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CUP: Hendrick - Hiring Martin A Dream Come True
Written by: Kenny Bruce
SeneDaily.com   http://www.scenedaily.com
11/21/2009
Charlotte, NC
 
It took Rick Hendrick (Left) two years to get Mark Martin (Right) in one of his NASCAR Sprint Cup Cars. (Photo: LAT Photographic) ยป More Photos

Rick Hendrick says he remembers the first time Mark Martin drove one of his team’s cars in what was then known as the Busch Series. Just five laps into the race, the successful team owner turned to crew chief Alan Gustafson and said, “Man, if we could get him in a Cup car, it would be unreal.”

That Busch race, the 2007 Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington Raceway, was the first of three in which the veteran driver piloted a Hendrick-owned car.

Two years later, Hendrick’s dream was realized, and the results have been equal to his expectations. Martin made the return to fulltime competition in 2009, driving for Hendrick, and he heads into Sunday’s season-ending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race with five wins and a second-place position in the point standings.

But it’s more about Martin’s impact
not only on the No. 5 team, but the entire organization, Hendrick says, than the number of wins Martin has managed.

“He’s more like [teammate] Jimmie Johnson than anyone I’ve seen,” Hendrick says of Martin. “Their work ethic, dedication and determination to absolute perfection.

“Mark has tremendous respect from all of our drivers. As kind of a statesman, he walks into a meeting and commands respect. He’s very to the point; he will identify areas that we could be better in.

“But I think what he brought is a whole new level of intensity to the entire organization.”

It’s a trait, Hendrick says, that all his drivers share, but Martin’s depth of knowledge, something that comes with nearly three decades of experience behind the wheel, is unmatched.


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