Whether you root for him or not, there’s no denying that chief among “feel good” stories in 2009 was the resurgence of Mark Martin. Even though he played the bridesmaid (again), Martin mounted a furious rally from a disastrous start to get himself in the position of challenging Jimmie Johnson for that elusive championship.
Now that Martin’s off and running- and I might add, well poised- for another go at NASCAR glory, could it be there’ll be another feel good story coming out of the Hendrick Motorsports garage this season?
Owner Rick Hendrick hopes so. The man who has everything 
in NASCAR riches has dedicated his efforts at a career revival for the sport’s most beloved racer, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.- a driver whose move to HMS started with such promise, only to fade in 2008 and flounder in 2009.
Can Hendrick work with magic with Earnhardt that he worked for Martin? Changes have been made behind the scenes, and Junior also goes into the season with Lance Mc Grew as crew chief. Besides those changes, the disaster that was 2009, starting with his collision at Daytona, is all behind him now.
Are fans expecting too much? I mean, it’s not like he’s been running in a second-rate piece all this time. Has Lil’ E. made the adjustment to the ever-vexing Car of Today? What happens if the much discussed changes occur on the car? There are question marks, but Junior seems positive and confident (that’s a nice start). Starting in your wheel house doesn’t hurt (Daytona), but only time will really give the answers. For Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and his fans, the good news is it can’t get much worse.
Imagine being a four-time champion and being the third man on a four man team. Jeff Gordon rebounded from a so-so 2008 with a remarkably consistent 2009, testified to by his 3rd place finish in the points, in spite of earning just one win.
The only real question with Gordon is will the back hold up? Anybody whose has had back problems will tell you they’re downright miserable, and few of us could really appreciate the attempt at racing for 500 miles week in and week out at 200 miles per hour.
That aside, there’s no reason to expect a drop off. Besides the Cups, Gordo has 82 career wins. One more ties him with Cale Yarborough, two puts him up with Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison. A 5th title would break Gordon loose of his teammate and put him behind only Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, Sr. for championships- so there’s plenty to aim for to stoke the competitive fires.
The hero of the Geritol set- Mark Martin- exceeded even the
most optimistic expectations laid out for him in 2009. What does he do for a follow up? He’ll endure his share of “Go Grandaddy.com” jokes this season, but all silliness aside, there’s no reason to think Martin will drop off and pose a very real threat to Jimmie Johnson’s string of four straight championships.
There is a point in a guy’s career where you lose it, and never get it back. In reality, the end for Martin will come sooner rather than later. However, with his conditioning, chances are the desire will go before the body does, and given how Martin’s feeling, he could put the hurt on the rest of the field. Maybe he pulls the “double” of achieving that elusive Daytona 500 win and a championship in 2010.
I would not bet against it.
But to do it, Martin has to topple the indominable Jimmie Johnson. It has been said that perhaps only Jimmie can stop Jimmie. With the summer arrival of a new generation of Johnson by late July, that thing that could slow him down may be on its way. I’m not quite ready to sign on, but many opine that being in the family way might just be what stands in the way of an unbelievable 5th championship.
True, it’s been a single-minded focus that got Johnson to this place, and now that focus may be a bit divided. As a dad, there’s a part of me that hopes he proves the naysayers wrong. I think family life makes a lot of men better men. We’ll see.
With the excellence that is Hendrick Motorsports, it is not a reach to think that once again, the feel good story will emerge from this team. Which will it be? A Junior revival? Gordon’s “Drive For Five?” Martin finally reaching the pinnacle? Or will it be Jimmie on top with Chandi and a bundle of joy at his side?
Chances are, at least one of these story lines materializes.
PHOTO CREDITS- Mark Martin (upper left) by Todd Warsaw/ Getty Images for NASCAR, Dale Jr. and Jimmie Johnson with Chad Knaus by Jason Smith/ Getty Images, Jeff Gordon by John Haralson/ Getty Images.
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MARK MARTIN WILL FINALLY WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2010 (OOPS I FORGOT HE ALREADY WON ONE), WILL FINALLY RULE DAYTONA (AGAIN I FORGOT HE WON THAT TOO). I MIGHT AS WELL SAY HE IS GOING TO WIN ALL THE BIG RACES THIS YEAR DAYTONA, CHARLOTTE, BRICKYARD.
JUNIOR WILL HAVE ANOTHER MEDIOCRE YEAR LIKE LAST YEAR BUT WILL FINISH TOP 20 AT LEAST. RH WILL COME TO HIS SENSES AND RELEASE JR OF HIS CONTRACT A YEAR EARLIER.
GORDON & MARK WILL COME TO HOMESTEAD DUKING IT OUT FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP AGAIN I.E. 1996,1997, 1998 BUT THIS TIME MARK WILL PREVAIL.
JIMMIE WILL HAVE A TERRIBLE YEAR B.C. HE HAS A BABY ON THE WAY. FIRST TIME IN 9 YEARS HE WILL FINISH OUTSIDE OF THE TOP 5. SINCE HIS ROOKIE YEAR HE WILL ONLY HAVE ONE WIN.
AT HOMESTEAD, EVERYONE WILL BE CELEBRATING THAT JIMMIE DIDNT WIN HIS 5TH STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP. AND FINALLY THE OLD MAN AT THE AGE OF 51 FINALLY WINS THAT ELUSIVE CHAMPIONSHIP. MARK, RICK AND ALAN ARE SO EMOTIONAL THAT THEY HAVE TO WAIT 2 WEEKS TO DO THE INTERVIEW. EVERYONE AND I MEAN EVERYONE WILL BE CELEBRATING ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE 5 TEAM & HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS THAT MARK FINALLY WON IT AFTER 28 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS.
AFTER HOMESTEAD IT IS ANNOUNCED THAT MARK HAS SIGNED A CONTRACT UNTIL 2020. MAKING HIM 61 YEARS OLD
Not EVERYONE will be celebrating if Mark Martin wins. I have nothing against the guy, I just don’t see it happening. Some people have way to high expectations of some drivers.
You’re saying people’s expectations of Mark Martin are too high? Not even factoring in his age, he got more poles last year (7) than ANYbody and had more wins and a higher finish in points than anybody except for Johnson. It’s pretty hard to beat that at any age, especially at 50!
I wish people would get over the age 50 thing. Everyone ages differently and Mark obviously takes good care of himself.
@Janine. Speaking for myself, what makes it noteworthy is that Matrin is blazing a new trail. D.W. and The King ceased to be competitive after 50, and even Harry Gant’s marks are falling by the wayside. It’s quite possible that other drivers will catch Martin’s vision, take better care of themselves and do the things you need to do to be compteitive though your body’s getting older. Just like Brett Favre competing in the NFL at 40 and Jamie Moyer pitchign at 46, I think the day is commonplace where this becomes a non-story.
If everyone steps up and does like Mark is doing, there won’t be any room for the up and coming young guns. But I don’t see a field of a bunch of 50 year old drivers in the future, but maybe a few every once in awhile will come along.
I do not know who the top poster: “MarybeTH” is. Personally, I repeat myself. I do not think that Jr. will ever truly competitive at HMS. The sooner RH fires him out the door the better.
MARK MARTIN is just as great a race driver as any has ever been.
The difference between Mark and Jr is that Mark can drive. I don’t know what else Hendrick can do for Jr except have Mark give him driving lessons. Mark certainly knows how to mentor “younger” drivers.
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