Concord, N.C. ? In a throwback paint scheme that honored his glory years, Mark Martin raced as if he were in the prime of his career.

Martin won the Nextel All-Star Challenge and its $1 million paycheck Saturday night by piloting a car painted like the one he drove to four consecutive victories in 1993. This victory didn’t convince Martin to call off plans to retire at the end of the season, but it was enough for him to agree to defend his title in 2006.

“This is how I want to do it,” Martin said. “And we did this by racing smart with a great race car. I am excited about what is coming up ahead of us.”

This was supposed to be the final All-Star race for the 46-year-old Martin, who has not wavered in his decision to walk away.

But this was in no way a nostalgic trip around his favorite race track.

Martin turned it into a popular victory for the most respected driver in the garage. All his rivals and all his fans treasured the opportunity to see Martin run up front in the retro car painted like the one he raced 1992-95.

“I had a great time racing Mark Martin,” runner-up Elliott Sadler said. “I had some flashbacks watching him run up there, with that paint scheme.”

So did Martin.

“I’ve got to thank everybody that helped us get a glimpse of old school with that paint scheme,” he said. “The car ran like it did in 1993.”

Awash in the emotion of the victory, Martin quickly professed he’d come back for more.

“Thank you guys! Thank you!” Martin screamed as he crossed the finish line at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “I’ll be back next year if you give me a ride!”

As an All-Star race winner, Martin forever is eligible to enter the race regardless of whether he competes the rest of the year.

Mark Martin waves the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge. Martin won Saturday at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.

Martin was in second place, lined up next to Sadler, on a restart with 19 laps left. But Sadler bumped into the side of Martin on the restart, and the contact knocked Sadler out of line. Martin then darted into the lead.

“I think we both knew whoever got to turn one on the outside first was going to win the race,” Sadler said. “I didn’t want to give up my real estate, and we got into each other, and it dropped me back.

“But with 19 laps to go and $1 million bucks on the line, you are going to use every trick in the trade. Mark just outsmarted me.”

Martin never looked back after getting ahead of Sadler and was never challenged in winning his second All-Star race. Martin also won the 1998 event, but picked up a paltry $257,500 for that victory.

Brian Vickers, who raced his way into the event by winning a qualifying heat right before the All-Star Challenge, finished third. Vickers spun out Mike Bliss right before the finish line to win the qualifier and was somewhat apologetic after.

“I hate that it ended like that,” he said.

Jeff Gordon was fourth and was followed by Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett, Kurt Busch and Jeremy Mayfield. Bobby Labonte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top 10.

The 90-lap race was broken into three segments, and there were accidents in two of them.

The first was an 11-car wreck that led to an angry confrontation between Kevin Harvick and Joe Nemechek.

Harvick firmly believed Nemechek was at fault, hopping out of his mangled car and darting over to Nemechek’s. He threw his restraint system on Nemechek’s window and followed it with a flurry of gestures.

Nemechek jumped out of his car and charged after Harvick, who answered with a light shove to Nemechek’s helmet. NASCAR officials had to separate them and warn crew members from both teams to back down after they ran into the infield to protect their drivers.