Martin, nifty at 50, claims fourth Cup win of season

JOLIET, Ill. -- Mark Martin will feel his age in the morning, or a day or two after a race.

His bones will stiffen and his body will ache after driving 400 grueling miles, even though the fitness fanatic is still in top shape.

After all, 50 is 50 and that matters -- well, everywhere but on the track.

Martin is still nifty at 50 and has made Cup racing his personal senior circuit. He won at Chicagoland Speedway, getting the strong jump off the double-file restart with two laps left to win his series-high fourth race of the season.

"I'm going to feel like hell tomorrow because I ain't going to sleep much tonight," Martin said Saturday night. "When I'm pumped up driving fast race cars, I certainly don't feel 50."

He's far from the sunset of his career and proved it under the lights on the 11/2-mile track.

Martin dominated early and led 195 laps, easily the most of the race. He was in so much control of the No. 5 car, he radioed his crew to say, "This is easy."

But he dropped the lead to Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson with just over 40 laps remaining. Then a frantic finish that saw Johnson and Kurt Busch tangle on the track allowed Martin his chance to regain the lead and hold on.

"I don't know how we have one (win), much less four," Martin said.

Jeff Gordon's hard-charging finish got him second place. He made a late pit stop for four fresh tires which helped him quickly make up ground and earn his third runner-up finish in the last five races.

Martin and Gordon are Hendrick teammates and earned a $1 million prize for a Colorado family. The teammates also grabbed the top two spots at the LifeLock-sponsored race in June, setting up the fan's shot at the big cash prize.

"I saw Jeff coming and I was like, 'Get it, get it,' " Martin said. "I wanted him to get it. This is really, really special. Incredible what everybody does for us."

Not only that, they gave team owner Rick Hendrick a nice early birthday present. Hendrick turns 60 today.

Martin might still be racing and winning at 60, showing no signs in the No. 5 Chevrolet of slowing down.

Kyle Busch, meanwhile, had a dreadful night, and was unruly on the radio as his No. 18 car was on the track and finished 33rd. He complained all race about his car to his crew and fell to 10th in the points standings.

"I got nothing," Busch said over the radio. "I don't care what you do. It's junk."

Busch had shared the series lead for wins (three) with Martin.

While Busch sank, Martin soared. He went from 13th to 11th to propel himself into contention for a spot in the Chase for the championship.

Martin has insisted all season he wasn't racing for points. His move to Hendrick rejuvenated him and gave the best driver to never win a Cup championship perhaps the best ride of his career.

Martin, who was series runner-up four times, might have to start thinking championship over the season's final 10 races if he can stay inside the top 12.

"I leave the track in my mind 13th and that's fine with me," Martin said. "I'm not going to let myself get sucked into that.

"I may change my mind later, but I'm leaving the track at the same position I was last week."