Mark Martin’s words to live by were handed down from one generation to another. Julian Martin — his father, an Arkansas trucking magnate — lived by the adage of “never lift,” and though he never raced, his enthusiasm for cars and speed made him a local legend on the lawless back roads of home. It became a family tradition.
Julian Martin’s son is quick to recite the interpretation: “Never lift: ‘To keep one’s foot firmly planted on the accelerator pedal with complete disregard to the possible outcome can often end in catastrophic results, but with proper execution has been known to create legends,’” Mark Martin says. “That’s my dad.”
So when Martin sat down to put pen to paper and tell his life story, with all the unlikely undulations of his Hall of Fame racing career, there was really only one potential title. That autobiography is now available for pre-order, with “Mark Martin: Never Lift” scheduled for publication in August from Octane Press.
The hardcover book, co-written with veteran journalist Mark “Bones” Bourcier, weighs in at a hefty 544 pages, full of the detail that’s come from living through several decades of racing in different eras until his eventual retirement after the 2013 season. The 67-year-old veteran also points out that his story is now unfettered by obligations or restrictions – from team owners, sponsors or any sanctioning body. “Beholden to no one,” Martin says, promising an unflinching view of how it was.
— NASCAR.com —