Mark Martin raced this year as a favor to an old friend. Now, he’s closer to winning his first NASCAR Nextel Cup championship than anyone could have imagined.

If it were up to him, Martin would have run a partial schedule this year and concentrated on the Craftsman Truck Series. But because team owner Jack Roush couldn’t find a competent driver for the No. 6 Ford, he begged Martin for one more year. Martin obliged.

Not a bad decision, considering he’s 10 points behind first-place driver Jeff Burton with six races to go.

“We’re in the best position we’ve been in in many, many years,” said Martin, 47, who last week announced his signing with MB2 Motorsports to run a partial schedule next season. “You know, we have a really strong team. Our cars have been fast most of the time this year. We’re sitting better than we have been in any other time that I can remember.”

A probable Hall of Famer, Martin never has won a Cup championship. He’s come close, finishing second in the points championship four times. He has 35 career wins and is widely considered the smartest and most respected driver on the circuit. He has been a staple of the Roush Racing since 1988, and after tonight’s Bank of America 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Martin will have five more races under the Roush umbrella.

Starting in 2007, Martin moves to a new team as driver of the No. 01 Chevy for 22 races next season. He’ll share the ride with rookie Regan Smith.

Three to take the checkered: Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Carl Edwards.