It took 97 races, nearly four years and lot of decision-making but 50-year-old Mark Martin is back in NASCAR Sprint Cup victory lane.Martin led the most laps of the Subway Fresh Fit 500k -- he also started from the pole position -- to win Saturday night's 312-miler at Phoenix International Raceway during his first season back as a full-time driver with Hendrick Motorsports.
Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle rounded out Top-5 of the afternoon-to-evening event.
"He makes dreams come true," said Martin in victory lane, talking about team owner Rick Hendrick before giving a nod to his wife. "Arlene, thanks for letting me come back."
The past four races have been exactly what Martin thought he could do when he signed with Hendrick during the summer of 2008 with four straight Top-10 finishes. The pole Martin won before Saturday night's race was his third of the 2009 season, but his finishes haven't been all roses.
In fact, a string of three finishes 31st or worse nearly left Martin on the outside of the Top-35 line that guarantees teams high enough in the point standings a spot in each race.
With the win, however, Martin jumped five spots in the season standings to 13th.
Tony Stewart was happy to see Martin back in victory lane, if only for the prospects of his own career.
"It makes this generation where everyone is supposed to retire a lot earlier make the longevity a lot more realistic now," said Stewart.
Numerous drivers and team members greeted Martin in victory lane, including his former Roush Fenway Racing teammates Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth as well team owner Jack Roush.
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Drivers take turn one on lap one during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Subway Fresh Fit 500 auto race at Phoenix International Raceway Saturday, April 18, 2009 in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ken Sklute)
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The green flag is lowered for the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Subway Fresh Fit 500 auto race at Phoenix International Raceway Saturday, April 18, 2009 in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ken Sklute)
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AVONDALE, AZ - APRIL: Mark Martin, driver of the #5 CARQUEST/Kellogg's Chevrolet, leads Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on April 18, 2009 in Avondale, AZ. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Mark Martin;Tony Stewart
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AVONDALE, AZ - APRIL 18: Kasey Kahne, driver of the #9 Budweiser Dodge, races during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on April 18, 2009 in Avondale, AZ. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kasey Kahne
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AVONDALE, AZ - APRIL 18: Mark Martin, driver of the #5 CARQUEST/Kellogg's Chevrolet, leads a group of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on April 18, 2009 in Avondale, AZ. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Mark Martin
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AVONDALE, AZ - APRIL 18: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet, leads a group of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on April 18, 2009 in Avondale, AZ. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Tony Stewart
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AVONDALE, AZ - APRIL 18: Juan Pablo Montoya, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on April 18, 2009 in Avondale, AZ. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Juan Pablo Montoya
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AVONDALE, AZ - APRIL 18: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, races during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on April 18, 2009 in Avondale, AZ. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson
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Drivers round turn three during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Subway Fresh Fit 500 auto race at Phoenix International Raceway Saturday, April 18, 2009 in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Jason Babyak)
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AVONDALE, AZ - APRIL 18: Bobby Labonte, driver of the #96 Ask.com Ford, races during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on April 18, 2009 in Avondale, AZ. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Bobby Labonte
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A late caution waved when Casey Mears bumped Dale Earnhardt Jr. in turn 2 to spin the No. 88 into the wall -- the two exchanged bumps following the race with Earnhardt Jr. spinning Mears while coming back to pit road -- and left just a six lap shootout to solve things after the race leaders hit pit road for fresh tires.
Ryan Newman stayed on-track, leaving Martin in second place when the green flag waved. By the time the leaders reached turn two, Martin had dispatched of Newman and left Tony Stewart nearly five car lengths back. Martin stretched the lead to nearly one second on the final lap before grabbing the checkered flag.
The win was the 5th-straight for HMS at the Phoenix-area track.
Kyle Busch looked to be in contention for the race win until NASCAR nabbed the driver for speeding on pit road during the final caution. The penalty forced Busch to restart at the end of the pack after leaving the pits just behind Martin.
Point leader Jeff Gordon had his worst race of the season after tire rubs and pit road issues left him with a 25th-place finish.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-19-2009 @ 12:22AM
bama4hut said...
CONGRATS old man! Good to see him win again
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4-19-2009 @ 1:32AM
mfatty500 said...
sure would be nice to see you to retire again take some more of the fans money you dried up coot!
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4-19-2009 @ 9:56AM
Jim said...
Congratulations to Rick Hendrick for being able to know talent when he sees it. To sign one of the most popular drivers ever that can wheel a car around the track and be in the excellent physical shape he is says a lot for Mr. Hendricks eye for real talent. Oh no, you thought I was talking about Junior ( not my daddy 0 Earnhardt. NO!! Less then one year after that huge mistake he gets Mark Marting to come back and race full time with a winning team. Way to Mark!!! Go old man!! Hey Rick, one out of two ain't bad. At least your "other" driver is number 1 in merchandise sold. Unfortunatly that is ALL he will ever be good at!!
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4-19-2009 @ 10:03AM
Kim said...
Congratulations to Mark Martin! What a deserving win! It was so nice to see him in victory lane and even nicer to see so many drivers come over and congratulate him. I for one was surprised as Mark has made the pole before this season and hasn't been able to pull off a win. He fought for this one and it showed! Congratulations again to a true class act!
Kim
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4-19-2009 @ 10:39AM
frd67cobra said...
Hey mfatty500, that "dried up coot" could whip your ass without breaking a sweat. You're a complete idiot! Anyone with any knowledge of racing will agree that Mark is the most intense, focused,and sportsmanlike driver in Nascar. He races hard but clean, and gets out of the way if his car is not competitive.The younger bunch could,and the smart ones do,learn a lot from a man who had to struggle and sacrifice his way through the ranks the old school way..race and win or lose your equipment and go hungry.Older drivers and fans remember how it was before the big corporate dollars paid the bills.Probably before your time,judging by your assinine remarks!
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4-20-2009 @ 3:59PM
mfatty500 said...
napcar is not racing! open wheel racing forever!
4-19-2009 @ 1:15PM
Susan said...
Congratulations to Mark Martin and his fans. I loved this win!
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4-19-2009 @ 12:17PM
kenneth said...
Godd for Mark! I was a MM fan for many years and suffered right along with him as he came so close to winning the championship several times. I was disappointed when he left Jack Rousch to "retire," and, frankly, thought there were some hard feelings between the two of them. That thought was put to rest last night, though, when Rousch (and several of his drivers) made a point of going to the winner's circle to congratulate Mark for a splendid drive. Long live the old timers!
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4-19-2009 @ 1:58PM
hafttwo said...
mark is truely a class act, and it is people like him that give nascar hope. people like kylie busch could learn a lot from someone like mark
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4-19-2009 @ 7:23PM
illsell4u said...
Great win. Any one not happy to see Mark Martin in the winners circle again has some real problems. Jimmie Johnson two weeks ago, Jeff Gordon last week, Mark Martin this week and Talladega next week. Could we get to see all 4 Hendricks drivers in a row? Expect to see Dale Jr and his buddy Tony Stewart hooking up (a paparazis dream) and leading the charge next week.
Tony is the best driver to not have a win so far this year. He has really impressed his fans and detractors with his performance thus far. Good luck next week Tony.
mbl
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4-19-2009 @ 7:33PM
rurdy4dwolf said...
Hey Mcfatty, I guess you wrote what you did about Mark because of the fact you couldn,t do what he does. I bet a lot of of the truck series guy,s would tell you that they are glad he didn,t continue to persue that, because he won almost all the races that he participated in. Also he is the utmost competitor on and off the track. He will not spin someone out to win like some of his current teammates did in the past, and current. Good for you Mark, continue to be the best at what you do, and I will also thank your wife for letting you come back and live your dream. It has to be rough to do what you do and not spend enough time with family, but you do it well and I am a greatful fan that you stayed. Thank you Mark Martin for being my #1 driver.
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4-19-2009 @ 10:35PM
nzcr14 said...
congratulation to MMARTIN. Well deserved win.and yes
it's time for a DEJ/TST. WIN. From what i see STEWART is ReADy for and has been coming closer and closer not just surprising even his fans, but shocking the all NAZCAR WORLD and that includes my skeptic friend EMERSON (always a t. stewart, downer before).THIS IS HISTORY ALREADY BEING MADE FOR A BRAND NEW TEAM THAT BEGUN FROM SCRATCH. IMAGINE THE MEDIA EXPLOSION IF SYTEWART WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR? I know, i'm getting ahead of myself but
soon we will see TONY in victory lane for sure.
COULD ANY OF US HAD predicted TONY A TOP5 CONTENDER
before this season begun? SURPRISE HE HAS BEEN.
Works for me...A.S.
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4-20-2009 @ 12:35PM
jsim936017 said...
Great win Mark Martin, you were the class of the field on Saturday night! Keep digging!
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4-21-2009 @ 11:57AM
frd67cobra said...
mfatty,if you love open wheel so much why are you running your mouth about a Nascar article? Hope you know more about open wheel than you do Nascar,which amounts to zilch.Perhaps you'd be better off saving your intelligent remarks for articles pertaining to open wheel racing.
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4-21-2009 @ 2:05PM
hilryshaves said...
It kills me to see Martin in anything but a Ford, but the man is a class act, and deserves everything good that happens to him.
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4-22-2009 @ 12:31AM
Mark Branham said...
been tracking Marks career since he was sixteen and my name is Mark also and we are the same age so where in the heck is this ole man crap coming from lol you showed them how real racing is done !
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4-22-2009 @ 5:44PM
Greg said...
frd67cobra great comments. Martin will always be my driver and Iam going to take a long shot of picking him to win it all. The day he walks away from Nascar, I will do the same. Cannot find anyone else that comes close to him. Class act by Johnson though.
Greg
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4-23-2009 @ 4:39PM
robsphase said...
Let Mark have his last hurrah so he can retire for the last time. This IS the age of burnouts when you win. That's just great how happy he is to just drive a great car, thank Rick, the team, the ground squirrel, the asphalt, the sky, the moon etc......
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