Sports

Martin Doubles Down To Get Scond Win In Four Races

by Edmund Jenks | May 10, 2009 at 04:37 am

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"It's absolutely unbelievable," said, Mark Martin, who was presented the first ever Johnny Mantz trophy, the new Darlington keepsake named for the first Southern 500 winner, "This is a big surprise. We had a strong car, but I never expected to win.

Alan Gustafson is absolutely the best. I may have been his childhood hero, but I'm living a second childhood now -- and he's my childhood hero. We had a good enough car to do it, and pit strategy put us in a position to pull it off."

The win was a combination of good strategy and good driving at the track dubbed "Too Tough To Tame!"

This is Martin's second win at Darlington. His first came in the 1993 Southern 500. Also, this win comes on the heels of the announcement that Mark Martin's retirement tour has been extended to 2010.

Hendrick Motorsports announced on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 that the 50-year-old Martin will return to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet for the full 36-race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next season.

In a Hendrick Motorsports assault on Darlington Raceway, Mark Martin -- at 50 the senior member of the team -- won Saturday night's Southern 500 by 1.531 seconds over teammate Jimmie Johnson.

Attrition trimmed the field, and perseverance allowed Johnson and teammate Jeff Gordon to rally from a lap down each to finish in the top five.

But it was a call by Martin's crew chief, Alan Gustafson, that gave the driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet his second victory of the season and the 37th of his career -- tying him with Bobby Isaac for 17th on the all-time career wins list (watch video).

Martin and Johnson were two of seven drivers who stayed out on old tires under the 15th caution of the race on Lap 321, while Tony Stewart, Martin Truex Jr. and Gordon were the first three drivers out of the pits with fresh right-side tires.

Stewart charged through the field to finish third in his No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet, a car that gets engine, chassis and technical support from Hendrick. Stewart's teammate, Ryan Newman, ran fourth, followed by Gordon. Stewart moved past 16th-place finisher Kurt Busch into second in the Cup standings, 29 points behind Gordon.

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Uwe Paschen

at 05:30 on May 10th, 2009

Well reported Ed. Thanks.

Edmund Jenks

at 06:38 on May 10th, 2009

Mark Martin's continued success makes us all feel just a little younger, and to think he was going to hang it up a couple of years ago when he was having trouble putting together a ride for the season.