When Tony Stewart made his return to racing in the NASCAR Trucks, it was bound to get fans talking. And that’s when they asked Mark Martin if he would consider a return.

“After seeing your old pal @tonystewart make a comeback tonight, is there any desire for you to do a one-off?” Mark Martin's reply was direct and blunt: “H*** NO.”

Martin officially retired from full-time Cup Series after the 2013 season. And he's reiterated time and again wanting to stay away. Back in 2021, he even said it out loud.

"I get offers all the time. I have no interest in driving a race car. I did it for over 40 years against the likes of Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart for wins and championships and it was intense as h***. I don’t want to do it."

The reason fans proposed a possible return was because of ‘Smoke.’

Tony Stewart and Mark Martin shared a past. It included a heated rivalry and deep respect for each other. And it all came to a head in the 2002 Cup Series when Stewart beat Martin in the race to win the title. However, when Smoke marked his return to NASCAR this year, Martin was supportive.

“Yeah, we knew when he was still driving, it was obvious that he wasn’t happy with the sport and the direction of it. We’re so excited to have Smoke back in any race, a NASCAR race. So, that’s really awesome. But, like you, I would be sceptical. I’m sure this point format probably pleases him.”

Stewart hasn't raced in NASCAR since 2016, and his last Truck race was in 2005. “I didn’t think I was going to be here 10 years after I retired, so I think we have to learn to never say never,” Stewart told FOX Sports.

After Martin’s straightforward reply, the NASCAR fans were left baffled and they didn’t stop buzzing.

Fans flood in with heartfelt takes

Fans didn’t hold back in the replies to Martin's post on X with a mix of laughs, support, and nods to NASCAR's evolving soul.

As one fan commented, "Lol. No room for “Never say Never” right there 😂 Y'all leave Mark alone.” In classic Mark Martin fashion, the driver kept the answer straight to the point and left no room for questions.

Some sentiments also echoed the decade-long fans' obsession with Martin. “You'll still be getting tweets begging you to race when you're the world's strongest centenarian. We love ya man, but I respect you and your decision to be done driving.” By the time Martin retired from the sport, he was well into his 50s. And while he never won a Cup Series title, he finished as a runner-up on five occasions and marked 40 wins throughout his career.

Another fan commented, "Mark, I support your decision but I miss STOCK car racing not the super cars they have now remember when dealers had to sell the same car to the public, but would you drive in a race with all the great past drivers to honour Greg Biffle , I remember 2005 at Miami, great man RIP.”

Fans may remember Martin's 2005 Homestead duel with Greg Biffle, reflecting on the Next Gen changes while backing Martin’s decision. The legendary driver Greg Biffle unfortunately passed away on 18 December 2025 in a plane crash.

One more fan commented, “ Not even for one more chance at the 500? I wouldn't mind seeing it. Isn't Dodge supposed to be coming back to Cup in a couple of years? Have a great rest of the week Mark! Thanks for helping change the format. We owe ya one!”

This fan recalled Mark Martin’s incomplete quest for the Daytona 500. With a possible return for Dodge to the Cup Series, could we see a miracle reunion of the OEM and the driver for a Daytona 500 win.

Another fan sarcastically noted, “ Come on! “H*** Yeah!” is the motto now.” This fan moment, blending humour and history, underscores Martin's timeless fandom and proves that the NASCAR fans are willingly waiting for some veterans to make a NASCAR comeback.

You can read more at the RFK Racing Digest!

Written by

Kaamna Dwivedi

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar