AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- One by one the visitors filed into Victory Lane, eager to pay their respects to Mark Martin.Jimmie Johnson pushed past a throng of fans to get there, while NASCAR president Mike Helton weaved through the grandstands and across the track. Tony Stewart set aside his disappointment from finishing second to make his visit, and Jack Roush stopped by with heartfelt happiness.
Race fans annually vote Dale Earnhardt Jr. as NASCAR's most popular driver, but after Martin's win Saturday night at Phoenix International Raceway, it was obvious the honor truly belongs to the beloved veteran.
"There's nobody that dislikes Mark," said second-place finisher Stewart. "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."
In 27 years of NASCAR racing, Martin has touched too many competitors to count.
He never viewed a raw young driver as potential competition, and instead offered his counsel about on-track etiquette, finishing races, handling a race car and balancing the job demands. Time and time again, drivers admit that when in a precarious position, they often attack it with a "what would Mark Martin do?"
"He taught you a lot while you were running those races," Stewart said. "And when you had a good day against Mark, and when you did things right and you watched him and learned from him, that just accelerated the learning curve."
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Mark Martin is given the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Subway Fresh Fit 500 auto race at Phoenix International Raceway Saturday, April 18, 2009 in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)
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AVONDALE, AZ - APRIL 18: Mark Martin, driver of the #5 CARQUEST/Kellogg's Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning 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: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet, races Scott Speed, driver of the #82 Red Bull Toyota, and 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 *** Jeff Gordon;Scott Speed;Tony Stewart
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AVONDALE, AZ - APRIL 18: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 DuPont 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 Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jeff Gordon
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Mark Martin waves the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Subway Fresh Fit 500 auto race at Phoenix International Raceway Saturday, April 18, 2009 in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)
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AVONDALE, AZ - APRIL 18: Mark Martin, driver of the #5 CARQUEST/Kellogg's Chevrolet, leads a group of cars at the start of the the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on April 18, 2009 in Avondale, AZ. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Mark Martin
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AVONDALE, AZ - APRIL 18: Mark Martin, driver of the #5 CARQUEST/Kellogg's 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 Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Mark Martin
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AVONDALE, AZ - APRIL 18: Kyle Busch drives the #18 M&M's Toyota ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the #88 National Guard/Amp Energy Chevrolet during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on April 18, 2009 in Avondale, AZ. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch;Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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AVONDALE, AZ - APRIL 18: Mark Martin, driver of the #5 CARQUEST/Kellogg's Chevrolet, is congratulated by a crew member as he drives to victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on April 18, 2009 in Avondale, AZ. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Mark Martin
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Kurt Busch makes a pit stop during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Subway Fresh Fit 500 auto race at Phoenix International Raceway Saturday, April 18, 2009 in Avondale, Ariz. Busch finished third. (AP Photo/Ken Sklute)
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Martin's reach stretches well beyond the race track. A fitness fanatic who obsessively monitors his diet, he's managed to coax almost everyone around him to take better care of their bodies.
When he joined Hendrick Motorsports this season, he talked team owner Rick Hendrick into a fitness routine that helped him shed 20 pounds. Even Dale Earnhardt Jr. has traded in Tostitos for tuna salad on crackers, and has added a workout routine to his weekly schedule.
"My dad bought me a book called "Strength Training" by Mark Martin when I was a kid, and I was like 'Man, this guy is built like a brick,' " said third-place finisher Kurt Busch, a former teammate of Martin's when they both drove for Roush.
"The guy has been at the top of his game for 30 years in this sport, it's unbelievable to watch. If I'm halfway as competitive as he is when I'm in my 50s, that would be an accomplishment."
At 50 years, three months and nine days, Martin became the third-oldest winner in NASCAR history with Saturday night's victory. He broke a 97-race winless streak dating back to Kansas in 2005, and solidified what everyone inside NASCAR already knew: The guy is still at the top of his game.
It's what has made walking away from the sport so hard for Martin, who has tried, and failed, to ease his way into retirement.
He wanted 2005 to be his last season, but replacing him turned into a complicated mess and Roush coaxed him into another year. He still longed for a break the next year, but didn't want to completely walk away.
Roush didn't have a partial ride to offer, but he found a limited schedule that would work for him with new team owner Bobby Ginn.
How good was the new arrangement? Martin nearly won the season-opening Daytona 500, then stepped out of the car a month later as planned for a two-race break.
While leading the points.
His sabbatical was mind-boggling to the many people who wondered why the man considered the greatest driver to never win a Cup championship would walk away from an apparent shot at that elusive title.
Martin said Saturday night he's never regretted that decision.
"I have a reputation going of being a flip-flop, and I have flip-flopped on some things. But I didn't flip flop on that, and I'm glad that I did what I did," he said. "It was my commitment to myself and to my family, and it's what I needed to do. And I wouldn't have been a happy person had I gone forward. I needed that.
"That's changed me, and I believe that everyone that knows me has seen a difference in me. I needed to do what I did."
He skipped 24 races the past two seasons, and those weekends off re-energized Martin and renewed his commitment to racing. Then Hendrick came along, dangling in front of him a full season in the No. 5 car. Everyone knows the opportunity included another shot at a title -- he's finished second in the championship race four times - but Martin insists he never looked at the job offer with dreams of hoisting the Sprint Cup title.
