Time away from Cup better than Martin envisioned

FORT WORTH, Texas -- It was almost rock star-like when the silver metallic doors opened. One, two, three men walked out to a mushroom-cloud of reporters and fans eagerly awaiting. The black director's chair had sat silent. The only thing missing was a spotlight, entrance music and fake smoke.

Finally, Mark Martin poked his gray head out of the doorway and took center stage.

"Variety is the spice of life," he joked as he sat down.

And Martin has certainly had that during his recent three-week hiatus after sticking to his 2007 plan of running a partial schedule for Ginn Racing. It was a vacation he hasn't had since he began racing.

"When I woke up Friday morning [before Bristol] at home instead of a racetrack with no anxiety, no pressure and being able to take my son to lunch on [that] Friday -- Friday was the best," Martin said with a smile. It was the greatest day of my life. I had worked hard all week, I had things organized and I didn't have anything to do except what I wanted. I took Matt to lunch and then we went off short-track racing.

"It's hard to have quality time with a 15-year-old. They've got their own lives, and certainly I've got mine."

The two went to Ellisville, Fla., the following Saturday night with Ginn Racing's new development driver, motocross star Ricky Carmichael, as Martin acted as mentor to his two new protégés. Both Carmichael and Matt Martin took laps in a Late Model ride and then ran an event under the lights.

Even there it was the elder Martin who received most of the camera clicks. But that small attention is not going to change his mind about semi-retirement.

"After Bristol was over with, I knew that I was fine -- that I had made the right decision," Martin said.

During the Martinsville weekend, Martin was back in his hometown of Batesville, Ark., for a fan appreciation outing at his museum and dealership. (Continued)