“I'm done, people don't get it”: When Mark Martin explained why he's not coming back to NASCAR

Since retiring after the 2013 NASCAR Cup Series season, NASCAR legend Mark Martin had gotten far away from racing and didn’t return to the track even as a part-time driver. Over the years, fans and media alike have speculated about a potential NASCAR return, either as a driver, commentator or team owner. However, Martin once shut down those rumors, explaining that he has no interest in returning to NASCAR.

Mark Martin's last NASCAR appearance came at the 2013 season-finale race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He finished 19th in his final Cup race behind the wheel of the #14 Chevrolet of Stewart-Haas Racing.

In 2020, during an interview with The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck, NASCAR Hall of Famer reflected on his firm decision not to return to the NASCAR racetrack and his frustration with people who misunderstand his choice.

“I’m done. People don’t get it. If I had a passion to go drive cars, I would.” Martin said.

“It almost pisses me off. I realize they mean well and have a good heart about what they’re saying. I appreciate that someone thinks I can drive the 6 car at Fontana. But dude. Can’t. Won’t. Couldn’t. Wouldn’t,” the 65-year-old Batesville, Arkansas, native added.

Mark Martin was known as one of the toughest NASCAR opponents and ended his career as one of the greatest drivers todrive in the sport. During his NASCAR career, he won nearly 100 races — including 40 in Cup and 49 in Xfinity — ranking him second on the all-time win list in the series.

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Mark Martin once revealed what he missed after NASCAR retirement

Martin, who competed for several teams in NASCAR, once revealed that since retirement he missed the camaraderie of working with a team that felt like family and the passionate energy of the fans. The longest tenure he had with Roush Racing (now known as RFK Racing) was from 1988 to 2006.

In an interview with NASCAR in 2021, the five-time IROC champion said:

“The thing I guess I really miss about racing is the people. Working with a team was like a family, the energy of the fans and whatnot. So, I kind of miss that. But 40 years of competing at the highest level, and digging as hard as I could possibly dig with every ounce of focus, I had, I’m done with that.”

With his induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2017, Martin cemented his status as one of NASCAR’s top drivers.