Mark Martin Wins Michigan NASCAR 2009

BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) - The most surprised person to find Mark Martin in Victory Lane at Michigan International Speedway was the driver himself.
The 50-year-old NASCAR star has run well but has had to deal with considerable bad luck this season. It looked like more of the same Sunday when the battery in his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet began to fail before the halfway mark in the LifeLock 400 Sprint Cup race.
Martin turned off everything in the car that he could, nursing it as best he could. Then he realized the race was going to be a fuel economy run.
"I always, always come up short in those gas things," Martin said. "I'm probably about 2 and 25 in these things."
Make that 3 and 25 now.
Martin saved just enough gas to hang on for his third victory of the season and the 38th of his Cup career.
Jimmie Johnson dominated most of the LifeLock 400 and took the lead from Greg Biffle six laps from the end as Martin watched the duel from third place.
Johnson, the three-time reigning Cup champion, ran out of gas two laps from the finish, giving the lead to Biffle. But he also ran out of gas as the final trip around the 2-mile oval began, clearing the way for Martin to drive to the front.
His car also was left with an empty tank on the last lap, but Martin was able to coast to the finish line almost three seconds ahead of runner-up Jeff Gordon.

[@RichieWilliams97]

I have to agree with you. Mark could have at least 20 or 30 more wins if he was as aggressive as Gordon or Earnhardt. Mark is my favorite driver of all time, but you have to be aggressive to be successful. People like Johnny Benson and Scott Wimmer couldn't make it in cup because they were too tentative. But, he's always been in good equiptment. That 6 car in the early 90's was bad fast.

[@rr12003]

smartest examination ive ever heard. thats y martin won in the iroc series. more then aynone else

[@bigboy815s]

mark will win at least 5 races this year i think

[@RichieWilliams97]

Mark could have alot more wins if he was an aggressive driver. He is successful because he is smart don't get me wrong, but he should have won 2 or 3 championships back in the 90's, and he was alot better driver than Earnhardt was, but Earnhardt was 10 times more aggressive. Smart... no.

[@AMPLIGHTNING]

uhh if you put every sport on a sheet of paper it simple u DA u have football u put a ball across a line basketball u put a ball in the hoop nascar u driver in a circle vs 42 other guys thats sports and thats y we love all of them

[@gnapalm]

In a terrible crash..Carlos Pardo died yesterday at NASCAR MEXICO:(:(:( search: "Terrible crash nascar mexico" R.I.P. CARLOS PARDO :(:(:(:(:(

[@nebulae87]

mark martin doesnt need luck. he's been winning his whole career. Jr doesnt have luck thought i'll admit :(

[@wiiiswicked3]

ok dale jr isnt a bad driver ok everyone has the bad year in nascar just like jeff did in 2008

[@rr12003]

martins just that good.
and he has a lot of luck.
luck isn't jr.s friend

[@kevantas5]

I was there! I've been a Mark Martin fan since he won the first race I ever saw: Dover 1997. I will never forget this race.

[@gadgefan48]

That was Greg Biffle, and no penalty, pretty much the majority of the drivers do it.

[@EJ4060]

hey guys guess what i like kyle busch and dale jr. they both are good drivers

[@giliardovocal]

I like NASCAR.,,,,,,, very,very

[@777YFZ450]

its been months since this race...and it still brings a smile to my face

[@stonewall01]

The finish of this race is perhaps the most exciting "fuel mileage" races I've seen.
Congrats Mark!!

[@DannyPhantomDarkness]

I was there, that was so amazing. I was in the middle of turn 3 and 4 and that was so amazing.

[@ilovetotri23]

Mark Martin is the best NASCAR driver to never win a championship! That does not mean much now because NASCAR is a joke, but Mark was a professional working at his highest every single race!

[@rr12003]

it would be crazy.

[@mr.gacha_fun5885]

Mark Martin is my pappis cousin

[@bigz3700]

I was there with my dad when I was 11 or 12 can’t remember. But growing up our favorite driver was mark martin an i’ll never forget this day seeing our driver win in our home state. Great memories at that track

[@cpbarnes]

Only race Ive ever been to lol

[@SUPEREEVEEMASTER]

I think the best Michigan races are when it comes down to fuel mileage.

[@MichaelKnight2024NASCAR]

yep tjats right

[@MichaelKnight2024NASCAR]

yep thats right

[@chucksgarage7165]

Mark said he always blamed Jack for their poor fuel mileage when he was with Roush. But he said he didn’t really learn how to save fuel until he went to Hendrick. He learned the he could save fuel and still turn good lap times.

[@turbodaze]

whos the guy that just littered on the track?

[@RAID3R63]

Greg biffle and all the drivers throw there drinks out dont have cupholders

[@Brittany.Anderson]

this has got to be my favorite win of his (mark martin)

[@ChrisCom.]

I was at this race. My second race ever. Was a good one

[@jdwKeselowskiFan]

Man that was awesome. I remember watching this movie with my dad and brother and cheering for Mark. I kept saying 48 and 16 were racing too hard and would run out of fuel. When Mark finally took the lead, I stood up and threw my hands up in celebration. It was awesome. I really hope Mark finds his way back to victory layne this year in his last year with Hendrick.

[@e521soediv]

make that 3 this season

[@jukucoca]

20 cars 50 laps? wow u know NOTHING about the greatest sport on earth

[@dylan9macy]

Good job Mark :D

[@d.denson4261]

Anyone come back here after last night's Kentucky race? lol

[@e521soediv]

3 for the old man

[@joelmafonso]

what happened lol??

[@Jonathan-dp3zy]

Boy those two yellow cars at 2:15 really messed with me

[@dad7275]

This was a nice win for Martin.

[@NScottK112]

Awesome and eventful race!! Great job w/ the vid!!! I love all of your videos, and I look for them every week!!! Nice Job!! Go Denny Go!!:)

[@cjdionisi1422]

this was my first ever race I went to and to see Mark win was just Awesome

[@ViralWatchMedia]

mark martin ftw!

[@gadgefan48]

"This is drama dude."

[@Dinosorable]

"GENTLEMEN, START YO ENGINES!!!!!!!!"

[@plorwax]

i would love to see that.

[@jukucoca]

haha smooth one jimmie

[@it_is_finished]

Awesome!

[@MrSouthphillyitalian]

That was a nice race

[@person5598]

@StewieGriffin1985 mathmatically he should have been, the stupid chase got jimmie his past 4 championships, but in 2006, jimmie won that year for real

[@dylan9macy]

3:26

[@weaverracing96]

@StewieGriffin1985 You're 0 for 1, buddy

[@jukucoca]

@NascarSmarty lol

[@MichaelKnight2024NASCAR]

yes

[@MichaelKnight2024NASCAR]

yesj

[@pat02537]

2:38-way too many announcers talking at the same exact time