Mark Martin Still Has Something Left in the Tank - Extends Contract
Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR
It was great to hear the news Wednesday that Mark Martin will be returning for yet another full-time season in Sprint Cup racing in 2010.
This way, he gets not one (2009) but two (2009 and 2010) chances at still winning that one prize which has forever eluded him ever since he came to the Cup series nearly 25 years ago: the Sprint Cup championship.
The lure of winning that title was the onus for Martin to accept team owner Rick Hendrick’s offer to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet this season. And while Martin has slipped somewhat in the points – he’s 15th currently (up from 18th last week), heading into Saturday’s race at Darlington – he’s still a bonafide contender.
And if he catches fire later this season, particularly during the Chase for the Sprint Cup, Martin could not only win his first title, he’d now have the opportunity to do something else that he’s never been able to do: return the following season to defend that championship run.
Martin, 50, who won a few weeks back at Phoenix – his first win since 2005 – is happy and content, perhaps more so than he’s ever been in his racing career.
The main reason is he’s doing everything on HIS terms. He didn’t have to accept Hendrick’s offer to return this year or next. He didn’t have to leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. and the part-time schedule he had the previous two seasons. He also didn’t have to subject himself to the rigors of a full 36-race season.
Few drivers his age would. But Martin is in such great shape physically, mentally and emotionally, that you can’t help smile and say “You go, Mark!”
Now that he’s agreed to a contract extension through 2010, there’s also one other thing to smile about and say to him when it comes to his bid for the Cup championship:
“If at first you don’t succeed in 2009, try, try again in 2010!”
Then again, at the rate he’s going and how well he continues to excel, he might be racing for 10 more years, rather than just one more after this year.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 05/07 at 01:08 AMGreat news to hear he’s coming back. My bets are on his team being even stronger next year….more time to mesh with team, team being more motivated knowing he’ll be back full-time, etc.
You go, Mark!
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