting with a clean slate. I’m a happy guy.”
Sports, Pages 17 on 12/26/2009