Martin's victory Sunday at New Hampshire gives him a 35-point lead over Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin. It was Martin's first win at New Hampshire in 26 starts. Talk about good timing . . .

Martin now leads the Cup series with five wins this season.

If there is a sentimental choice to win this year's Chase, it's Martin. He has been runner-up four times. After racing part time the previous two seasons, Martin, 50, joined powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports for one last fling. Martin is so reinvigorated by his season, he has signed to race two more seasons for Hendrick.

Asked during pre-Chase interviews last week in New York whether he could have dreamed a year ago that he would be a contender in the Chase, Martin smiled and said: "No. It's a big surprise to me. First, the hurdle for me to take the position full time, it's embarrassing now, after all the fun I'm having. I can't believe I was that stupid.

"I thought we could do well in the points, because traditionally I've been consistent. But I had no idea that we could pound on them for wins like we have."

Martin's disappointments in the Cup series have had him adopting a glass-half-empty outlook for years.

"I've swallowed some pretty big pills in my racing career, so I'm cautious about expecting things," he said at New Hampshire. "It's just how I manage my emotions and everything else."

His teammate, Johnson, the three-time reigning Cup champion, has enjoyed observing Martin this season.

"When the season started, he was putting realistic expectations on some goals," Johnson said. "As time goes on, he knows there's a really good chance that he can be a champion. He's doing everything he can not to think about it. He's made a vow that his happiness is not going to depend on a championship. He's keeping his head down and staying focused [on winning]."

Tryson still Chasin'

Kurt Busch is in the awkward situation of seeing crew chief Pat Tryson banned from the Penske Racing shop during the week except for Tuesday race debriefings, because he is leaving next season. Tryson is still directing Busch and the No. 2 Dodge team on race weekends.

Tryson's access is limited, because, after this season, he is leaving for Michael Waltrip Racing, where he'll be the crew chief for Martin Truex Jr.

Mike Nelson, Penske's vice president of operations, said the decision was made to keep Tryson from knowing about the team's plans for next year.

Busch insists Tryson's situation won't hamper the team's attempt to win this championship.

"I don't see it bringing up any issues," Busch said on a Tuesday conference call. "The fact that Pat is still there on race weekend will definitely keep the continuity together."

Busch noted that crew members have Mondays off and Thursday is a travel day, so Tryson misses being with his crew primarily on Wednesdays.

"The concern on the management side is the development for 2010," Busch said. "I can understand that, but the present is now, and we need to continue working as a group together. [It's] a tough situation, [but] we're making the best of it."

If Tryson is uptight about his situation, he isn't showing it.