Mark Martin

Mark Martin won't rest easy until he wins a Sprint Cup championship. Deep down he craves the title, the one thing that would make his great NASCAR career complete: his Mt. Everest.

At 50, Martin is driving as well as he ever has, if not better, since he started competing in NASCAR's top series in 1981.

He has had bigger years to date — seven wins for Jack Roush in 1998 — but he may never have driven with as much conviction as he has this season for Hendrick Motorsports, with victories at Phoenix, Darlington, Michigan and Chicago. He starts the Chase for the Championship at New Hampshire Sunday as top seed, with a 10-point lead over Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson.

If Martin can get off to a fast start in the 10-race Chase at Loudon, he'll have a jump start because he's good at Dover, the second Chase race. Martin's age, of course, could be the key to his success, or his downfall.

Mentally, there is no one as shrewd and race smart as Martin in the Chase field. He doesn't make mistakes.

Physically, he's in robust health. But he is 50, and the body doesn't rebound quite as fast as it does at 25 or 30.

That said, I am picking Martin to win the Chase and expel his demons. It's time he adds the title to his four-time runner-up resume.

Martin has a great crew chief, a solid pit crew and the best mind in racing. He has a great car, a strong engine and a will of steel. He should be able to get the No. 5 Chevy to victory in the Chase more than a couple of times.

It would be monumental if he wins it all. Martin is at base camp, and he has got the tools to reach the top of the mountain.

He just needs a little luck here and there.