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Momentum in NASCAR can be magical, mystical and maddening. In a sport dictated as much by how a motor performs, tires grip or shocks bounce, momentum also can be mythical.

"There have been times where I've really believed in momentum," driver Matt Kenseth says, "and then other times I really haven't."

Based on race results, this would be a good year to doubt it.

Typically, a race winner and his team carry the energy, aura, good vibes or whatever you want to call it from that victory into the following race. Win one Sunday, and you're usually more likely to score a top-10 finish the next.

But not this year. Only about a third of the time has the race winner placed in the top 10 the following event. Mark Martin seemed surprised by that fact.

"That doesn't sound right," the driver says, shaking his head. "I don't know what's going on."

What's happening is this Sprint Cup season is shaping up to be among the most inconsistent. Over the past five years, race winners have gone on to finish in the top 10 the following race at least 55 percent of the time. The last year the percentage fell below 38.6 was 1961, when Martin was 2 years old.

Martin is as responsible for this trend as anybody since he's won more races than any other driver this season.

He followed his Phoenix win in April by finishing last the next race at Talladega. After winning at Darlington in May, he placed 17th in the next points race, the Coca-Cola 600. He celebrated a win at Michigan in June, then the next week was 35th at Sears Point.

Last weekend, he broke the string and threatened to turn momentum into a reality. He backed up his Chicagoland win with a runner-up finish at Indianapolis.

So, what's going on this season?

"When you have 35 cars running at the end of these things and, 25, let's say -- maybe even 30 -- on the lead lap, it's harder now than it used to be to recover from a snafu," Martin says.

"It may be a trend that we're seeing but it's not really a performance trend. It's more of like if you have an issue, it's harder to rebound from it."

Another factor is that lead changes are down this season, a sign that it has been more difficult to improve your track position during many races. Others point to the tight competition, teams yo-yoing and the strength of Hendrick Motorsports.

"I think the reason maybe you're seeing this happen a little more this year is because the level of competition is really high," says ESPN analyst Dale Jarrett, a former driver himself. "Sometimes we're quick to say that the racing is not as good, but I think it's been really been compelling this year because you literally don't know what's going to happen in these races."

Just like one never knows what will happen to Kyle Busch. He's been hot and cold this season. After his Bristol win in March, his "momentum" led to him failing to finish in the top 10 in the next four races. Busch said recently he needs to change his attitude when things aren't going well, so he doesn't get agitated and stop giving the crew the information it needs to make the car better.

He's not alone in bouncing around the standings. First-time winners David Reutimann and Joey Logano also have had up-and-down results since their victories.

Only Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart, whose team also uses Hendrick Motorsports equipment, seem to be immune to this trend. They're proving to be about the only dominant cars this season. Of course, both have been good in this area the past few years. Stewart has followed both of his 2009 wins with top-10 finishes. Johnson, who has led more laps this season than anyone, has duplicated Stewart's mark of top-10 runs after his two wins.

"Momentum does matter," Johnson says. "You can feel it, but you can't control it."

Today's race at Pocono Raceway gives Johnson a chance to extend his streak; he's coming off a victory last weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"Trying to beat that guy is like trying to beat Superman," Martin says of Johnson, his teammate at Hendrick Motorsports. "Look at the results they get, from the sheer number of successes they've had to the incredible comebacks that are almost beyond belief."

And well beyond what many other drivers are going through this season.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com