Admit it. Like me you snickered a bit when Mark Martin had the Viagra sponsorship during his days at Roush. I’ll also admit for firing more “old jokes” in the direction of the 50-year-old than NASCAR on FOX host Chris Myers does on pit reporter Dick Berggren. We’ve joked about the “old man smell” in his car, the possibility of having Depends and Geritol as sponsors and it doesn’t end there. For example: “Mark Martin is so old, when he goes out to eat- he complains the Jell-O is too tough.”
You want to know something that isn’t funny? It’s what he’s getting done on the track.
All the talk today is centering Martin’s first win in over 3 years, and how he might be the one guy who wins a race and no one really complains about it with the respect he commands in the garage and in the grandstands.
What should not be missed is the fact Mark Martin may be setting the standard, creating a “how-to” on how to still compete at a high level in NASCAR past those prime racing years of the 20s and 30s.
You see, though competing in auto racing doesn’t put the same kind of demands on the body that the stick and ball sports do, we still learn from Martin that a workout regimen that rivals that of other “seasoned” athletes has its benefits. He’s got the focus, the stamina and just that plain old energy you won’t see from some a lot of other guys after they climb from the cockpit.
He hasn’t seen the inside of a fast food join in 15 years, Martin doesn’t drink and you can’t hit the gym at 5 a.m. if you’re burning the midnight oil. In a twist on the old Ensure ad, he may not have added years to his life, but Mark Martin has added life to his years. I’d go as far as to say Martin could easily compete at a championship level for at least another 5 years if he so desired.
Martin tells us he’s enjoying the moment, not getting all hung up on points and championships. He’s in the best spot possible: he’s got chops to compete at a high level and the age and wisdom to know there’s no guarantee he hasn’t just won his last race.
Did you see him on TV this week? They once called him “The Kid” and you know what? He’s acting like one out there. A kid who gets what a privilege he hsa, racing cars at insane speeds for wins. Mark Martin is grinning like a Cheshire cat because he knows he’s got one sweet gig, doing what he does best for the organization that’s the best in the business.
Harry Gant, Bobby Allison and Morgan Shepherd stand alongside Martin as the select club of drivers to win over the age of 50. Used up by injuries, Allison was finished by 51. Gant had a magical run at age 51 when he won 4 consecutive September races in 1991. Shepherd has by and large been an on-again and off-again Busch/Nationwide Series driver for the better part of the last decade or so. At 67, Shepherd continues to amaze at getting out there with drivers young enough to be his grandchildren.
What’s amazing about Martin is it’s not completely crazy to think he could win a championship. Right now, Martin is just 9 points out of 12th, he’s had an average finish of 10.2 in his last 5 races and he has 3 poles to his credit. I won’t say he’s GOING to win a championship, but I will say the record holder for wins in the Nationwide Series (48) to go with 36 Cup victories and 4 2nd place finishes in the season points has everything in place to really make a run for it.
He may race for the New York Yankees of NASCAR- Hendrick Motorsports- but it takes more than just good equipment to win. You’ve got to be focused, intelligent, mentally quick, and it sure as heck doesn’t hurt when your wits are sharp from a diet that sees food as fuel, an exercise routine that is seen as a tune up for the body and an attitude that keeps a healthy perspective on what really matters.
Lets’ not forget Mark Martin was perfectly willing to walk away from it all for his family, and he would have done so had his wife Arlene not given her blessing to pursue another season or two in Rick Hendrick’s #5 Chevrolet.
You see, Mark Martin is more than just a good driver. He’s a good man.
You’ll excuse me if I act like a fan, but a Mark Martin championship run would be a feel good story we could all get behind. In a world of sports where successes are often imitated, here’s an instance where I’d encourage copy-catting.
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I would like to see Johnson get a fouth straight title. Actually I would appreciate the abilities of ANYONE (even drivers I don’t like) to accomplish that feat. But Johnson and the others are young and will have the opportunities to do it again.
However, this year I am definitely pulling for Mark! Depending on rumors, this is likely Mark’s last year full time racing. People tend to forget when he went to Ginn, he was leading the points for TWO races after he went part time. Sure Mark will appreciate all his accomplishments in his career, but it would be so nice to add “the icing on the cake” for him before he leaves.
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