02/01/2019
Martin on Roush: ‘He’s responsible for giving me a second chance’
CONCORD, N.C. – NASCAR’s winningest car owner, Jack Roush will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Roush’s former driver and NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2017 inductee, Mark Martin couldn’t be prouder.
“If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be in there,” Martin told SiriusXM’s Claire B. Lang. “He’s responsible for giving me a second chance at NASCAR. Many drivers don’t even get a first chance.”
It’s no secret that Martin and Roush have a special relationship. As the first NASCAR driver for Roush, Martin piloted the No. 6 Ford from 1988 to 2006. He earned 35 Cup series victories, held a then-record 47 Xfinity series wins and ultimately posted 96 career NASCAR wins. The Arkansas native credits Roush for giving him the opportunity to chase his dreams.
“The thing that really makes Jack Roush a special NASCAR Hall of Famer is if you look at his racing career in NASCAR,” Martin said. “Jack Roush gave the tools, resources and opportunities to people to realize their dreams – not only drivers but crew people as well.”
Martin describes Jack as a ‘loyal to a fault.’ As the driver continued through his career, he says it became apparent that Roush had a lot of appreciation for his contributions to the team. Yet Martin says he owes Roush everything for making his career.
“We fought tooth and nail together, suffered many disappointments and defeats along the way and built a bond that you could never break,” Martin explained. “There’s nothing that could break the bond that I feel Jack and I have for one another. He’s just a great guy and a great person. He really is one of the smartest guys I had the opportunity to be around and is very much like a father figure to me.”
Roush will be inducted along with Roger Penske, Alan Kulwicki, Jeff Gordon and David Allison. Tune in to tonight’s Hall of Fame ceremony this Friday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network and the NBC Sports App.
To hear the full segment, listen below. Be sure to tune into “Jack’s Garage” on “Dialed In” every Wednesday on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 7:30 p.m. ET.
