“I’m not going to cry over it.” Those were Mark Martin’s words after the gut-wrenching 2007 Daytona 500 finish. A veteran in the NASCAR Cup Series, Martin had built a legendary career defined by consistency and near misses. With 40 career wins, 453 top-10 finishes, and 61 second-place results, he was one of the sport’s most reliable drivers. Yet, two of NASCAR’s biggest prizes—a Cup Series championship and a Daytona 500 victory—always eluded him.

In 2007, he came closest to winning the Daytona 500, but an unwanted crash destroyed his dreams. Years later, Martin revisited the painful moment, but this time, he didn’t hold back. While interacting with fans on social media, Martin revealed the biggest reason behind his heartbreaking loss.

Mark Martin’s blunt take on his 2007 heartbreak!

That 2007 Daytona 500 remains one of the most controversial finishes in NASCAR history. Martin led on the last lap, only to see Kevin Harvick slip past him in the last seconds. A massive crash erupted behind them, but NASCAR never threw the caution flag. Had the officials followed their own rules, Martin would have likely been declared the winner. Now, 18 years after the incident, Martin slammed Kyle Busch for the crash.

As the NASCAR world paused after a rain delay halted the 67th running of the Daytona 500, Martin joined his fans to answer some questions. One fan asked him what he would have done differently in the final lap of the 2007 race. Martin’s response was direct and revealing: “If @KyleBusch doesn’t spin out, I win. Nothing else I could do. It’s that simple.” For more than 18 years, the conversation surrounding Martin’s loss had focused on NASCAR’s questionable officiating. But now, he shifted the focus to Kyle Busch’s role in the chaos.

Notably, the 2007 Daytona 500 was a thrilling but chaotic race. With the laps winding down, Mark Martin found himself in prime position to win the race that had eluded him for over two decades at last. However, Kevin Harvick had other plans. Charging up the outside lane, Harvick made a desperate move for the win. As he and Martin raced side by side toward he checkered flag, Busch attempted to make a run but lost control. His No. 5 car spun, triggering a massive wreck.

Despite the carnage, NASCAR chose not to throw the caution flag, allowing Harvick and Martin to race to the finish line. In a photo finish, Harvick edged out Martin by just 0.002 seconds. Many fans and experts believed that NASCAR should have thrown the caution flag when Busch spun out and the wreck started. Under normal circumstances, that would have frozen the field, making Martin the winner. Instead, NASCAR let the race continue, allowing Harvick to gain just enough momentum to win the race.

Notably, this was the closest ever chance for Martin to win the race. He would go on to compete in six more Daytona 500s, but he never got another chance that close to victory. His best finish after 2007 was third place in 2012. Looking back, he knows that race was his best shot at winning. However, Martin’s recent comments about his 2007 heartbreak came after NASCAR’s recent controversy around caution rules.

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Martin slams NASCAR for Erik Jones controversy

Even in retirement, Martin remains vocal about NASCAR’s inconsistencies. During the Daytona Duel 2 race, Erik Jones crossed the finish line ahead of Austin Cindric. However, NASCAR officials reversed the result, claiming that Cindric was ahead when the caution flag was waved. After the decision, Martin took to social media with a sharp and simple message: “2007. No yellow @DAYTONA @NASCAR.”

For Martin, this wasn’t just about Jones—it was about NASCAR’s history of questionable officiating. His reference to 2007 was clear. Back then, they ignored their own rules and let the race finish under green. In contrast, the recent decision to declare a caution before Jones crossed the line seemed the opposite.

Mark Martin is a legend of the sport and despite a lack of championships or a Daytona 500, his voice still carries weight in the racing world. His sharp comments on the Erik Jones decision prove that he still cares about fairness in the sport. Do you think NASCAR needs to be more careful about the Caution rule?