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Mark Martin's 50, And He's Not Done Yet

The Associated Press

Four years after announcing plans to fade out of NASCAR's top division and two years after cutting back to a part-time schedule, Mark Martin is back in a regular ride.

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By TONY FABRIZIO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 12, 2009

Updated: 02/12/2009 08:10 am

DAYTONA BEACH - Brett Favre has retired twice in the last 11 months, and he played a full season of football in between.

No one can be sure there won't be another dramatic return with minute-by-minute coverage by ESPN.

Mark Martin can relate to the uncertainty and mixed emotions a high-profile athlete goes through when trying to step away. He, too, thought he was tired and burned out and that his age had caught up to him.

He, too, thought he would be happier spending more time on the couch.

He, too, was wrong.

"I am not a football fan or a fan of other sports unless it is racing, but I have watched the Brett deal from afar," Martin said. "I was really happy when he got released from Green Bay so he could go do what he wanted to do, because I could identify with that.

"It is one thing to try and keep doing something when you are in a steep decline, but when you can perform like he can perform, or when you can drive a race car and get results like I was able to in 2008 ... why in the world would I want to go sit at home?"

Four years after announcing plans to fade out of NASCAR's top division, and two years after cutting back to a part-time schedule, Martin is back in a regular ride. He will start second in Sunday's 51st Daytona 500.

Not only is he back, he is driving for the team - Hendrick Motorsports - that has won the last three championships with Jimmie Johnson. Driving the No. 5 Chevy, he will have the same cars and engines as Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The championship that eluded him during his 19 full-time seasons with Roush Racing is not out of sight. The Daytona 500 title he missed by two one-hundredths of a second in 2007 is within grasp.

For Martin, 50 really is nifty.

"It beats the alternative," he joked. "I think everybody goes through all sorts of experiences in life, but it is really, really critical to be happy with what you are doing - in the way you see things and the way you perceive things and the way you feel about life.

"It's the best it's ever been for me. I wish that for everybody."

Historically speaking, Martin does have age working against him. Bobby Allison won the 1983 championship at 45, and nobody older has won one. Richard Petty was 42 when he won the last of his seven championships, and Dale Earnhardt was 44 when he matched Petty's record.

Only three drivers have won Cup-level races after turning 50, none since 1993: Harry Gant won eight times after reaching 50 in 1990. Allison and Morgan Shepherd each won once.

Then again, Martin showed no indication of tailing off the last two years while driving part-time for Ginn Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. In fact, in 2007, he was leading the points when he sat out his first race five races into the season.

"I think we all marvel at Mark Martin," former Roush teammate Carl Edwards said. "He's found the fountain of youth, I guess. We tested at Las Vegas last year and I'd run a blistering fast lap, one that felt really good, and they'd tell me, 'yeah, Mark was about a half-tenth faster.' I mean, that's Mark Martin."

Endless hours in the gym and good nutrition have allowed Martin to stay competitive longer at a time when NASCAR's top division is getting increasingly younger.

Sunday's field will include 18-year-old Joey Logano, the youngest driver to start the 500, and 23-year-olds Kyle Busch and Reed Sorenson. Tampa's Aric Almirola, with whom Martin shared DEI's No. 8 Chevy last year, and David Ragan are 24.

Martin may look every bit his age, but on the track, he can still throw the ball downfield with the best of them.

"He eats like he should, and he works out like a crazy man," said team owner Rick Hendrick, who has been on a Martin-inspired diet. "He really takes care of his body. He might be 50, but he's got the body and the mental attitude of a 35-year-old."

Johnson and Gordon, who have combined to win seven championships for Hendrick, say they expect Martin to bring as much to Hendrick as he gets. Both speak of his experience, his understanding of race cars and his competitive fire.

Ragan, who raced with Martin briefly at Roush, believes the ageless veteran will indeed make all of Hendrick better.

"He's a very smart guy," Ragan said. "I think that's why he's been so successful with his teams the last couple of years, because he can come in and look at your team, your pit crews, your race cars, your setups and give great advice. And then he's a great wheelman sitting in the car."

So why retire when you can do all that?

For Mark Martin, coming back full-time wasn't an agonizing decision.

Reporter Tony Fabrizio can be reached at (813) 259-7994.

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