Martin intense, involved in driver development team (cont'd)

An argument could be made that there was little difference between Columbia County, Fla., and Bristol, Tenn., other than the area codes.

Martin did a pile of media interviews, paused for an autograph session in the pit area next to his racecars and was the target of dozens of cameras.

Mark Martin with 15-year-old son, Matt, and Ricky Carmichael

"This was not exactly what I had in mind for [Saturday night]," Martin said as he scanned the dozens of people surrounding his two-car pit, including five or six camera crews and several print reporters. "But it comes with the territory, you know what I mean? But I'm very happy. The happiest I've been in a long, long time."

There was a lot about Martin's carriage and demeanor that said exactly that. At one point he said there was "so much rolling around in my head" that he couldn't think of an answer to a question.

"I'm not sure I'm focusing on short-track racing right now because there's a lot going on here," Martin said, laughing again. "And Ricky's doing the driving, so I'm not having to think about as much as I usually do."

But in the midst of all that, the cars -- and the racing -- never faded from the forefront. And it wasn't the racing in Bristol, even though Martin was well aware what was going on there.

From the time he walked into his team's pit virtually all he was concerned with was what was happening with his cars. Martin did make a point of greeting a number of guests in his area, but he was perpetual thought and perpetual motion.

"I'm pretty nervous about this," Martin said. "Matt seems to run real good when I'm not here, so if I had my choice I would get to racing and get this over because I'm just too nervous."

Despite saying that, Martin had walked up to his pit area smiling and relaxed. But there was no question "the boss" was there. He slapped on a headset, a pair of Mechanix gloves and he was the first one to grab a jack when Carmichael's car returned to the pits after its two practice runs.

That was the course of the evening, with Martin striding between the Nos. 4 and 66 cars repeatedly and offering tips and counsel.

Martin had one last chance for an out, when someone asked him at about 7 p.m. if he still had time to gas up the jet and fly to Bristol. Martin just burst into a grin and laughed as he answered.

"I don't want to," Martin said. "That's not what I got in mind.

"For me, I'm having an awful lot of fun. Ricky's a super, super young man and I'm really enjoying working with him, and I'm looking forward to moving forward, because this is the first little brick in the foundation."