Classy Martin just misses first Daytona win

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Two laps.

That's all that stood between Mark Martin and his first career Daytona 500 victory in 23 starts.

With the field frozen for nearly 12 minutes under a red flag before a green-white-checkered finish, more than a few people watching had to be thinking about Martin and his previous employer.

Former Roush racer Mark Martin (right) just barely misses out on his first Daytona 500 win. (AP)

"That would have been a bummer for Jack Roush," said Clint Bowyer, driver of the Richard Childress Racing No. 07. "After having been with Mark for all that time and then see him winning the Daytona 500."

Martin, 48, spent 19 years driving a Ford for Roush's Cup team while also building a reputation as being one of the cleanest drivers both on and off the track. He left Roush this past winter saying he didn't want to drive full-time, and then signed with Ginn Racing to drive the No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet part-time.

"Mark Martin told me this winter this was going to be his best chance to win the Daytona 500," said former Roush teammate and current RCR driver Jeff Burton. "He knows what he's doing. He's not a dumbass."

Martin has been telling others the same thing (that he could win, not that he wasn't a dumbass) in recent days for a couple of reasons. First, Martin believed his new team would give him equipment good enough to contend. The engines, after all, are built by Hendrick Motorsports.

Second, he doesn't have to worry about stockpiling championship points. He's in it to win races.

"I didn't ask for a win in the Daytona 500, I asked for a chance," Martin said. "I let it slip away."

The classy veteran was being too hard on himself.

Sure, he took the final green flag with the lead. And yes, none of the usual Daytona contenders -- Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Tony Stewart -- were in position for a victory. Heck, Earnhardt and Stewart were out of the race.

But on the final lap, while Martin was trying to block Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick stormed from the outside with help from Matt Kenseth.

Just as the leaders dashed for the finish, Busch bumped into Kenseth to start a multi-car wreck that brought out one more caution flag. It was the seventh caution overall -- the fifth during the final 48 laps.