Mark Martin ready to be “incharge of NASCAR” as the Hall of Famer responds to Kenny Wallace

Mark Martin has indicated that he would be willing to help steer NASCAR if given the opportunity, responding to comments made by Kenny Wallace earlier this week. The sport is emerging from a lengthy antitrust lawsuit, facing declining television numbers, and reconsidering its competitive format ahead of the 2026 season.

NASCAR and 23XI Racing-Front Row Motorsports have just closed a 15-month legal dispute that exposed internal texts, leaving fans questioning who should be trusted to guide the sport forward. Wallace raised the hypothetical while discussing the future direction of stock-car racing, asking what the sport might look like if figures such as Martin, alongside JR Motorsports co-owner Kelley Earnhardt, were placed in positions of authority.

That sentiment resurfaced during the lawsuit, reinforcing the belief among fans that the sport needed steadier, more transparent leadership. On Wallace’s Facebook post, Mark Martin replied to the idea of being in charge:

“I think I would do it to try to get the sport heading in the right direction.”

Wallace shared the exchange on X and wrote:

“@markmartin RESPONDED to ME about @NASCAR 🏁.”

Martin has openly opposed the elimination-style postseason, favoring the full-season championship model that defined his era. He has argued that the sport’s traditional 36-race format rewarded consistency and reduced the luck factor.

Those arguments gained renewed traction during the 2025 season. Television ratings dipped drastically compared to recent years, with fewer than two million viewers tuning in for seven of the ten playoff races. Fans revisited Martin’s point that the current format has contributed to declining engagement. NASCAR has since confirmed that it was evaluating changes, though it has not finalized what the next iteration will look like.

The recent antitrust trial only amplified those frustrations. While the case ultimately settled, it revealed sharp internal divisions and unflattering private views held by executives toward teams, owners, fans, and rival series. One fan summarized that sentiment in a post on X, writing:

“I think a great way for NASCAR to recover some lost goodwill is to allow veteran drivers, owners, crew chiefs, etc into positions of serious managerial input. We the fans know these guys live breathe and bleed racing, and can at the very least connect to them on that level.”

Mark Martin reposted the message. The Hall of Famer’s career lends weight to that trust. He finished runner-up in the Cup five times, never winning a title, yet remains one of the most respected competitors of his generation.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. weighs in on Mark Martin potentially running the sport: “We could have made a difference”

Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. on July 6, 2001, at Daytona. Source: Imagn

Dale Earnhardt Jr. added his voice to the discussion while reflecting on the lawsuit and its fallout. He discussed the need for NASCAR and teams to find common ground quickly, especially with the Daytona 500 approaching in less than 63 days, and emphasized that the sport cannot afford to remain fractured.

Earnhardt Jr., who co-owns JR Motorsports with sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller, noted that the legal fight highlighted how avoidable many of the issues were. That reflection led directly into the recurring fan suggestion that figures like Mark Martin and Earnhardt himself should be involved in running the sport. Speaking on the Dale Jr. Download, he said:

“I honestly feel like, I've seen this for years on my on my timeline. Anytime there's kind of a big old disagreement or uproar, there's fans on social media that'll be like, ‘They ought to get Mark Martin to run the sport. They ought to get Dale Jr. to run the sport.’ I'm telling you, if me and Kelly were in those meetings, I feel like that we could have made a difference… It just seems like this was completely avoidable.” (1:41:22 onwards)

NASCAR will return to action with the Clash scheduled for February 1 at Bowman Gray Stadium. Before then, several issues remain unresolved, including final decisions on future race formats and the formal filing of the lawsuit’s dismissal, expected within 30 days.

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Edited by Hitesh Nigam