Mark Martin's Excellent Adventure

It's fair to say Mark Martin wasn't always a glass-half-full kinda guy.

Even a decade ago while piling up wins in the midst of four championship runner-up seasons as the lead driver for a more streamlined Jack Roush organization, Martin wasn't exactly effusive or happy-go-lucky. Even in victory circle he tended to analyze what went wrong instead of what went right.

Mr. Sunshine he was not.

And for those of us who chronicled the all-business, old soul it's especially refreshing to see the reinvigorated new deal. At 50, Mark Martin has never looked happier. He's smiling. He's upbeat.

And he's schooling -- or rather old-schooling -- his much younger competition. His third win Sunday at Michigan ties him with 24-year-old Kyle Busch for the most this season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

The amazing transformation from hardcore perfectionist to a more easy-going believer began last year when Martin sat alongside owner Rick Hendrick as he was introduced as the championship team's newest driver at an age which nearly could make him any of his three teammates' father.

A chance to drive the best equipment in the Cup Series with an owner who believed Martin was still a winner proved irresistible. Martin came out of retirement, immediately into relevance and just as quickly returned to the championship caliber form he consistently displayed during a 19-year full-time career from 1988-2006.

The Hendrick experiment was a cool storyline for the 2009 season and reporters quickly compared Martin to Super Bowl winning quarterback Brett Favre, who also emerged from retirement.

The difference between Martin and Favre is that Martin has a chance for a happy ending.

It hasn't been enough that Martin is competing again. He's winning again.

In fact, Sunday's victory in the No. 5 Kellogg's Chevrolet vaulted him up five positions in the championship standings to eighth place. He's had four top-10 finishes -- including two wins -- in the past six races, a remarkable turnaround from his 34th place ranking the first month of the season.

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Firemen work in the car in which Mexican Nascar driver Carlos Pardo had an accident on June 14, 2009 in Amozoc, Puebla state, Mexico. Pardo died in an accident during a Nascar race. AFP PHOTO/ Jose Castaï¿½ares (Photo credit should read Jose Castaï¿½ares/AFP/Getty Images)

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Mexican Nascar driver Carlos Pardo's wife (C) cries in the racetrack next to an ambulance after knowing of his death next on June 14, 2009 in Amozoc, Puebla state, Mexico. Pardo died in an accident during a Nascar race. AFP PHOTO/ Jose Castaï¿½ares (Photo credit should read Jose Castaï¿½ares/AFP/Getty Images)

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Mark Martin celebrates winning the NASCAR LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan, Sunday, June 14, 2009. (Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press/MCT)

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Mark Martin celebrates winning the NASCAR LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan, Sunday, June 14, 2009. (Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press/MCT)

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Mark Martin rounds during the NASCAR LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan, Sunday, June 14, 2009. (Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press/MCT)

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BROOKLYN, MI - JUNE 14: Grand Marshal Kid Rock walks on the grid prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 14, 2009 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kid Rock

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BROOKLYN, MI - JUNE 14: Jimmie Johnson, driving the #48 Low'es Chevrolet, pulls out of the fourth turn during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 14, 2009 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson

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BROOKLYN, MI - JUNE 14: Mark Martin, driver of the #5 CARQUEST/Kellogg's Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 14, 2009 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mark Martin

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Not only are his three victories a series best, the three pole positions he's earned ties Brian Vickers for tops in that statistical category, too. And he's positioned well among the top-12 drivers who will qualify for the Chase for the championship -- the playoff group set following the Sept. 12 race at Richmond, Va.

"At a stage when I might have written myself off or the competition might have written me off, to be able to do that (earn a playoff position) would be pretty cool," allowed Martin, who has already accepted Hendrick's offer to campaign the 2010 season, too.

"I'll answer the questions and everything else, but I'm not going to lay in bed at night and think about what it will be like to lift that trophy.

"It just doesn't exist, you know, in my brain. I'll just go out there and race every time."

It's a philosophy that's served him well.

Martin has always been an exceptional racing talent -- perhaps best exemplified by his unprecedented five IROC championships earned against the best drivers from all racing disciplines. And his fitness and diet regimen is legend in the NASCAR garage. He was reaping the benefits of being physically fit back when Jane Fonda was making aerobic videos and it has given him yet another edge on his younger competition.

His tremendous physique and stamina certainly helped Sunday when his car's cooling system stopped in the middle race and he had to drive in a searing hot cockpit.

The talent and dedication and physical skills have always been there for Martin. The difference this go-around is attitude. He's always been super driven to win. Only these days he's allowing himself to savor the journey and not just focus on the destination.

There was a flashback Sunday in the post-race press conference. In Martin's opening remarks he reminded reporters, "I always, always come up short on the gas mileage thing. If you look at the stats, you know, I've lost 25 and won two on it. I just don't have the luck for it."

Then the new Mark Martin kicked in. They guy who has found the greener grass in his own backyard.

"If we don't win another race this year, we still did good," Martin said. "I'm not gonna deal with expectations that cut my legs out from under me again ever in my career. I'm gonna go out and drive the race car as hard as I can drive every time I get in.

