2009 Mark Martin

2009 sprint cup car @ charlotte

on july 4, 2008, hendrick motorsports owner rick hendrick , martin announced replace casey mears in no. 5 car 2009 season, running full-time schedule first time since 2006. martin signed two-year contract hendrick, full-time schedule 2009 , 2010. martin grabbed first pole since 2001 @ kobalt tools 500 @ atlanta, , followed back-to-back poles in following week @ bristol.

on april 18, 2009, martin became fourth driver win cup race in nascar after turning 50, winning 2009 subway fresh fit 500 pole position. other 3 bobby allison, morgan shepherd (twice), , harry gant (8 times, last in 1992). win snapped 97-race winless streak going 2005. after victory, did polish victory lap tribute late friend alan kulwicki, @ place kulwicki did first polish victory lap. @ darlington, announced after richmond race martin drive full-time again in 2010; martin go on win southern 500. first multiple-win season since 1999. in 2009 lifelock 400, martin won third race of season when jimmie johnson , greg biffle ran out of fuel in last 2 laps. martin added series-leading fourth win @ lifelock.com 400 @ chicagoland in july, holding off charging jeff gordon. because , teammate gordon finished 1–2 @ lifelock 400 @ michigan in june, lifelock pay $1 million bonus family in colorado. despite series-leading 4 wins, due season troubles, including 2 engine failures, blown tire, , getting caught in multi-car wrecks @ talladega , daytona, martin had struggled top 12, moving 2 spots 11th place win @ chicagoland speedway. martin got fifth pole of 2009 season @ bristol motor speedway sharpie 500.

2009 sprint cup car @ atlanta

after being on chase bubble of season, martin qualified 2009 chase, in sixth place in standings following chevy rock & roll 400. because led chase drivers in wins, four, chase reseeding process moved him 5 places , made him points leader.

on september 20, won fifth race of year taking sylvania 300 @ new hampshire in first race of chase. win broke martin s tie kyle busch series wins lead , marked third time in career had won @ least 5 times in season (1993 , 1998). martin extended lead 35 points on jimmie johnson , denny hamlin, tied second in standings.

at end of 2009 amp energy 500 @ talladega, martin involved in frightening crash in last laps when turned after contact martin truex, jr. , juan pablo montoya, , flipped on 1 , half times. second time martin had ever been upside down in racing career. once righted, martin managed drive car pit road. wreck ended championship hopes according experts.

entering season finale @ homestead-miami speedway, martin , johnson drivers still able win 2009 sprint cup championship. martin finished 12th in race, not enough overcome johnson s lead. martin again finished second in standings, fifth time in career.