NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin has offered a direct idea to help improve the NextGen Cup Series car. He wants one controlled test where he sets the direction. Martin said he would choose the changes and show what his experience can add to the current package.
The 67-year-old retired from full-time racing in 2013 and entered the Hall of Fame in 2017, but he remains active in the sport.
In January, he visited NASCAR’s technical center and met with senior VP of racing development John Probst. That meeting gave him a closer look at how the NextGen car was built and why key design choices were made.
Mark Martin Says the NASCAR Visit Changed His Understanding
Martin said the visit helped answer questions he had about the car’s design.
“In January, I got to go to the tech center and spent some time with (John Probst, NASCAR senior VP of racing development) and he gave me a deep dive into the car. We had deep discussions on why this and why that.”
“I got answers that the fans haven’t gotten and I left there not as disgruntled with the car as I did going in, because now I understand why the tires are so wide. I know why the back of the car was short, at least to me, and why so many of these things were done, why the single lug that a five lug steel wheel would be awfully heavy at that width.”
The NextGen car debuted in 2022. NASCAR built it to reduce costs, improve safety, and create closer racing with standardized parts. The car has produced tighter competition and fewer mechanical failures. Some drivers and observers have still raised concerns about handling, tire wear, and aero balance at certain tracks.
One Test Session is the Core of His Proposal
Martin said he is not asking for a full overhaul. He wants one test with one car and one team.
“I wish they would let me do a test and dictate what was done on the car, just one time. Let me have one car, one team, and let’s have them do the things that I want to do. And if the things that I want to do show something, then let’s have a group of cars come and run that. Because I have my own beliefs.”
He said his ideas come from decades of hands-on work with setups, tires, and aerodynamics. During his discussion with Probst, they also discussed possible aero changes to improve efficiency.
Focus Stays on Development, Not a Return to Racing
Martin said his goal is to help, not to compete again. He stepped away from driving more than a decade ago and has since stayed involved through media work and the NASCAR Alumni Network.
His proposal has drawn attention from fans and industry voices since it surfaced. NASCAR has not said if it will approve the test.
The NextGen car remains central to the series. Martin’s request shows how experienced drivers can still contribute to development. Even with modern data and simulation, input from veterans remains part of how teams and officials evaluate changes to the car.
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