Mark Martin leads the Chase

It hasn't happened since 2002 that Mark Martin is on top of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series standings. Actually, back then it was the Winston Cup standings, but still, it's been a long time.
After the race, he was asked if he will reconsider his decision not to run an entire Cup schedule if he is still leading the standings after the fourth race of the year. The first race Martin is supposed to miss is the fifth race of the season at Bristol Motor Speedway.
He said simply no. He is not changing his plans.
Now comes the question of whether a driver can qualify for the Chase and not race every race. Martin looks like he might put that to the test.
"All in all, I think we have potential here to get up there and win a race," said Martin, driver of the No. 01 Chevrolet for Ginn Racing. "We have shown that the last two weeks. We will keep working to make all these Ginn Racing teams better."
Martin was second in the Daytona 500 and came in fifth in the California Speedway race, showing his team can be competitve on restrictor plate tracks and downforce tracks. That's a potent combination.
"I am very proud of this team to come home with a top five and I want to thank all the fans," Martin said. "They are incredible. All the encouragement they have given me this week. I am loving this and I am rolling, man."