"I love this sport. I don't know what in the world I'll do when I can't do this anymore, but that's a long way out there. I'm not worried about it right now.

"I'm enjoying it."

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-15-2009 @ 10:05PM

deerslayer said...

Yes, he is now tied for first in the all important CHASE points with Kyle Busch. He is also ranked HIGHER than KB in points, AND he just happens to be driving his old car. Pretty cool for an old man.
mbl

6-16-2009 @ 12:12PM

gregsachiko said...

Mark and WE are enjoying it as well!

Keep winning and cannot wait to see you at the end of the year on the winner's podium with that Nascar grand prize over your head.

Greg-san

6-16-2009 @ 1:51PM

thunderjon said...

Mark is a genuinely humble man who remembers his roots. He is probably the best pure racer in the business, highly respected by his peers, a tremendous asset to racing, as well as the Hendrick organization. No one would be more deserving of the championship than he. It'd make my day---go Mark!

6-16-2009 @ 3:54PM

mainlymodernist said...

Mark is a great ambassador for the sport. What a great stable of drivers, with the exception of Jr. who continues to be a huge disappointment. I'd like to see his ride replaced by another up and coming driver who deserves a chance.

6-16-2009 @ 5:26PM

willjm333 said...

WAY TO GO MARK !!!!!!

6-17-2009 @ 12:14PM

GARY said...

To the guy who is Greg san. my friend who is a frquent visitor on here mentioned that a Marine was stationed in Okinawa, I too am station there.
There is a story about some Marine who did some crazy things in iRAQ that was married to a japaense woman that gave up his citizenship moved to live in japan??
are you this person? if so what was your code name and what did this Marine do in iraq that has everyone talking about it? Oh who was your CO and what was his nickname that he called this Marine. I am guess I am calling you out because to see if you are te real deal.

6-17-2009 @ 4:44PM

It depends if I am that person....
I really don't like discussing my secret clearance stuff on a Nascar website but I'll only do it ONCE..My code was Predator for my size and my nick name was.....(sigh) Matt Damon because of the close resemblance in the facial part.My NCO rank was E-7

Oh and how rumors get blown out of portion, I DID NOT give up my citizenship, I have a dual citizenship now and yes I live in Japan to get away from the other side of the world which you will find out when they send you into another war zone.
I will NOT and you should know that I cannot give up my CO's name, for security reasons.

Oh I have heard the stories you people are telling about that famous 9 hour firefight in Anbar in 2004 of March, that I was in and tell your talespinners that it was NOT 2,800 meters it was 2,157 and it was not the M40A3 it was the MAC light fifty that made that famous head shot.

If you have anymore questions please do not come on here. send me your govt issued e-mail.

Semper Fi Gary
Learn to stay away from certain parts of Okinawa ok?

Greg-san

6-17-2009 @ 6:28PM

Kim said...

Greg,

You and hubby would have so much fun together talking about your days in the Corp. Your life, although difficult I am sure, sounds like a great story. Have you ever thought of writing a book? I think you should entertain that. I had William write one, just for us, of all his adventures while he was stationed at Pendelton and in Okinawa. He said he would never forget his days as a Marine. I told him that was probably true but someday when he gets old, the facts will have escaped him. :-)

Semper Fi, Greg!

Kim

6-17-2009 @ 11:00PM

Kim,
You are definetly a sweetheart, but I suffer daily on the things I have done and seen. I am trying to forget the bad stuff but I am always laughing at the crazy things throughout my career. The tango's faces haunt me daily, I can only sleep 4 hours at best and I always catch myself looking out that window spacing out seeing my guys looking at me. I know it is still fresh but hopefully with time I can accept what I have done. Guys like Gary, hear rumors about these types of stuff and think it is cool. It always catches up to you one time or another.
Your husband and I would get along alright because we are brothers.
Write a book..no Kim, I don't want my kids to know what I have done in the heat of battle.
My wife only heard from the other Marine wives telling her the stories while I was over there and she cried to sleep EVERY NIGHT, thinking of what I have done to these children, women and men.
Tell William, thank You for serving and for all of the moms and wives out there WAITING FOR THEIR LOVE ONES.

YOU HAVE THE HARDEST JOB THAT I WOULD NOT WANT

Greg

6-18-2009 @ 8:53AM

Greg,

I am so sorry to read that you have had to endure so many horrible memories. Although it may seem like it, NONE of it is your fault! You were simply doing a job that your country asked you to do. Never mistake honor and committment for unspeakable atrocities. It is you we all owe the giant THANK YOU to!

My husband was lucky. He joined the corp. at the end of the first Golf War and got out right before the second one started (not by choice, it just happend that way). He never had to see war, although he would have done so with pride, committment and dignity. My Uncle however didn't fair so well. He was drafted during the Vietnam War because he could speak Vietnamese. He is still in therapy to this day. He has had lifelong nightmares about the things he saw and had to partake in. He can't even go to a fireworks show on the 4th of July because the sounds of the booms bring back such horrible memories for him. He finally found some peace when he befriended a family of Vietnamese imigrants here in OH. Back in the 80's he began to tutor them several nights a week in English and in our customs. To this day, they are some of his dearest friends. This brought such healing to him.

