Mark Martin is fourth in the Chase for the Nextel Cup standings. Credit: Autostock

Martin historically dominant at desert mile

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Of the 16 races Mark Martin has driven in Phoenix International Raceway, he's finished in the top 10 13 times.

Mark Martin

One of those he'd rather forget. That was a 10th in 1990, when he was challenging Dale Earnhardt for the NASCAR championship. Faced with a choice of whether or not to pit under a late caution, Martin got four tires and went to the end of the lead lap.

Earnhardt ended up winning and Martin lost critical ground when he was unable to make up track position.

Fourteen years later, Martin is back at Phoenix. And he's back in the thick of the championship race, sitting in fourth place, 81 points behind Roush Racing teammate and leader Kurt Busch.

Last week at Atlanta, Martin faced a similar choice. After dominating the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, Martin was in the lead when the caution flag waved with 24 laps remaining.

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This time, Martin and crew chief Pat Tryson decided to stay on the track while the other leaders pitted. It proved to be the wrong move, and after dropping down the leaderboard, Martin pitted on the next caution.

He passed four cars but couldn't catch winner Jimmie Johnson. The points lost at Atlanta could be crucial, too, but there are three races remaining to make them up -- beginning with the Checker Auto Parts 500 at PIR.

"We had a great car last week and we were able to make up a lot of points and get back in the Chase, although we were pretty disappointed that we didn't get the win," Martin said. "Pat Tryson and this team just continue to do a great job, and I'm honored to be a part of this team."

That's been a theme of Martin's this season: the honor of driving the No. 6 Ford. Of course, he'd like to add another honor: 2004 Nextel Cup champion.

Martin never has won a NASCAR championship, despite finishing second four times. He's close again, but that's not what he's worried about.

"I'm not that excited," Martin said with a straight face. "I had a pretty exciting day (last Sunday) 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.

Mark Martin has 14 top-10 finishes in 2004. Credit: Autostock

"There are three races to go, and we should run well at all of them. We're doing what we do. (Sunday), we did everything that we could do. 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. Hopefully, we can keep running like that and maybe we can win some of these last three races."

Martin has one victory at the one-mile Phoenix track, with eight top-five finishes. The victory came 11 years ago, and he'd like nothing more than to do it again.

"We've ran really well at Phoenix over the years, and it's been a pretty strong track for us," Martin said. "We won there in 1993 and we've had quite a few second-place runs as well. The fans out west are great, so hopefully we can put a show on for them as well."

Martin has put on a show in his long career, and he'll mark a milestone this weekend. The Phoenix race will be his 600th career start, though Martin downplays the number.

"It's hard to believe that we've been around that long," Martin said. "I've had the chance to live out my dreams over the past 20 years and the credit for that really goes to a lot of other people. I really have to thank the Robin Pembertons and Steve Hmeils of the world, as well as people like Jimmy Fennig and Ben Leslie and Pat Tryson. It's really a testament to all of the guys who gave a lot up over the years.

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"It also says a lot about Jack Roush. He got this thing started and stuck with it and he took a chance on me back in 1988 and here we are today. I also have to thank all of the fans who have stuck with us throughout the years. Without there support we surely would not have been able to accomplish the things that we have."

Martin made his first career start April 3, 1981 at the now-defunct North Wilkesboro Speedway, seven years before Roush hired him as his NASCAR driver.

More than two decades later, Martin could be on the verge of his first NASCAR title. There's still some work to be done, of course, but Tryson has confidence in his driver.

"Mark has a good record at Phoenix, so we know what's he's capable of doing there," Tryson said. "It will just be up to us to make sure that we give him a good enough car to win, and he'll take care of the rest."