LOUDON, N.H. — Mark Martin is 50 years old.
But he has the boyhood enthusiasm of a rookie.
Martin, a runner-up in the NASCAR Sprint Cup points standings four times, stepped out of a full-time ride following the 2006 season.
He was burned out and wanted to spend more time with his family.
He ran just 50 of the 72 races in 2007 and 2008.
But Martin is back running full time this season and he entered Sunday’s LENOX Industrials Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 11th place in the points chase. He already has three wins, bringing his career total to 38, and eight top-10s in 16 races.
“I’m having a good time, man. This is the best of life right here,” grinned Martin while signing autographs. “I didn’t expect to have as much fun as I’m having. I wouldn’t have been as reluctant to take on a full-time role again if I had known it was going to be this good.”
“But I did need a break. That helps, too,” added Martin, who signed on with Hendrick Motorsports. “I don’t think I’d be happy right now if I hadn’t taken a break. I wouldn’t be as happy, that’s for sure.”
The Batesville, Ark., native, who now lives in Daytona Beach, Fla., said his current joy exceeds any time in his racing life.
“Right now it’s more than ever,” he said.
Kahne seeks consistency
Kasey Kahne ended a 37-race winless drought with his win at Watkins Glen eight days ago.
He is hoping that will lead to a stretch of strong finishes that will land him in the Chase for the points championship.
“We have to be consistent and build on what we’ve been building on for the last month and a half. It’s been working,” said Kahne. “It’s a good time for us right now.”
“We’ve had progress since Darlington a month and a half ago… great cars… running strong. We just didn’t have the results we were looking for. Then it all worked out and came together,” he added.
Kahne has 10 career wins, 37 top-fives and 68 top-10s.
NASCAR maintains optimism
NASCAR is feeling the economic pinch like most other businesses, but NASCAR president Mike Helton said they are doing whatever they can to keep the sport thriving.
“It is what it is for everybody. We’re obvious to the fact that fans, businesses and car owners and all the stake-holders in the sport including NASCAR itself has to look at remodeling a lot of its business models.
“But in the mean time, there are a lot of positive indicators that are still out there. Our crowds are still averaging over 100,000 people. There’s a lot of adjustment and work going on to figure out how to do it. But there are a lot of creative people figuring that out.”
New Hampshire Motor Speedway was offering a $39 ticket for Sunday’s race, much lower than most tickets, and Helton said that’s an example of a track catering to the needs of the fans.
“Promoters across the board are being conscious of various issues. That’s how it works in the sport.” explained Helton.
The recent change to a double-file restart with the leaders and lead-lap cars out front has been a success, according to Helton.
“It has been very well-received. The drivers and competitors are doing their role in making it work right. It’s living up to the expectations of the fans, which is what prompted us to do it,” said Helton.
He said the future holds a “lot of opportunity” for NASCAR.
“We’re confident that when the economy starts turning, we’re going to be poised to get back on a growth curve and we’re looking forward to it,” said Helton.
Hornish showing improvement
Sam Hornish Jr. made the switch from Indy cars to Sprint Cup cars two years ago and is gradually making positive strides.
He finished 35th in points as a rookie a year ago and never earned a top-10 finish in 34 races. He already has three in 16 races this season entering Sunday’s LENOX Tools Industrial Tools 301 and is 26th in points.
“Every time you go back to the track again, you get a little more confidence. You know a little bit more about the track. Plus the team has gotten a lot better this year and that has helped out quite a bit.”
He said he feels because they are improving that the other drivers have “more respect” for him and he is hoping some of the “small things” that have prevented him from even higher finishes will work themselves out.
“A lot of small things have gone our way [against us], but now we’re working on making them better,” said Hornish.
Being a former Indy car racer, Hornish has been fielding questions about the impact IRL driver Danica Patrick would have if she came over to NASCAR. She is in the last year of her contract with Andretti Racing.
“That’s a big story for everybody, but I don’t really see her coming over and doing it. She’s never been in one of these cars. The cars are a lot heavier. They’re really different.”
However, she would give a boost to the sport if she did.
“One of the things they’ve said they’ve been behind a little bit on has been the 18-34 male market so, obviously, having her here couldn’t hurt that,” said Hornish, grinning.
Caisse battling adversity
Sean Caisse had a lot of success driving for the Andy Santerre Motorsports team in the Camping World East series.
But since he left the team owned by the Cherryfield native and four-time Camping World East series champion, the Pelham, N.H., native has had his share of struggles.
He is currently under contract to Richard Childress Racing as a developmental driver but has run just two Nationwide series races, finishing 22nd after starting 43rd in Saturday’s Camping World RV Sales 200. He did win an ARCA race earlier this season and one a year ago.
“It has been kind of difficult. I lost one of my primary sponsors I’ve had my whole career which carried me to the Andy Santerre level, Casella Waste Systems. They ended up sticking with Andy while I was trying to get a Nationwide ride or an ARCA deal. I was trying to move up. Unfortunately, the economy took a spin the way it did at the time I was trying to move up.”
“But, fortunately for me, I’ve been able to run a few ARCA races and win a couple of them. I got a few poles and everything. Everything’s been going real well. It’s nice to get an opportunity like this [RCR] without a sponsor,” said the 23-year-old Caisse. “The number two [car] is black [without a sponsor] this weekend. Rich-ard Childress has given me a great opportunity. We’re just trying to showcase ourselves and run well so we can run more.”
He will continue to try to line up sponsors and said Childress Racing has a good marketing department, so he’s optimistic about the future.
“We’re working real hard. We’re just going to keep pushing and plugging along. I think we’re going to get something real soon,” he added.
He doesn’t envision returning to Camping World East.
“These tires, these radials, are a lot different than the bias-ply tires [in Camping World East]. You develop some bad habits on the bias-ply stuff. That’s why I went to the ARCA series. They have radial tires. I’m just trying to get used to these tires and get a little bit better,” he said.
He said Santerre was extremely helpful in his development.
“Andy is a phenomenal talent. He taught me a lot. I worked in the shop quite a bit and got a good understanding what the car is underneath me. Fortunately enough, it’s helped my career. I won a bunch of races for him. We still have a good relationship and I’ve just got to keep moving forward.”