Martin eager for Daytona win

The 50-year-old has never won a Daytona 500 before, despite coming close two years ago when he got beaten on the last lap by Kevin Harvick while starting a part-time season for Ginn Racing.

He says taking victory this year would be the biggest accomplishment of his career and believes that with Hendrick Motorsports he is better equipped than ever to do so.

"In 2007, really what I wanted to do was win the Daytona 500 and or the Brickyard," said Martin. "We got close here and at the Brickyard ran sixth with a broken transmission. The mission was almost accomplished and those are crown jewels. I'd put the focus on that, rather than worrying about points or anything else.

"The Daytona 500 is the crown jewel of stock-car racing and I've had a little bit of success in it but the crown jewel, everything else that I've done in my career, would fit around this. I'm a one-step-at-a-time guy, but this is definitely the best stuff and the best group of people I've had and I'm thankful for that.

"If you remember in 2007, I was glad for the opportunity. I wasn't mad because I didn't win, I was glad that I had a chance. If things go our way then we may have a chance again here Sunday."

Martin claimed the outside-pole for Sunday's race last weekend during qualifying, which has been his best ever starting position for the race. Having such a fast car makes him even more optimistic about his chances to finally take victory.

"If I'm not mistaken, I sat on the outside pole six times last year and didn't get one [pole]," said Martin. "So I'll take that because I have sat on the back pole a few times in my career, and I don't like that at all.

"I'll take second. This is my first time - I don't know how many Daytona 500s I've done, but I think it's 25 - that's a good, close number anyway, or in the ballpark. I've never been on the front row.

"It seems like, my memory may serve me different, but it seems like in time trials it was a very rare occasion when I had a top 10 in a time-trials car. My guys always told me after time trials were over with that I would race good and 'don't worry about it.' I always said I would race better if that thing was fast. We've got a fast race car - I'm really excited."

The NASCAR veteran, who has been runner-up in the Sprint Cup four times but never won it, embarks on what could be his last full-season in the series in 2009.