Mark Martin strung together an impressive professional racing career that landed him in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Martin experienced plenty of success along the way that has cemented his legacy among the all-time greats. However, one of his blunders during a race cost him $18,000.

Mark Martin’s impressive NASCAR career

Mark Martin spent more than three decades as a NASCAR driver that saw accomplish much success.

Martin has 40 career NASCAR Cup race wins, 453 top-ten finishes, and five second-place finishes for the NASCAR Cup Series championship. He ended his career as the all-time leader in Xfinity Race wins (49), which Kyle Busch has since passed.

He also holds the all-time mark with five International Race of Champions titles, and the record with 13 wins in those events.

Martin has earned the recognition as being potentially the best driver that never won a NASCAR Cup Series title. Despite all that success, there is a race mistake that sticks out from his illustrious career. It’s one that cost him a significant chunk of change. 

Mark Martin’s foolish mistake cost him $18,00 in a NASCAR race

Mark Martin quickly hit his stride early in his NASCAR career in the 1990s as he became one of the most successful drivers.

However, Martin was part of an errant mistake during a race that cost him a large chunk of money. In April 1994, he started from the pole position for the then-Busch Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. 

Martin held firm control throughout the event sitting ahead of the pack, but things quickly headed south near the end of the race. With two laps remaining, the yellow caution flag came up due to Robert Pressley’s wreck in turn three.

During the last lap of the race, Martin chose to head off the track into pit road about 300 yards away from sealing the win. His mistake led to David Green behind him finishing the lap to secure the surprising victory, while Martin finished 11th, given to the last car on the lead lap. 

The decision resulted in Martin missing on $18,000 more if he had captured the win in the race. According to Greensboro.com, he voiced that it was the “dumbest thing” he’s ever done.

“What can I say? I thought the race was over. I made a mistake,” Martin said as he climbed into his Winston Cup car for the final practice before April 1994’s Food City 500. “That was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

Some believe the mistake occurred due to nobody coaching on the last lap as Greenboro.com noted that even car owner Jack Roush left his spotter’s area before the final lap.

Ultimately, the entire situation was mishandled by Martin’s team that led to his costly mishap.

Reputation remains well intact

Although Mark Martin has never truly lived down that crucial mistake, it hasn’t put any stain on his Hall of Fame resume.

During the prime of his career, Martin put together highly successful stretches that helped him nearly win five NASCAR Cup Series championships.

Near the tail end of his career, he proved to be an ageless wonder with his second-place finish in 2009 after turning 50. His mark on NASCAR is irreplaceable as he has become one of the most respected drivers in the sport in the many years after his last race.

Ultimately, the 1994 blunder is one that he will always look back at what could have been.

Statistics courtesy of Racing-Reference.