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LOUDON, N.H. -- A four-peat by Jimmie Johnson would be historic. A championship for Juan Pablo Montoya would be revolutionary. Yet, the best ending for NASCAR might be if 50-year-old Mark Martin, back after running a partial schedule the past two seasons, finally wins a series title.

While he enters the title Chase with the points lead --based on winning more races this season than any other driver -- Martin won't consider publicly what it would be like to hold the championship trophy in 10 weeks as flashbulbs pop, confetti falls and fireworks explode.

"I've had a lot of things go wrong in my career," Martin said of his failed championship runs.

That doesn't mean he's erased any thoughts of a title.

"He's been so close that you get to a point that I understand &ellipses; that you just don't talk about it," said Jay Frye, general manager of Red Bull Racing, who had the same title at Ginn Motorsports when Martin drove there in 2007. "Does he have every expectation to go try to win this thing? Sure. Why talk about it?"

There is no need for Martin to say what history does in such stark numbers.

Four times Martin finished second in the points. Three times he finished less than 100 points behind the champion (all before the Chase). Twice NASCAR penalties hurt his title chances.

That's what could make him one of more endearing title contenders for fans, bridging the sport's young and older base. It's easy to root for a driver who can be considered an underdog.

Many view Martin as the best driver to never have won a championship. Only one other driver has won more Cup races than Martin and not won a crown: Junior Johnson scored 50 wins but never finished in the top five in points. Martin has 39 wins but more heartbreak.

Even if Martin doesn't win this year, he'll have more chances. Hendrick Motorsports announced Friday it has extended Martin's contract by a year to go through the 2011 season.

Martin, who planned to scale back his schedule in 2005, will run a couple of more years. And then?

"I wouldn't be a betting man on when he's going to hang his helmet up," former teammate Greg Biffle said.

Martin, who qualified 14th for Sunday's race at New Hampshire, stressed he's not sticking around for the reason fans would expect.

"I didn't take this job with hopes and dreams of winning the championship," he said. "I took it because I knew it was going to be a fast race car, and I wanted to drive a fast race car and have a chance to win another race.''

It likely won't be easy. It rarely is for Martin.

Engine failures in two of the first three races dropped him to 34th in points in early March. It took two months to climb into the top 12 in points and even then he fell out twice before securing a spot with his fourth-place finish last week at Richmond.

After making the Chase, Martin admitted he felt "like a whole new person, (a) huge weight off my shoulders.''

Even with those problems, his car has been fast most of the season. Besides a series-high four wins, his six poles tie Brian Vickers for most this year. Only three drivers have led more laps than Martin this season.

Martin has had that type of success because of his ability to adapt to the race cars and rule changes through the years. Otherwise, there would be little interest by the sport's top team in him.

"I don't find out until I get to the trailer what's in the car for here,'' says Martin. "And if I don't happen to find out, that's not a big issue either. I'll drive the car and I'll feel the car and I'll tell him what it's doing. If I feel something specific, I'll say it."

Just don't ask him about the championship. There's little for him to say. For now. In 10 weeks, he might have something different to say.

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