Martin is glad he stuck around

He already is second in the standings -- the only driver over 35 in the top 10.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Mark Martin wasn't even supposed to be in Nextel Cup racing this season. He certainly seems out of place in the standings.
Back for another season with Roush Racing after some other unexpected changes, the 47-year-old Martin already has four top-10 finishes. He's second in the standings -- the only driver over 35 who's in the top 10.
"Well, it's a lot harder work when you get my age to get it done. But we're working real hard to get it done, and I'm having the time of my life," Martin said Friday. "As of right now, this is the best it's ever been."
Martin has been in NASCAR's top series since 1981. He has 35 victories and has finished second in the season standings four times.
He went into last season planning for that to be his last in the No. 6 Ford for owner Jack Roush, who he has driven for since 1988.
Jamie McMurray had already been signed by Roush last year as the intended replacement for Martin, but McMurray ended up replacing Kurt Busch instead.
Martin glad he stayed
Roush then persuaded Martin to stay another season, and the driver is glad he did.
"This the time of my life. I really never dreamed that it would be," Martin said. "But I'm sure that in a couple of years down the road, I'll be able to look back at 2006 and say that was the good old days."
With this week's stop at Texas Motor Speedway for the Samsung/RadioShack 500, Martin is at a track where he and the Roush team have had plenty of success.
Five Roush drivers have won in the 10 Cup races in Texas, former driver Jeff Burton (1997) and Martin (1998) winning the first two at the 1 1/2-mile track, where there has never been a repeat winner. Martin has four top-five finishes in Texas, including second behind teammate Carl Edwards last November in the first fall race at Texas.
"That guy is a driving machine. He's unbelievable," said Kyle Busch, the 20-year-old who's fourth in the standings.
"For a guy who wants to slow down, Mark Martin hasn't lost his desire or his edge," said Jimmie Johnson, the points leader by 59 over Martin. "He's winning and competing. He's really respected in our sport."
Two other races planned
Martin had two other races planned in Texas this weekend before the Cup race. He was in the IROC race Friday night and was set to make his first Busch start this season in today's O'Reilly 300 after qualifying fourth.
While there hasn't been a repeat Cup winner at Texas, Martin has won three of his five Busch races at the track (1997, 1999 and 2000).
Martin was initially reluctant about returning for another Cup season because he wasn't sure if he'd have the "desire and drive" needed to get through another competitive year.
"I didn't know if I was going to be able to find it, I swear I didn't," he said. "I was really concerned that I wouldn't be able to find it, but I went out in Daytona and did my job."
Martin led 19 laps and finished 12th at the season-opening Daytona 500. Martin then had four straight top 10s, finishing second in Atlanta, before being 13th last week at Martinsville.
"When I slip down in the seat of the 6 car, it feels like your favorite spot on the couch or the recliner, it's the right place for me," Martin said. "We went to California and we had an awesome, awesome car and effort, and the momentum has just sort of built from there. Now, I'm in the middle of this thing."
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