Mark Martin

2010 has not been a kind year to number 5 Chevrolet. After coming up just short in 2009 of the elusive championship, he finds himself outside of the top 12. At this point in the season he can only look towards next year which very well may be his last year full time in the Sprint Cup Series when Kasey Kahne will be moving to the Hendrick camp to most likely replace Martin.

I notice that there is only one top 10 finish since June 6th, a 7th place at Pocono. But even there he never threatened to win and never led a lap. It just seems that overall he has consistently been mediocre and has never find a great set-up that was to his liking.

He had a good run this last week coming from 42nd the finish 12th but 12th just is not getting the job done. It takes top 10 after top 10 (only 7 thus far) to run with the big guys in the series as you can see from Kevin Harvick (18 top 10's) and the Busch brothers (both of which have 16). That is why he is stuck fighting the not so inspired fight for 13th. I wonder, do they still pay a million to the 13th place driver like they paid to the 11th place driver in the first few years of the chase?

I don't feel that Mark's heart is in it to make another million.