After Public Outrage Over Disrespect, NASCAR Legend Mark Martin Reveals How ‘Money Matter’ Led to Painful Decision of Leaving Long-Time Team

Between 1988 and 2006, Mark Martin was a racer for the Roush Racing team. That makes it a 19-year tenure with the organization, where he gave it his all for them. Although he never won the title, he was still the runner-up on five occasions, in 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2009. Unfortunately, he was forced to part ways at the end of the 2006 season.

Speaking about his departure, he said, “It was gut-wrenching for me to leave Roush Racing after 19 years. But they wouldn’t hear anything of a limited schedule in the #6 car. Exactly what they let me do in the #01 car. In retrospect, it would have been better for them and better for me both, if they would have done that, but they wouldn’t even talk about it.”

READ MORE: Days After Heartbreaking Disrespect by RFK, Mark Martin Hailed as a Hero By NASCAR Legend

It was not the only time Roush Racing disrespected Mark Martin

Earlier this year, Martin appeared at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway as a spectator. Obviously, many fans were thrilled to see the NASCAR legend at a race track once again, even if he was not in a car. However, eagle-eyed people were quick to observe that nobody from Roush-Fenway Keselowski Racing, were there to greet him. Naturally, the organization was called out for disrespecting the driver who made them incredibly successful.

Regarding the reason behind his exit, Martin said, “It all comes back to money. It didn’t make as much sense financially, it might have been a harder sale for a sponsor. Might have had to take less money from a sponsor if I didn’t drive the car full-time and put a rookie in it the rest of it. It’s details like that. They didn’t want to do it, so I went and did my thing.”

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Since leaving Roush Racing, Martin drove for Dale Earnhardt Inc and even Hendrick Motorsports. Aside from them, he raced for Michael Waltrip Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, and one race for Joe Gibbs Racing.