Martin in a Hendrick Chevy for Darlington Busch race

This has been in the works for some time. In fact, it sprouted from a short conversation about Cup engines and Busch races.

It grew after Mark Martin signed with Ginn Racing last fall for a part-time Cup schedule this season. Hendrick Motorsports provides engines for Ginn, and that peaked Martin's interest.

And Rick Hendrick's, too.

"When I heard that he was going over to Ginn Racing and he wanted to talk to us about our support and the engine program, we just started talking," Hendrick said, "and he said, 'Hey, I'd like to drive one of your Busch cars one day.' And it just kind of started."

By the Numbers

No other car has led more than the No. 5 this year. And at Darlington, no other driver has won more than Mark Martin.

• Complete story, click here

"Start" is such a loose term for Martin. He started his NASCAR career running five Cup races for Bud Reeder in 1981. He started his Busch career with one race in 1982 driving for Ed Whitaker. Since then he's started 921 races in NASCAR's top three series for 15 different owners, including himself.

No. 16 comes Friday night at Darlington Raceway when he sits a Hendrick-owned Chevrolet for the first time for the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2).

"It's exciting," Hendrick said. "He's such an icon. And I think we'll learn something. I think we'll learn a lot from Mark and his input."

Hendrick learning from Martin? When it comes to wheeling a Busch car at Darlington -- or anywhere for that matter -- it's true.

Martin's 47 career Busch victories are more than any other driver in series history. His eight victories at Darlington are twice as many as anybody else. His last four trips to the South Carolina track have resulted in three consecutive victories and a fourth-place finish.

But it's Martin who insists he's the student, not the teacher.

"The thrill for me is to be able to drive for Rick Hendrick, and to be able to say that I did that before my career ends as a driver is really special," the veteran said. "To have them with their enthusiasm and a chance to work with more really brilliant people that I can maybe learn something from, this is the greatest time in my life. (Continued)