By Sam Atwell 

Even though this has been a tough year for NASCAR in general, the economy, GM and Chrysler bankruptcies and the Mayfield drug mess there are a couple of wonderful stories playing out as we head to the Chase.

One of those stories played out on Saturday night at Chicagoland Speedway. The 50 something Sprint Cup Series driver, Mark Martin, picked up his fourth win of the 2009 season. This is the same Mark Martin that retired a couple of years ago. The same Mark Martin that came out of retirement to help out DEI and the same Mark Martin that now runs full-time in the Sprint Cup Series.

This is the same Mark Martin that I said wouldn’t be competitive this season. In this case, I don’t mind being wrong! I just didn’t think Martin had the talent to win anymore. I didn’t base my opinion on age, but the fact that he hadn’t been challenging for wins for years. Excluding the DEI years, Martin didn’t contend at Roush Racing his final years.

Martin’s career came back to life when he got behind the wheel of the #5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet of Rick Hendrick.

One of the things I have enjoyed so much this year is the fact that Mark Martin is so humbled to be in victory lane again. He is so genuinely happy about his victories. It is a breath of fresh air, coming from a grizzled old veteran.

I now believe that Martin will not only be in the Chase, but may very well be the leader when we roll into New Hampshire for the first race of the Chase.

So in a year of troubled times, Mark Martin is one of the great stories of the 2009 season and it is a story to be continued.