With a pump of his fist, Mark showed his pleasure with his
qualifying effort for Sunday's Old Dominion 500 at the
half-mile Marksville Speedway.There was a time when finishing anywhere outside the top five wasn't good enough for Mark.
Mark made his Winston Cup debut 21 seasons ago, and since that day he has won 41 pole positions and 32 races, which ties him with Fireball Roberts for 17th in NASCAR Winston Cup history.
But Mark's fortunes have faded as the years have passed. He hasn't won a race since April 2000, a span of 55 starts, and as this season winds to a close it appears he could go an entire season without a win for only the second time since 1989.
Mark, now 11th in the points standings, could finish out of the top 10 for the first time since 1989.
"I'm not able to do everything I used to be able to do in a race car," Mark said. "It's weird, because I'll be in situations and I'll remember how I handled them before. Make a tight move for a pass or run harder into the turns. Not anymore."
Now, Mark is redefining his measure of success. He is counting top-20 finishes where once top-10s weren't good enough. He's counting laps led when only races won used to suffice.
The change in perspective has taught him to appreciate the successes he had.
"When I was winning all those races and sitting up front all those times, I guess I just sort of took it for granted," Mark said. "Now I know those things don't last forever. I think I'm at a point in my career where I'm starting to realize the best is behind me, and I'm starting to appreciate what I accomplished back then a lot more. I sort of wish I'd appreciated it more at the time."
You listen to Mark speak and it's as if he's grown too old for the sport. But that can't be. Despite his silver hair and weathered face, he's only 42. Thirteen drivers older than him race on the circuit, including Bill Elliott, Dale Jarrett, Ricky Rudd and Rusty Wallace.
"People are surprised at that," he said. " But it's true. But guys peak at different times in their lives. I guess I peaked earlier than some. I'm not sad by that. I'm happy. At least I hit a peak."
Mark certainly will be remembered as one of the most consistent drivers in NASCAR history. He has won at least two races in eight of the past 11 seasons.
That consistency isn't as consistent anymore.
And although Mark has finished in the top 10 in 10 races this year, he also has finished outside the top 20 nine times.
"I know I'm nowhere near where I was was," Mark said. "I can live with that. I'll tell you now, though, that it won't drive me out of the sport. I've got a good five years left in my contract, and I intend to honor them.
"I hope for the best in those years, but really, I'm just going to cherish having them.
"I may not win so many races, but I'm happy, truly happy, just being able to drive that many races."