I understand your fears about your children and your wife knowing about some of the things you had to see and do in war, but be prepared, someday soon, they might ask. My boys are always fascinated by my husband's and my Uncle's service tales. Although they both keep them as a PG version for the kids.

Glad you are getting out of W.V. and headed home. When we came home from there, I felt like I had just visited a foreign country. I live in OH which isn't very exciting either, but the whole time we were in W.V., I felt like I was living in the movie "Delieverance," LOL. :-)

Take care of you,

Kim

6-18-2009 @ 1:01PM

Thank You Kim for your kind words.
I love being home in WV, I love the smell of the woods that I go to every Thanksgiving week to hunt, love the sound of the sonic boom as well the recoil against my shoulder. It was the ways of being a West Virginian that kept me alive through every conflict from 84 to 07. A country boy CAN SURVIVE! Hunting is my salvation, because no one is shooting back at me. LOL I do love the people back home better than California. BUT in Japan, the people inside know by looking at me but they respect my privacy. I hate NO one and have NO enemies, FOR HATE WILL TAKE IT'S TOLL ON YOU. I would run at 0300 in the morning while talking to my friends at the same time that were not so lucky. I carry that responsibility on my shoulders every day, you refuse to get close to any friends for the fear of them dying.

What section of Ohio you located?
Deliverance?????!!!!! NOW YOU ARE MAKING ME MAD
MAKE YOU SQEAL LIKE A PIG!! Now I know why I heard that many times in the far away woods but never knew what that meant.

Make a bet with you! Mark Martin wins the Championship over Johnson and Gordon??
Bet? (Gordon talks like he is holdng his nose)
Kind of like scratching your nails down the chalkboard.

So what will he bet be?
Got to go to bed it is Friday Morning here!

Greg

6-18-2009 @ 7:55PM

Gary said...

Holy Jesus H. Christ!!!!
It is you big man Gunny!!! Cannot believe I am corrosponding with a living legend!!!!

The predator!!!!

I also remember a story about this big fat Iraqi was giving four Marines in your platoon on the street a hard time by shoving them around but they could not engage him because of the rules, they say he was about 3oo pounds. You came by in a humvee stepped out with your sidearm and said the hell with the rules of engagement, all the Iraqi people were running when they saw you and you knocked the guy out with one punch, stuck your sidearm in his head and told everyone around that if they laid one hand on any of your Marines you was going to kill everyone within 50 meters!! They were scared of you my man!
You got your pay deducted for a month for that episode and a ass chewing that everyone within 100 yards could hear. No one messed with you again.

Good to see you are doing good and i also heard you have one beautiful Japanese woman. Man, I hope I can find one that is just as good as the one you got Gunny and by the way bet you $5 that Gordon wins it all!

I sent you my e-mail address because I think what kim was saying would be a moral booster for us younger guys currently serving in knowing what you did for all of us.
I would do anything to fight alongside of you gunny..I mean anything.
semper fi brother

6-19-2009 @ 10:27AM

illsell4u said...

Greg-san would probably appreciate it if you reserved those stories for a non public forum there Gary.

6-19-2009 @ 9:43AM

Greg,

Nah.....my Jimmie is going to take the trophy again this year! Like Gary though, I have little money, so how about a $10.00 bet on that? It's not that I don't have confidence in my main man, Jimmie....it's that I don't have money! :-)

I thought you would laugh at the Deliverance comment. Yup...."squeal like a pig." I couldn't help myself! I live just outside Columbus, OH in a little country town that is hidden, but we are only 5 miles out of Hilliard, Oh, 5 miles out of Dublin, OH (where I grew up), and about 10 miles out of Columbus. It's nice out here. Very quiet and serene, but very flat (probably why our town is called Plain City)! William and I visit Miami, FL every year and have fallen in love with the southern most part of FL. We have talked about moving there, but uprooting the kids from an excellent school district and the lack of jobs there right now, wouldn't be a smart move. Perhaps someday we will "fly" south like most the other old (LOL) people do. :-)

I think it is SOOOOOOO cool that Gary knows about you and has found you. Perhaps it is fate. Who would have thought, a NASCAR site of all places?

Gary, thank you too for serving our country. You keep your head up and BE SAFE!!!!! :-) And yes, definitely stay away from certain parts of Okinawa, especially the very strange strip clubs where the mamasans will do just about anything to get you take away one of their girls. That's not the nice respectable young Japanese girl you want for yourself. And if you are leaving base to go get drunk, drink most of your alcohol before you leave base, take a cab, then just buy a couple of drinks while out. The bars in Okinawa jack up their prices just for you GI's. Get your beer from the base. Much cheaper! Sorry, the Mom in me is giving you advice. :-) Be safe!

Kim

6-19-2009 @ 1:00PM

Thanks Illsell4you,
These are the things I am trying to forget.
Gary please cease all information/stories from here on out.
Bad influence there Kim, telling him to drink beer??
Kim you are on $10.00 and I do not take checks..lol
Gary you have been raised to another $5

Any other takers????

Greg-san