It’s not easy getting into the NASCAR’s highest level. With 36 to 40 drivers competing in each Cup Series race, going wheel-to-wheel against the sports’ heavyweights is no small feat. Typically, racers make a name for themselves in the Xfinity, Truck, or even the ARCA Menards Series before making the jump, to show their talent and ability at the lower tiers to justify a move at the biggest stage of them all. While good results are an obvious requirement, sponsorships, and social media presence also go a long way in a team taking a gamble on a rookie.

However, Alpha Prime Racing team owner Tommy Joe Martins has revealed that getting into the Cup Series is far more difficult than one might think. The 38-year-old made a damning revelation on social media, which prompted plenty of shocked reactions from fans.

Has NASCAR unfairly singled out Tommy Joe Martins?

Tommy Joe Martins has been in and around the NASCAR circles for a very long time. The Mississippi native has competed in 129 Xfinity Series races over 8 years, completing two full-time seasons with Martins Motorsports in 2020 and 2021. The racer finished 20th in the driver’s standing on both occasions and has secured just one top-ten finish during his entire career in NASCAR’s second tier. He has also made two appearances in the ARCA Racing Series and has some Truck Series experience as well. However, is that enough to warrant a place in the Cup Series?

In NASCAR’s eyes, no. Tommy Joe Martins responded to a tweet on X, which was about Greg Biffle competing in his rookie season at the age of 34. This prompted a fan to write, “Foreshadowing 38-year old 2025 Cup Series Rookie of the Year Tommy Joe Martins??” to which the Xfinity Series team owner replied, “I’m not approved to race in the Cup Series. Not enough success in the lower divisions. Context be damned.” The revelation was quite a shocking one for many NASCAR fans, who didn’t hesitate to share their thoughts on the situation.

However, Tommy Joe Martins not being approved to compete at the highest level isn’t entirely unexpected. The Alpha Prime Racing president hasn’t secured a single victory in NASCAR’s lower tiers, with his highest Truck Series result being 15th. He has finished only two full-time Xfinity Series seasons as well, with his highest finish being 10th despite featuring in the competition since 2014. Has he shown enough to justify a place in the Cup Series? The sanctioning body doesn’t seem to think so.

Ideally, competing in the Cup Series is a privilege that should be given on merit. However, with financial sustainability playing a key role for racing teams, having good sponsors can also go a long way in teams taking a gamble on a driver. That doesn’t take away from the fact that there need to be prerequisites to warrant a place at NASCAR’s highest level, to ensure that only the very best compete against each other across 36 races of the season. But the rules should be applied uniformly, which doesn’t seem to be the case in this situation according to several fans.

Fans infuriated after Martins’ shocking revelation

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It seems like Tommy Joe Martins’ shocking statement triggered plenty of NASCAR fans. Unsurprisingly, many expressed their anger at the situation, especially because of his stature within the sport, both as a driver and an Xfinity Series team owner. Expressing a feeling of unfairness at Martins’ situation, a fan wrote on X, “That’s quite shocking, you’ve run over 150 races in just the other 2 series alone with decent results too.” Echoing that sentiment, another fan reflected on his uncomplicated Xfinity and Truck Series career and said, “Crazy how you ran multiple years of multiple series without major controversy but ya know…politics.”

Blaming NASCAR for being hypocritical, a fan brought about Cody Ware’s Cup Series participation into scrutiny. The 29-year-old competes part-time for his father’s team Rick Ware Racing, despite only having a handful of appearances in the Xfinity and Truck Series so far. Questioning his eligibility to compete at the highest level, a fan wrote, “So how in the blue hell did the likes of Cody Ware get to race in cup?” The X user wasn’t the only one to think along those lines, as another motorsports enthusiast hinted at the sanctioning body having double standards by saying, “Interesting, seeing there’s some current Cup drivers that shouldn’t be approved but somehow are.”

Over the years, plenty of drivers such as Corey LaJoie, Matt Tifft, and Quinn Houff have had their place questioned in the NASCAR Cup Series. However, the trio have been deemed eligible to compete at the highest level, while Tommy Joe Martins is not. Making the comparison and the inconsistency with which rules are being implemented, a fan wrote, “I’m sorry, but what? Some of the people I’ve seen the the Cup series have had zero business there. You have proven to be much better than them.” Along the same lines, another fan added, “Wait, they denied you but let Quinn Houff race in that series????” Houff raced in 10 Xfinity races across 2017 and 2018 and secured three top-20 finishes and in 89 Cup series races across 2019-2021, secured just three top-20 finishes. Pretty dismal numbers.

It’s not hard to see why Martins might feel frustrated at the sanctioning body’s decision, even though there is little he can do to overturn it.