CONCORD, N.C. – Behind the wheel of the No. 5 car, Mark Martin led Hendrick Motorsports to five victories in his inaugural season with the organization.
He started the 2009 campaign by earning consecutive poles at Atlanta and Bristol before capturing wins at Phoenix, Darlington and Michigan.
Then, on July 11 of that year, Martin found Victory Lane for the fourth time of 2009 at Chicagoland Speedway.
Starting the event in the 14th position, the driver took his first lead of the day on Lap 42, and from that point on, the driver didn’t look back.
He went on to lead the race four different times, which included a 54-lap stretch, 90-lap stretch, 35-lap stretch and the final 16 laps, leading Hendrick Motorsports to its second victory at the 1.5-mile tri-oval track.
His laps led totaled to 195 of the 267-lap event, the most all-time in a race at Chicago. The next-closest driver that race was Jimmie Johnson, who finished second after leading 58 laps.
After the record-setting performance, Martin continued his success in 2009, winning his fifth race of the season at Loudon in September.
The victory marked Martin’s 40th and final NASCAR Cup Series win. He finished second in the overall standings in 2009 behind teammate Johnson, who won the championship.