They say ‘history belongs to the victors’, and that statement couldn’t be more true for NASCAR. Everyone remembers the all-time greats, such as Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Jeff Gordon, and more. Why? Because of all they have achieved in the sport. But what if a NASCAR Hall of Famer says that running in the middle of the pack is harder than finishing in the top 10? That’s exactly what Mark Martin said in his latest tweet on X.

Martin knows a thing or two about stock car racing, having been described as “The best driver to never win a championship” by ESPN. Thus, the NASCAR community pays attention when the 65-year-old shares his insights about the sport.

It’s not all about glory

With the second most wins of all time in what is now known as the Xfinity Series, and five-time runner-up in the NASCAR Cup Series, Mark Martin knows what it takes to get results. He has five IROC Championships, more than any other driver in history, and holds the record for IROC wins, with 13. However, he believes that the true test of a driver’s capability lies in running in the middle of the pack, rather than upfront, an opinion that will raise some eyebrows amongst NASCAR fans.

Writing on X (formerly known as Twitter), Mark Martin said, “Most people have no idea how hard it is to run 25th in a @NASCAR cup race. It’s actually harder than running in the top 10. Sounds crazy but it’s true.”

Martin may have a point. The top 10 cars tend to perform better, which means the competition at the top is less intense than what it would be in the middle and bottom of the grid. Teams such as Hendrick Motorsport, Joe Gibbs Racing, etc can outperform most, if not all of the smaller teams on the track, which means that drivers in the top 10 tend to have a few seconds difference between their cars and the ones behind them.

Moreover, racing in the top 10 is cleaner, as drivers would rather concede a position than risk a DNF. It means the drivers would focus more on getting the best out of their cars than navigating the many hurdles others may face at the middle/bottom of the grid. However, the competition at the middle and bottom of the grid is extremely intense. As more cars can compete for those positions, races tend to be more scrappy, and drivers show more skill to navigate through those pitfalls and get a result.

With aero blocking playing a huge role in NASCAR, drivers in the middle/bottom of the grid are more susceptible to drafting and wind blast from other cars. This means that being spun or forced into the wall is not just a possibility, but an inevitability for at least some drivers in every race. Top 10 drivers are not subjected to these challenges, as often which makes driving in the middle of the pack much more difficult. Hearing Mark Martin’s views about this, fans voiced their interesting opinions.

Fans react to Mark Martin’s views

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It didn’t take long for fans to react to Mark Martin’s tweet, with many sharing their views about the difficulty of racing 25th, compared to the top 10. While fans may not have enough racing experience, they shared their experience of watching the action on TV, urging NASCAR to not just focus on the race leaders but also cover mid-table battles.

One fan wrote, “I actually believe that. I’ve long said I wish TV should focus on these battles more and not just up front. I’m a race fan, I want to see racing. For 1st and for 31st. Maybe I’m in the minority,” responding to Martin’s tweet.

Sharing their two cents about Martin’s view, one fan attributed car performance as a major reason why racing in the top 10 is not as difficult as navigating the middle of the pack. Writing on X, the fan said, “Well, I’d like to think that people in the top 10 are running cleaner races in terms of battling for spots with the spacing of the cars as people that are in the middle to the back of the pack? Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.”

Highlighting the importance of watching a race on track rather than the TV, a fan shed light on significant little details broadcasters tend to overlook while focusing on the race leaders during coverage. Replying to Martin on X, the fan said, “And this is why going to the track is so much better than watching on TV. There are always good battles going on behind the TV coverage.”

Another fan echoed that sentiment by saying, “Indeed. You can really see this when you’re at the track. The racing is a lot closer and more aggressive back there for the most part.”

Complimenting Mark Martin’s ability to analyze the sport, one fan gave the NASCAR Hall of Famer the idea to pursue an alternate career option. The fan told Martin, “No better race analysis than Mark Martin. Ever thought about commentating? You’d be excellent at it sir.” Could we see Mark Martin alongside Mike Joy, Dale Jarrett, and Adam Alexander anytime soon? Time will tell.

What are your thoughts about Mark Martin’s views? Let us know in the comments!