Mark Martin is among the best drivers that NASCAR has seen in its lengthy historical past. He retired from mainstream racing in 2013 after profitable 5 IROC championships, two Southern 500s, a Coca-Cola 600, and varied different accolades. For somebody like him, the lifetime of a retiree can are inclined to get boring, which is why he has discovered different methods to maintain himself engaged now on the age of 66.
Constructing and designing motor coaches is certainly one of Martin’s greatest passions. Speaking to Kenny Wallace just lately, he defined this curiosity by paralleling it to how drivers used to construct their very own race vehicles yearly again within the day.
He continued, “After I retired, I didn’t actually have any ardour, and it took me some time to search out some ardour like I had about race vehicles. I don’t know.”
“There’s one thing about these coaches with the large wheels. You understand, my dad began a trucking firm the yr I used to be born. So, I used to be round vans for… I believe if the wheels had been small, I in all probability wouldn’t care about them a lot, however there’s one thing that pulls me to them.”
He just lately even revealed a quick take a look at the most recent coach that he has been engaged on: The Newell Coach. Martin defined how the Newell coaches are constructed from scratch. Solely 26 of them are made in a yr, and the previous driver will get to play a vital position in them.
“Their staff begins with two body rails within the ground and builds it from there. It’s customized from the very floor up. Like, you realize, you possibly can transfer something a half inch anyplace. I imply, it’s extra detailed than even constructing a home.”
“Everybody that I construct after I take advantage of it for a few yr and a half, I do know concepts of what I wish to do in a different way. And in addition in that yr and a half or or two years, their expertise, you realize, they convey some issues to the desk. I convey some issues to the desk after which collectively we construct one thing that’s simply magnificent. After two years, I begin serious about constructing a brand new one. And there’s a ready there’s a line for my outdated coaches.”
The Newell Coach incorporates a chrome-plated Efficiency Diesel engine with the No. 6 engraved on it. Notably, these coaches aren’t his solely facet challenge in retirement.
He was additionally within the headlines usually this yr for his criticism of the present playoff format. He was the one on the entrance traces of the battle and performed a vital position in getting NASCAR to arrange a format change.
It’s outright unbelievable to see retired drivers hold the hearth of their hearts burning by such tasks.
