Dad seems happier

Editor’s note: This week Matt Martin, Mark Martin’s son, shares his thoughts exclusively with Yahoo! Sports about his dad’s race for a championship. Mark Martin, 50, goes into Race No. 8 of the Chase second in the points standings.

Matt Martin and his father Mark hang out prior to last month's race at Kansas Speedway
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When my dad decided to return to full-time racing, I wasn’t surprised at all. I just thought it was the start of another adventure. If I was in his shoes, I would’ve taken that opportunity, too. He’s 50 years old and the best team in NASCAR offered him a job. I would’ve done it, too!

Just because you’re old doesn’t mean you can’t do something. He’s not ancient, but he’s definitely older than the other drivers. So what? He competes. He’s just as good. Age doesn’t always make that much of a difference.

I knew he still had it in him. He’s always been pretty good. In bad or good equipment … that’s just him.

He does seem a lot happier this year. He used to just come home and be like, “Yeah. That was an interesting weekend.” He loved racing but you could tell that he wasn’t always excited about how they performed. This year he’s pretty happy. He’s excited. It’s interesting to see.

I don’t think he’s feeling too much pressure right now. He’s already done so much. He’s seen everything a NASCAR driver could possibly see. He hasn’t won a championship. But in the end, I don’t see that as the best experience you could possibly have in NASCAR.

There are so many other things that go into NASCAR besides winning a championship. You could perform well all year and not win the championship, you know? He’s excited to be doing what he’s doing. But, he only wanted to win at least one race. He’s won five. He qualified on the pole all these times. He’s excited. He’s just enjoying doing what he does.

He’s honest. He doesn’t need to win the championship. He’d love to win it. But if he doesn’t, he doesn’t. It isn’t going to bother him if he doesn’t.

The thing about my dad is he probably does realize how good he is, but I don’t think he’ll ever say that he’s good. There’s always someone out there who’s better than you are. And to brag is just irritating. I think he knows he’s good. But he’ll never think he’s the best in the world or he’s on top of the world. He definitely doesn’t act like that, and I think that’s why so many people like him. He’s not a jerk.

He is extremely humble. He’s just plain hard on himself. I asked him how he could weigh 125 pounds when he looks big, and he says things like, “Well, my brain isn’t that big.” He’ll just say things like that. He’s funny.

He’s a simple guy. A cool guy. There aren’t many secrets about my Dad. He’s just a guy from Arkansas.