A driver with unrelenting drive

Considering the roller-coaster ride of emotions Mark Martin has experienced during his 20-plus years in NASCAR's elite series, it's no wonder he has been pegged as racing's eternal pessimist.

But it's more accurate to refer to Martin as a pragmatist. Imagine holding the reins on your exquisitely crafted carousel pony with one hand and grasping for the elusive brass ring with the other, knowing it's oh, so close, but so far away.

In 16 seasons with Roush Racing, Martin, 45, has finished in the top five in points 10 times, including second four times. He has finished outside the top 10 only three times. Last year was one of those times; Martin's 17th-place finish was his worst with Roush.

When Martin said at Daytona this season that he'd "rather sit on the couch" than have another year like 2003, you had to believe him. But rather than wallow in sell-pity--even after his engine puked out seven laps into the Daytona 500--Martin and his team fought back ... and fought back ... and fought back. This was a group effort. That's the only way a team can rise from 43rd to eighth in points in 25 races.

But Martin refuses to settle for riding around, and he shouldn't. He never has. Martin, who has 10 years on Jeremy Mayfield, the next-oldest Chase driver, has built a career on consistency, and his record shows it.

In 39 starts at Lowe's Motor Speedway, the site of Saturday night's race, he has four victories and 15 top fives. He has won twice at Martinsville (October 24) and at Atlanta (October 31) and once at Phoenix (November 7) and at Darlington (November 14). He hasn't won at Homestead (November 21), but there have been just five races there.

So what's his best track in the remaining six races?

"All of them,' Martin says optimistically.

Yes, optimistically. He loves his cars. He loves his team. And he loves crew chief Pat Tryson.

The feeling is mutual. From his first day at Roush Racing in the late 1990s, Tryson's dream was to work with Martin. Tryson still beams when asked about his driver.

"Mark always was the guy. He still is," Tryson says. "He's done great things for the sport, and it's an honor to work for him. He's amazing in the racecar. All drivers are competitive, but Mark really hates to lose. He lives to be in the racecar. Most drivers don't live to be in a racecar. That's all he does is think about being in the car. That's all he cares about."

It's often said that Martin is the best driver never to have won a Cup championship. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a fan favorite, but no one is respected more in the NASCAR garage than Martin. If winning the Nextel Cup title were a popularity contest among his peers, Martin would win hands down. But he'd prefer to earn the title on the track.

And if the planets align just right and Martin is crowned champion at Homestead, then--for once--his glass will be half full.

SPEED READ

* NBC's decision to place a five-second delay is a sign of the times--and a sign of cowardice. It's unfortunate that today's political climate has invaded the sports arena. If networks continue to will in the face of the FCC's intimidation tactics, it will strangle the emotion out of sports events.

INSIDE DISH

Terry Labonte isn't ready to ride off into the Texas sunset just yet. Hendrick Motorsports says he will run a limited schedule in the No. 44 car for the next two years--with sponsorship from Kellogg's, among others. Kyle Busch will take over driving the No. 5 and will run for the Raybestos rookie title. ... After a year without a full-time ride, John Andretti will return to the track this week in the No. 14 ppc Racing Ford. Despite ppc Racing's fielding just one Cup car, Andretti isn't concerned about not having a teammate. "We don't feel like we are a one-car team since we're part of Ford; Robert Yates Racing has been phenomenal with their help. I never expected this much support. It's been overwhelming." Andretti also will run some Busch races in the No. 10. Jason Keller, who drives the No. 22 ppc Ford in the Busch Series, is free to look for a new ride because Miller is not renewing its sponsorship. (See page 56.) ... Expect Joe Gibbs Racing to name Jason Leffler as the driver of the No. 11 Chevrolet in the Nextel Cup Series for next season. Leffler spent a year in Cup racing for Chip Ganassi in 2001 and has grown significantly as a competitor, which should be helpful considering this is a first-year team. ... Richard Childress announced at Kansas that Glint Bowyer will race full time in the No. 2 Chevrolet in the Busch Series next season. Given that the No. 2 has won three titles since 1997, this should be a great opportunity for Bowyer, 25, a native of Emporia, Kan. In addition to running two full-time Busch teams, Childress said RCR will operate a developmental squad, which could provide a seat for Sarah Fisher.--L.S.

lspencer@sportingnews.com

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