Mellower Martin enjoying recent success

DARLINGTON — Being optimistic has never been one of Mark Martin’s strong points.

For years, Martin has been known for his negative nature as much as his legendary workout routine.

But these days, Martin is a different man, treating things with child-like exuberance instead.

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“I’m optimistic because I’m happy,” Martin said after Saturday’s win in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. “I am a different person. I still think that I’m cautious about what I set myself up for. But I know I’m gonna have some fun.”

Fun?

You would rarely hear that uttered from Martin back when he was contending for championships in the 1980s and 1990s.

But being away from full-time racing the past two years has reignited the fire under Martin, who is in his first year with Hendrick Motorsports and announced last week he will also be driving full-time next season.

Martin got his first win since 2005 last month and Phoenix but said Saturday’s win is even a little more special. It’s the first time since 1999 Martin has won multiple races in a season.

“I’m overwhelmed, just totally overwhelmed,” Martin said. “This is a little bit more special in some ways than Phoenix because I was just kind of spun out. I just couldn’t hardly believe it at Phoenix. There was so much going on. It’s soaking in a little bit better.”

Martin’s arrival also has breathed new life into the No. 5 team at Hendrick Motorsports. The team had some success in late 1990s when Terry Labonte won a championship and with Kyle Busch before he left for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2007.

But for the most part, they have been overshadowed in the organization, especially with the success of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, winner of three straight championships, and the arrival of Dale Earnhardt Jr. last year.

“This is as good as I’ve seen us in some time,” Martin’s crew chief Alan Gustafson said. “We’re all pretty proud of that. We’re proud of the effort and the work. It’s countless hours from a lot of people. It’s incredible direction from Rick Hendrick. It’s Rick Hendrick going out and getting us Mark Martin to drive our car.

“We know what the 24 and 48 (cars) have done. They’ve had a lot of success. But we’ve worked hard. We haven’t had the results we would have wished for, but we’re working hard to change that. I think Mark’s a big piece of that puzzle.”

During Saturday;s race, Martin showed his worth, as he able was able to get back to the front after a botched pit stop for a loose lugnut earlier in the race.
Gustafson said he was afraid to get on the radio with Martin, who was clearly frustrated.

“I told Mark, ‘We did it to you, just bail us out,’” Gustafson said. “He did, he bailed us out, got us right back up front. We’re gonna make it up to him. I promise him that.”

Martin got back up toward the front and Gustafson’s gamble to not pit late in the race was the difference as he was able to hold off teammates Johnson and Gordon. The win moved Martin up to 11th in points and has definitely put him in the hunt to make the Chase for the first time since 2006.

“This is quite an experience for me to get to be a part of this at this stage in my career,” Martin said. “I’m having a blast.”