Just what are you looking to do in ’09? "People want me to say championship, but that is so far out of my mind right now. I want to win a race -- singular. When that gets accomplished, we'll start talking about multiples. And I want to contribute to this race team. Short term, I want to get Alan and the #5 team's confidence up and get them performing on a level they're capable of. But as a whole, I just want to make a contribution to Hendrick Motorsports."

Then it’s not about a title run? “No, that was not what drove me to take this. What drove me to take this was Rick Hendrick, Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff, Jimmie and Dale Earnhart Jr. as supportive teammates, Alan Gustafson, an opportunity to drive a blazing-fast race car that could win a race. That’s why I did it. All this other stuff we’ll see about -- we’ll see about that. I got hills to climb this year before we talk about standing on top of the mountain. You have to understand that in 2009 we have plenty of hills to climb before we can even discuss all that… We’re starting a little bit behind as a race team. We haven’t had an opportunity to work together before. We didn’t work together last year...”

The crew chief for Mark is long time Hendrick Ace, Alan Gustafson, and Mark is stoked about working with him. "I can't say enough about this guy. Alan has just really impressed me from the time we worked in the Nationwide Series together in 2007. It was awesome at Darlington and awesome at Michigan with him. He's such a brilliant guy. Technically speaking, he is incredibly smart. I don't even ask what he's doing any more because I trust him and know what he's doing is right."

Alan hit the nail on the head and sees Mark the way we always have, “…When I see him around the shop or with the guys, it's so obvious that Mark Martin is always Mark Martin. There's no personality for the TV or a different one for the fans, or a different one for the sponsors. Mark is Mark."

And that Mark is fired up to Run ‘N Gun. NEWS FLASH! He’s on the front row of the Daytona 500. Hot Damn, giddy-up, Mark!