Martin's optimism gives him winning edge

Getty Images for NASCAR

MARTINSVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 23: Mark Martin, driver of the #5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 23, 2009 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)

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Martin takes Bristol pole

Could there have been a better time for a bigger lap?

One week after running out of fuel at Michigan and falling precariously close to falling out of Chase for the Sprint Cup, Mark Martin was back on top of his game.

Martin edged Greg Biffle to win the pole Friday for tonight's Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, giving him a head up on his competition to secure a spot in the Chase with three races remaining to set the 12-driver field.

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No doubt who's Top 3: Johnson, Martin, Mayfield

That's Racin' concludes its three-week look back at the top 10 stories of the NASCAR season.

No. 3 NASCAR VS. JEREMY MAYFIELD

Little could anyone imagine all that would transpire when NASCAR officials stepped to a microphone at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on May9 and announced that then-Sprint Cup driver Jeremy Mayfield had been indefinitely suspended for violation of the sport's substance-abuse policy.

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Setting the pace

Mark Martin has had the best of both worlds.

While much has been made this season of the dominance of Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick-affiliated teams in the Sprint Cup Series, it's not the first time such success has been enjoyed by a Cup organization.

In 2005, when only 10 drivers qualified, all five from Roush -- then Martin, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth -- made the Chase.

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Martin ready for another lap around the track

Mark Martin is coming back one more time.

Martin will return as a fulltime driver in the Sprint Cup Series next year to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports at least one more season, team officials announced Wednesday.

Martin, 50, broke a 97-race winless streak with a victory for Hendrick during the April 18 Cup race at Phoenix. Martin called the chance to return to full-time competition with Hendrick this season "the opportunity of a lifetime."

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Johnson on brink

Mark Martin has lost to Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart - some of NASCAR's greatest drivers - in his frustrating bid for an elusive championship.

Standing in his way now? Jimmie Johnson, who takes a 108-point lead over Martin into today's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Barring a total collapse, Johnson will be the one to send Martin to a fifth runner-up finish in the standings. In doing so, Johnson will become the first driver in NASCAR history to win four consecutive championships.