Does Mark Martin's son Matt Martin race? Everything you need to know

NASCAR legend Mark Martin left behind an indelible mark on the racing world. The 65-year-old, who retired from the sport in 2013, secured numerous victories in NASCAR and was inducted in the sport's Hall of Fame back in 2017.

While he remains an icon of the sport, Mark Martin's son Matt also tried his hands at racing. Born in 1991, Matt Martin was frequently spotted in the race paddocks, accompanying his father and even celebrating race wins with the 96-time race winner Mark.

Matt Martin began his racing journey at just seven years old in quarter midgets. His early career also included stints in Bandoleros, Legend cars, the FASTRUCK Series, and the FASCAR Pro Truck Series.

In 2003, Matt’s potential caught the attention of Ford Motor Company. Ford signed him to a driver development contract, making him the youngest member of the team's racing family. Mark was a Ford driver at the time, piloting the No. 6 for Penske Racing back in the day.

By 2007, Matt transitioned to Ginn Racing's development program, which was spearheaded by his father. The duo planned a late model schedule that aligned with Mark’s limited NEXTEL Cup commitments

However, Matt’s racing career came to an unexpected halt in 2008. During a March 8 episode of Speed Channel's Trackside, Mark Martin revealed that his son had decided to step away from racing to focus on his education. Later that year, Matt confirmed that he no longer felt racing was his calling.

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Matt Martin focused on honoring Mark Martin's racing legacy

Matt, in an interview with The Athletic back in 2022, revealed the driving force behind his departure from racing. He said:

"When it’s not something you really care about and you’re not that into, it’s like, ‘Why are you going to put yourself through all that?’"

While Matt Martin no longer races, he remains deeply involved in celebrating his father’s storied career. Together, the duo launched the "Mark Martin Archive" on Instagram, a page dedicated to showcasing photos and memories from Mark’s legendary journey in NASCAR.

He added:

"When you have a significant figure in your family, especially when it’s your own dad, that doesn’t need to be overlooked."

Meanwhile, speaking about the Instagram page in an interview with Speed Sport back in 2022, Mark Martin revealed:

"He just started that Instagram page, and man, it just blew right through 10,000 followers in no time. Then, he decided that he would start some merchandising as well."

The Instagram page now has over 30,000 followers. The father-son collaboration has since extended to larger ventures. It includes reunions with Mark’s old race cars and the development of a book chronicling his career.