What do Fireball Roberts, Davey Allison, Junior Johnson, Tim Richmond and Mark Martin have in common? Besides being numbered among the all-time greats- none of them ever won a NASCAR Cup title.
All things being equal, it appears as though Martin will finish as runner-up in the final points for the fifth time in his career. One may be tempted to feel sorry for him. Heck, this is the Nationwide Series all-time wins leader and he never won a title there! In fact, NASCAR author Terry Blount has the audacity in his book “The Blount Report: NASCAR’s Most Overrated And Underrated Drivers, Cars, Teams and Tracks” to call Mark Martin the “Most Overrated Driver.” I’ll concede Blount is entitled to his opinion, but I disagree….and I digress.
Let’s get back to my point, and it is this, while it is likely Mark Martin won’t win his first NASCAR national touring series title, he’s still had quite a season. The number back it up:
1. With 5 wins, Martin is second only to Jimmie Johnson for 2009.
2. Martin’s 7 Coors Light Pole Awards lead all drivers this season.
3. With 14 Top 5’s, Martin is tied for fourth with Denny Hamlin in that category behind Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Jimmie Johnson.
4. Martin has 21 top 10’s- again, only trailing Gordon, Stewart and Johnson.
Aside from that, his most remarkable accomplishment may be
making the Chase, in spite over hovering near the cut-off a good portion of the season. When the owner of 40 career Cup wins HAD to race carefully down the summer stretch, he pulled it off, while outrunning danger all the way.
On top of that, Martin managed to accomplish all this at an age when most drivers are at, or near retirement. Without rattling off a list of names, it’s not hard to think of more than a couple of champions who finished out their careers with a string of winless seasons, and here this guy is, in the running for the championship.
I’ve heard the criticisms: “Martin’s too much of a nice guy,” “ He lacks the killer instinct of a champion,” and on it goes. Sorry- I don’t buy it. I’ve never seen Jimmie Johnson wreck anyone to get a title, certainly Ned Jarrett was never that kind of racer, and guys like Bobby Labonte and Dale Jarrett were never known as that kin of driver.
Regardless, a tip of the hat from this fan to Mark Martin. Like many of you, and Mark himself, my expectations were exceeded. There was a time I questioned the decision, after those disastrous runs at Las Vegas and Atlanta, but he turned it around- winning his first races in nearly four years, and transitioning from part-time to full-time driving with ease.
Best of all, he’s handled all the unwanted attention with grace and professionalism.
Other than a championship, you really couldn’t ask for much more.
PHOTO CREDITS- Geoff Burke/ Getty Images for NASCAR.
