Mark Martin Sounds the Alarm on NASCAR’s Biggest Problem—Where Are the ‘Bad Boys’?
Mark Martin has never been one to hold back, whether shutting down Kevin Harvick over his feud with Kyle Busch or calling out modern NASCAR’s biggest issues. With over three decades in the sport and experience driving for NASCAR’s biggest teams, the Hall of Famer isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. And now, he’s got one major concern—the sport is missing its rebellious edge.
According to Martin, the problem is clear: NASCAR has become too sanitized, with drivers holding back their true personalities. “The drivers have pretty much gone silent,” he pointed out, echoing what many frustrated fans have been saying for years.
NASCAR Needs Its ‘Bad Boys’ Back
In a conversation with Chase Holden, Mark Martin made it clear—NASCAR needs a driver like Tony Stewart to shake things up.
“We need Tony Stewart. Tony Stewart did not give a damn. He was so good they could not crush him. It would have crushed me… But we need a guy that is so talented, a guy on the level of Kyle Larson, which is not Kyle’s style, but we need a guy with that level, generational talent, to come in and just be real, you know.”
Tony Stewart was known for his legendary confrontations—whether it was Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, or Joey Logano, he never backed down. But he also had the talent to back up his fiery personality, winning multiple NASCAR and IndyCar championships.
And Martin isn’t backing down from his stance. In a recent tweet, he doubled down on the need for a fearless, take-no-prisoners mentality in the sport:
“Never lift. To keep one’s foot firmly planted on the accelerator pedal with complete disregard to the possible outcome; can often end with catastrophic results, but with proper execution has been known to create legends.”
The message is clear—NASCAR needs drivers willing to take risks, stir up controversy, and bring back the raw, unfiltered energy that made the sport legendary. But will today’s generation step up, or has NASCAR truly lost its edge?
