Martin focused on Bristol, not dwelling on Michigan (cont'd)

To see Martin come back this weekend with a strong finish would only continue a trend that started way back in February. Engine failures in three of the first four races -- including back-to-back finishes of 40th at Fontana and Las Vegas -- left Martin and his team in a huge hole. But victories at Phoenix, Darlington, Michigan and Chicagoland helped Martin work his way back into the top 10.

And that's what will drive Martin for the next three races.

"Before Chicago, we were out," Martin said. "I decided after Chicago, that's where my mind was going to stay, on the outside looking in. That's how we're racing. We'll take it as it comes. We're real confident in our performance and we'll just see what happens. It's certainly a dogfight and there's a lot of racing left -- three races is a lot -- when you're taking about this."

Martin helped return a little bit in confidence with his qualifying effort, completing the sweep of poles with a lap of 124.484 mph. He'll start Saturday night's race on the front row with Greg Biffle, currently 10th in the points. Matt Kenseth, Martin's former teammate and another driver on the Chase bubble, qualified fifth-quickest. Drivers on the outside looking in had good qualifying efforts. Clint Bowyer will start sixth, Brian Vickers 14th and Kyle Busch 15th.

When it comes to the long and the short of the Sprint Cup schedule, the Bristol bullring and 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway would seem to be worlds apart. But Martin said in at least one way, they are more alike than you might imagine.

"This race is a little bit like Talladega," Martin said. "Something can happen in front of you and you can see it clearly, and you know what's going to happen but you can't change directions that fast, or you can't change the outcome. It can be very frustrating, especially when you have no participation in the accident that happens and you see it, and you see it coming, and you still aren't able to avoid it. If it happens repeatedly, then it really gets frustrating.

"The heat is really building up right now for everyone, especially those from sixth to 16th or whatever. So I would expect someone to experience that frustration [Saturday] night."

Saturday night's race represents a milestone in the 50-year-old's career. He made his Cup debut 28 years ago at North Wilkesboro, finishing 27th and winning a grand total of $625.

"I didn't know it was coming until last weekend," Martin said. "It's not something that was on the radar screen. In some ways, it's an accomplishment, but to me, it's what you did in those 1,000 starts that really matters. It's not just the sheer number, but what you did in those starts that makes it special."

Martin appreciates the attention he's receiving as he fights to stay in the top 12, but he wonders if the spotlight shouldn't be focused more on who wins Saturday night instead.

"Every time I went to the race track, it was about the race," Martin said. "And the love for this sport. And for many people in this sport, the race is a big deal, too.

"Points are points. And points are what they are. Flat tires change points, and they change outcomes of races, too. But don't forget, we still are racing every week. ... Let's talk about the excitement and the thrill of the events, too."