To him, Hendrick offered nothing more than a chance to make his way back to Victory Lane.
"I'll give it hell, but that's not why I took this ride," he said. "I took this ride to drive a fast race car, and maybe get a chance to win a race."
After a rough start to the season -- two mechanical failures and a blown tire dropped him to 34th in the points -- Martin has moved within striking distance of the Chase for the championship. He gained five positions Saturday night and is now 13th in the standings, just nine points out of the final Chase qualifying spot.
Martin didn't want to hear about it.
"I'm not going to wreck a good time by worrying about a championship or points," he said. "I'm having a ball. Just let me have fun. Let me enjoy this. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, you know, and that's where I am on that."
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LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers watches as Mo Williams #2 takes a shoe to the face by Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers after a steal in the closing seconds of the first half at The Quicken Loans Arena on February 8, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images)
David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images
Brazil's Diogo (L) vies for the ball with Paraguay's Hernan Perez during their U-20 South American Championship football match in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela on February 8, 2009.(Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images )
Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images
A Dalmatian looks at its handler as a judge goes to touch the dog during the first day of the 2009 Westminster Dog Show in New York February 9, 2009.(Lucas Jackson, Reuters)
Lucas Jackson, Reuters
Denver Nuggets forward Chris Anderson touches his head during a time out in the first half of their NBA basketball game with the New Jersey Nets in East Rutherford, New Jersey February 7, 2009. (Ray Stubblebine, Reuters)
Ray Stubblebine, Reuters
Margarita Marbler, of Austria, skis to a bronze medal finish the ladies moguls freestyle FIS World Cupskiing qualification at Cypress mountain in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. (Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP)
Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP
West Virginia guard Darryl Bryant (25) is fouled by Providence guard Jeff Xavier (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Morgantown, W.Va. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. West Virginia won 86-59. (Don Wright, AP)
Don Wright, AP
Missouri's DeMarre Carroll, top, celebrates the Tigers' 62-60 win over Kansas in Columbia, Missouri, Monday, February 9, 2009. (Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT)
Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT
David Clarkson #23 of the New Jersey Devils fights Erik Reitz #4 of the New York Rangers during their game on February 9, 2009 at The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey (Al Bello, Getty Images)
Al Bello, Getty Images
Driver Patrick Sheltra (60) begins to spin coming out of the fourth turn during the ARCA 200 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009.
Darryl Graham, AP
Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives serves the ball, in this multiple exposure, to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic during their Fed Cup tennis match in Brno February 7, 2009.
Petr Josek, Reuters
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-20-2009 @ 6:17AM
obamaizadope said...
Everybody at Hendrick is winning except Jr, I'll be darned..
Reply
4-20-2009 @ 10:42AM
Karin said...
hendrick baby 3 in a row 48 24 5
Reply
4-20-2009 @ 1:08PM
Greg said...
I was a happy camper when Martin won, guess he is the MOST popular driver this year. I like Jr better than Sr. but like all famous offspring they cannot duplicate their parents success. Well now that GM will be bankrupt in the near future and Dodge is going to be owned bt Fiat. Ford, will hang on but will have to pay back the taxpayers for the first bailout they took. Ijust wonder what the next manufacture will come in.
Greg
Reply
4-20-2009 @ 1:43PM
Tom said...
Ford didn't take bailout money, only GM and Chrysler.
4-20-2009 @ 1:53PM
Greg said...
Tom,
Huh, Yes they did. Ford took the first one in Sept of 2008. GM and Chrysler took BOTH Bailouts.
The first bailout was not broadcast as much as the second one.
Why do you think they had the executives meet at the capital? After the first handout and asking for another..mmm Senators got kind of thinking when is this going to end.
Greg
Reply
4-20-2009 @ 6:37PM
illsell4u said...
I can't say I was 100% on this one but my crystal ball did a pretty good job of it. As predicted the 14 and 48 finished in the top 7 and the 88 did not finish any higher than 12th. Even without the beating and banging with Denny Hamlin, I do not think Jeff Gordon was going to finish in the top 7 on this one though. He was not looking good and his team let him down in the pits. Once again, first three pit stops resulted in 5 spots lost. It just got worse after that.
I am also not sure why the 88 got mad at Casey Mears for wrecking him. He did the 88 a huge favor. They were about to either run out of gas under green or have to pit under green. Either way it would have resulted in an even worse finish. I wonder what Nascar is going to do about Little E intentionally wrecking him after the race was over. My guess is it will be the same as they always do, nothing.
MBL
Reply
4-20-2009 @ 11:33PM
shena. said...
I am so happy Mark Martin won!!! Him and his family are so awesome!! Mark Martin is an awesome race car driver and person!! May u win many more!! God Bless U all!! U GO MARK!! AWESOME WIN AND WELL DONE!!!
Reply
4-21-2009 @ 6:45PM
illsell4u said...
Update: Jr and Casey Mears were put on probation for there after race bumper car display. No points loss, no fines. I must at least Nascar is consistant. They usually do nothing and this was another one of those times.
mbl
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