Mark Martin is fourth in the Nextel Cup standings, 81 points behind leader Kurt Busch. Credit: Autostock

Martin pleased despite disappointing finish

Runner-up effort at AMS puts Martin 81 points out of series lead

HAMPTON, Ga. -- A second-place finish Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway helped Mark Martin close to within 81 points of the lead in the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

But all Martin wanted to talk about after the race was how close he was to winning the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500.

BASS PRO SHOPS MBNA 500 •   Results •   Standings

"Today, we did everything that we could do," Martin said. "I had no idea about the points. I was focused all day on trying to win this race (and) the guys gave me a great job and a great opportunity today."

But Martin said, after dominating the event to the tune of leading 227 of 325 laps in his No. 6 Viagra Ford, that he wouldn't trade anything about his team, or his day.

"I'm so proud of my team and what they've done and I appreciate the opportunity that they've given me to drive race cars that run like that," Martin said. "Hopefully, we can keep running like that and maybe we can win some of these last three races."

Martin led 227 laps Sunday at Atlanta. Credit: Autostock

Martin has 34 victories in his career, but a win in this last three-race stretch in the Chase would no doubt be the most meaningful for the driver who came into the day in fifth in the championship, 224 points behind leader and Roush Racing teammate Kurt Busch.

After the top three contenders all had issues, Martin stepped up to fourth, 81 points out. Still, he didn't want to talk much about the Chase or the Championship, as wound up as he was about the 500 miles he'd just completed.

"I'm not that excited," Martin said. "I had a pretty exciting day today and really wasn't counting the points. I need a little bit of time to wind down and as I wind down I'll pick up a piece of paper and see what those numbers say.

"They tell me that it's closer than it was. There are three races to go and we should run well at all of them. We're doing what we do."

For Martin, that means running the wheels off his Taurus. Inopportune caution flags and four tough competitors ganged up to defeat Martin on Sunday.

VIDEO Victory Lane The Hendrick team celebrates an emotional win Three in a row Jimmie Johnson pulls off an emotional win Junior wrecks late Dale Jr. smacks the wall hard, ending his day Engine problems Kenseth becomes second Roush driver to lose engine Transmission troubles Gordon develops gear problems on Lap 179 Pit problems Sadler damages his steering after contact on pit road Race tightens Points leader Kurt Busch loses his engine on Lap 53

In the end, two cautions in the final 25 laps put paid to Martin's effort. He led for the final time from Lap 240 to 309. First, a caution flew at Lap 301 when Kevin Harvick's blown-up Goodwrench Chevrolet came to rest at the head of pit road.

Martin didn't pit and five laps after the race went green, Martin was passed by Johnson when his Roush teammate Greg Biffle, who was trying to stay in front of the leaders, impeded Martin's progress.

"Pat Tryson was a sitting duck -- he lost either way when they threw that caution," Martin said of his crew chief. "If I find out that that caution was for the show, I'll choke.

"I saw the 29 car coasting slow and if I'd have been NASCAR, I would have told somebody to push him off of pit road. It wasn't a problem and I hate that, but we were a sitting duck.

"If we pitted, they stay out and win. If we stay out, they pit. So it was nobody's fault, but those caution flags."

Seven laps after that restart, the final caution flew when Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Carl Edwards, another Roush teammate, tangled on the backstretch. At that caution, Martin, along with the rest of the leaders, pitted. He came out of the pits behind Johnson and three cars that took less service.

CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP •   Inside the Chase •   Superstore: Chase driver gear •   Official Standings •   Expanded access to the Chase on TrackPass

He appeared to be running down Johnson at the end, but fell .293 seconds short.

Afterward, Martin refused to put much of the blame for his defeat on his teammates, either Biffle or Edwards. It was hard for sure to discern if Martin was honestly forgiving them or simply stating the obvious.

"I told you all those weren't my teammates," Martin said. "If they were my teammates, they'd only be on the racetrack to make sure I won (but) they were trying to win themselves.

"They're competitors and I was having to race them just as I was having to race the rest of the competitors."

MARK MARTIN •   Driver Page •   Ford Driver's Eye •   Superstore: Martin gear! •   Martin Article Archive

Martin said 2004 is his best shot to win the championship that has eluded him throughout his storied career.

"Right now, we just have such a great team," Martin said. "The team effort is just incredible. I have the best guys I've ever had to work with in my racing career and it really showed today.

"We had fantastic pit stops and the whole works."