Mark Martin calls time on driving career

NASCAR veteran Mark martin will bring the curtain down on his career as a driver once the 2013 season concludes in Miami next week.
The 54-year old has enjoyed a 31-year career which included 7 Truck series , 49 Nationwide wins and 40 Sprint Cup wins. He has alsofinished runner up in the championship five times.

Since leaving Hendrick Motorsports at the end of 2011, Martin has driven part time for Michael Waltrip Racing. He left the Toyota squad in August to replace Tony Stewart at Stewart-Haas Racing after the driver/owner was ruled out with a broken leg.

Despite no longer racing, Martin has revealed he will still be part of the NASCAR fraternity.

"I do, however, have an undefined role at Stewart-Haas (Racing). The major definition is I’ll do his (Tony Stewart’s) preseason testing" he said.

Stewart will be unable to drive until Speedweeks in February when he is expected to have made a full recovery.

Martin also admitted that his mind had been made up for quite some time.

"When I finished 2012, I had a contract for another year, and that’s what we did. But I didn’t intend to go beyond that. I also didn’t intend to tell anybody that, because it’s not really important." The revelation quashed any rumours that the Arkansas native was looking for a ride for next year.