Roush Fenway Racing announces that legendary NASCAR driver Mark Martin is returning to the race team where he excelled behind the wheel for almost 20 years – this time as the team’s driver development coach. Martin was the first driver hired by team owner Jack Roush when he founded his NASCAR operation in 1988. The two went on to become one of the most successful duos in sports history, accumulating 83 NASCAR wins, four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship runner-up finishes, and building Roush Fenway into the winningest team in NASCAR history.
‘I’m excited to return to Roush Fenway Racing, as it feels like I’m going home to where I belong,’ said Martin. ‘I was fortunate to help build this team from the beginning and it’s very humbling to be a part of Jack’s team again. When Jack first hired me in 1988 we didn’t talk about salary or benefits or perks, we talked about testing, tires and putting the right personnel into place to win on the track. That commitment is what stood out to me then and it’s still what stands out to me today.’
Martin piloted Roush Fenway’s flagship #6 Ford from 1988 until 2006. During that time he accumulated 35 NSCS victories. At the end of his tenure at Roush Fenway he held a record five prestigious IROC (International Race of Champions) Championships and a then record 47 NASCAR Nationwide Series wins. For his career Martin posted 96 career NASCAR victories.(Roush Fenway Racing)(7-31-2014)
UPDATE: Mark Martin is back working for Jack Roush. As a driver coach, not as a driver. The 55-year-old Martin has enjoyed his time away from the track this season. He has spent the last two years driving in most, but not all, of the Cup races. ‘I don’t ever flip on the TV and wish I was there,’ Martin said in a phone interview Friday morning. ‘I am happy where I am at. It’s probably less (of an urge) than I even expected to get back into a racecar.’ While at Roush Fenway Racing from 1988-2006, Martin earned 35 of his 40 career Cup wins and four of his five career runnerup finishes in the standings. Since then, he has run five part-time seasons and three full-time seasons. He has 882 Cup starts, and it appears he’s not all that interested in 883. ‘You know me well enough to know that I’m not going to say (never),’ Martin said. ‘But I’ll just tell you I have no interest at this time. I have no interest in even practicing a car or testing a car at this time.(Sporting News)(8-2-2014)
