Mark Martin: Proving Age Is Just a Number

You were not alone if back in July of last year the announcement came that Mark Martin would be returning back to full time cup made you wonder: really?

It’s OK you naysayers there were a few writers both amateur and professional that wondered that while this move looks good on the resume, at age 50 did Martin still have it?

For the rest of us, Saturday's win was just a little validation for what we were saying back in July.

Martin's decision to not only race full-time, but race for an organization that has won three championship in a row with driver Jimmie Johnson was possibly one the best moves in his hall of fame career.

Hendrick Motorsports already has a superstar lineup of four-time champ Jeff Gordon, three-time champ Johnson, and NASCAR's most popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.

So yea, what was he thinking?

He was thinking he would fit right in that organization and win some races and compete for a championship for the final time.

And so far it has worked. Now it started off rough for this team, he won the pole for the Daytona 500, but finished outside the top 10. Consecutive rare engine failures saw this team barely in the top 35.

But in the last four races this team has started to put it together, surging from 34th points to now 13th in the standings in the last four races.

Saturday night he put the field on notice that this team was ready to contend. So much has been made about his age, with drivers talking about retirement in their late 30’s, just having Martin in the car each week proves that age is just a number.

His teammates and boss have repeatedly said Martin's strict healthy lifestyle has really forced them to reexamine their own lifestyles and what they eat and their exercise habits.

I was one of the few who didn’t want to count Martin out, his talent rises above his age. He is proving that with a win this past weekend. I expect him to win a few more races in 2009 and be a serious contender for the championship.

I have to admit after a rough start to the season, a little doubt crept in my mind about him making the chase, but winning a race this season, was going to happen.

The way HMS is starting off this season and the way they have battled through some issues on all four teams both on pit road and in the shop, this team looks to get the bad luck out early and have at least three of the four teams in the Chase.

Earnhardt currently sits 19th after a frustrating night at Phoenix. While he could still make a charge, he is going to need some help, win some races, and some other drivers begin to falter.

Martin's win was not only a great night for his team, his owner, and teammates, but for NASCAR. With NASCAR struggling to fill seats and keep fans interested at home, Martin's win gives fans that are looking for something to draw them back into the sport something to cheer about.

For fans searching for a driver with the grit and enthusiasm and passion that this sport was founded on Martin is just the guy.

He loved this sport enough to realize back in 2007 that his passion and energy had changed and was willing to give up a full-time ride and just drive part-time in 2008, meanwhile deciding whether or not he wanted to continue to drive.

Even on his worse days on the track, he is as grateful and thankful for his chance to drive for the best organization in the sport.

You can call him old, but he schooled the field on Saturday night, and that alone should make the rest of the competition nervous.