Never Too Old

Lars Anderson

June 30, 2008

In 23 seasons of Cup racing Mark Martin (right) has finished second in the driver standings four times but has never won a title. Next year Martin, who turns 50 in January, will have his last shot at that elusive championship when he drives for Hendrick Motorsports. According to a source with knowledge of the situation, within the next few weeks Martin will sign a one-year deal with Hendrick to replace Casey Mears (below) in the number 5 Chevy. Martin wants one more chance to win the Cup before he retires, and at Hendrick he'll have more resources at his fingertips than at any point in his career. Can he do it? History is against him; the oldest Cup driver to win the championship was 45-year-old Bobby Allison in 1983.