No Frustration: Martin proud of finishing second

Credit: AP Photo

Mark Martin has five second-place finishes but no championships.

By: JournalNow Staff | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: November 23, 2009

HOMESTEAD, Fla. --

Mark Martin thought for a second, laughed, and then laughed again.

There was a time that a second-place finish in a season-long fight for a NASCAR championship easily could have crushed his emotions, left him angry and frustrated.

But at 50, his perspective has changed.

Martin accepted NASCAR's silver medal for the fifth time last night, unable to derail Jimmie Johnson's march toward a fourth straight Cup championship. Johnson became the first driver to win four straight titles -- and Martin joined Richard Petty and Bobby Allison as the only drivers to finish No. 2 in points five times.

"There's no frustration, man," Martin said. "I know you'd love it. I know you'd love it. I know all y'all would love it. But there's no frustration. There's none. I'm very proud of what we accomplished."

Martin finished 141 points behind Johnson, a gap 33 points larger than it was when yesterday's race started. Jeff Gordon was third, another 38 points back, but giving Hendrick Motorsports a historic 1-2-3 finish. And soon after the checkered flag fell, Martin was among the first people to offer a congratulatory handshake to Johnson and his crew chief, Chad Knaus.

"It was such an incredible achievement to have a chance," said Martin, also NASCAR's runner-up in 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002.

Johnson said: "I have to say how much I appreciate Mark Martin and what he's done for the team and the friendship and the respect and the competition he's brought. He's made me step my game up, be a better racecar driver."

The way this season began, few expected Martin to be a contender.

He was 16th in the Daytona 500, and followed with back-to-back 40th-place showings. He rallied with seven top-10s in a span of eight races. And four straight top-fives from Aug. 22 to Sept. 20 vaulted him into the Chase, atop the pack. Johnson was the only one who kept him from staying there.

"I probably picked the hardest one ever to try to win, but my race team was so awesome," Martin said. "I just want to thank the fans and the competitors for their support. Means more to me than that trophy would, I swear.

"We accomplished more than anybody in the garage than the 48. That ought to make you proud."