Mark Martin confirmed
today that he will not serve as a driver development coach for Roush Fenway this
season, after all.
RFR announced in July
that their original driver would return to the fold in 2015, mentoring and
coaching young drivers, both on and off the race track. That relationship has
not developed, however, and when asked why by a fan via Twitter today, the
40-time Sprint Cup Series winner said he no longer has the desire to spend time
at the race track.
“I didn’t want to go
to the races,” said Martin. “I’ve done enough of that for now. Except for dirt
track.”
Martin’s auto dealerships
will sponsor drivers Jared Landers and Scott Bloomquist on the Lucas Oil Dirt
Late Model Series this season.
The Batesville, Ark., driver has not driven a
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry since 2013, when he ran a total of 28 races for Michael
Waltrip Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing.
While not
interested in running a full, 36-race Sprint Cup season, Martin has said that
he would consider opportunities in the NASCAR XFINITY or Camping World Truck
Series, or a part-time Cup role. He recently admitted being surprised that no
offers have come his way, telling SiriusXM
NASCAR Radio, “I thought some doors would open for me, but they haven’t.”
Thanks for sharing this Dave . I was happy to hear Mark was back at Roush where he belongs ,but i fully understand him not wanting to be at the track again , all the time . I would love to see him in an Xfinity or truck series race a few times this year .... as long as it's in a Ford ;)
ReplyDeleteMight be Roush would not give him another retirement tour !
ReplyDeleteMark probably realizes what a lot of former drivers, myself included, have realized. A former driver going to the track isn't so much fun, and when trying to quit, its the equivalent of a recovering drug addict going to visit his old friends. One whiff and you are hooked again.
ReplyDeleteIts probably hard for a guy like Mark to watch. He can do it better than 99.9% of the people he will watch race. Watching some kid miss a corner entry is like finger nails on a chalk board for him.