Martin in a Hendrick Chevy for Darlington Busch race (cont'd)

"I see how fast the car is. I see they don't need my input. If they did, I would've gotten involved sooner, but the program is so strong they really don't need my input from a technical side."

Kyle Busch is competing on a part-time schedule, having run nine of the 11 races this season. He's still sixth in the points and had the car up front for a series-high 532 laps led. Busch is sitting out Friday night's race and handing the wheel to Martin, who admits he's somewhat overwhelmed with the situation.

"That No. 5 means something to me," said Martin, who spent the majority of his career driving a car with 6 on the door. "I remember the No. 5 when it was first getting started -- when it was All-Star Racing on the side and Rick Hendrick was a car dealer getting into NASCAR. This is stuff that's history. And the older you get the more history means to you."

That was 1984, when Geoffrey Bodine drove the 5 car for Hendrick in the Cup Series. He scored three victories that season.

Since then only three drivers have wheeled the 5 car full time in the Cup Series: Ricky Rudd, Terry Labonte and now Busch.

The 5 car's history is more personal in the Busch Series. It debuted under the team flag in 2002 with Hendrick's son Ricky at the helm. The next year Brian Vickers drove it to the series championship. Since then it's primarily been Busch's ride. And he hasn't tarnished the record.

"The way this car has run this year with Kyle in it, if I can get in there and not do something stupid, and do a good job of relaying information and integrating and working with the team, then we should have a shot at it," Martin said of the possibility of ending the night with a victory.

To achieve that, Hendrick said, doesn't necessarily mean the team will be lifting a trophy.

"I kind of compare it to having Darrell Waltrip win the Daytona 500 in our car," Hendrick said. "When I look back at the end of the day and we look at the wins we have and the people that have been part of it, I think it's going to be really neat to have Mark's name on that list."