MARTIN IS UP FOR ANY CHALLENGE.

Byline: TIM HADDOCK MOTOR SPORTS

Mark Martin was asked what he thinks his legacy in NASCAR will be and he had a very humbling, uncharacteristic response.

Looking back on Martin's career, he can be remembered for many things:

--Finishing as the runner-up in the NASCAR Winston Cup standings four times.

--Being the anchor of Roush Racing and laying the foundation for his teammates, Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch, to win their championships.

--Forgoing his retirement to return to Roush Racing in 2006, only to become its most productive driver, be in position to make the Chase for the Championship again and perhaps win that elusive championship of his own.

--Winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway last year, in what was supposed to be his final year of Cup competition.

That would have been a storybook ending for the 47-year-old NASCAR veteran, winning the All-Star Challenge. It would have been Ted Williams-esque, when he homered in his final at-bat for the Boston Red Sox. It would have been Magic Johnson-esque, when he returned to the NBA after being diagnosed with HIV and was named All-Star Game MVP.

But Martin has a simpler view of his legacy.

``I just want to be remembered,'' Martin said. Then he laughed.

There was a time when getting a smile out of Martin, driver of the No. 6 Ford Fusion for Roush Racing, was a challenge for anyone. But the past couple of years, the laughs come easier, the smiles effortless.

The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series All-Star Challenge is Saturday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway and Martin has a chance to add a milestone victory to his racing career.

A win would be his third, matching him with Jeff Gordon and the late Dale Earnhardt in all-star races.

At this stage of his career, winning races is the most important thing. Winning championships -- well, Martin said he doesn't believe that is the measure of the true worth of a race-car driver.

But NASCAR has a way to measure a race-car driver's worth, and according to NASCAR's driver rating, Martin is fifth. Not that the fifth-place ranking makes much of an impression on Martin.

According to the Chase for the Championship standings, he's fourth.

Martin's place in the standings is especially noteworthy, considering he's more than 15 years older than his competition.

``At this stage of the game, that's very humbling,'' Martin said. ``I feel honored.''

When it comes to describing Martin's career, he wants to be remembered for his drive, desire and commitment to the sport. But he also wants to be remembered as a fair driver.

``I would have to think that people who have raced me would say that I'm a fierce driver. I believe I'm a fierce driver,'' Martin said. ``I believe I've raced with great ferocity. Also, there is that other side of me, which there's not a lot of room for in today's racing. That era is pretty much going by the wayside.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 3 boxes

Photo:

(1) Mark Martin, driver of the #6 AAA Ford, looks on with son Matt during the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series' Crown Royal 400.

Doug Benc/Getty Images

(2) HERTA

Box:

(1) THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

(2) Herta feels good about his Indy car

(3) Etc.