JUST IN: Mark Martin draws the line: He ‘doesn’t want’ NASCAR turning into WWE for the sake of TV ratings Mark Martin, a NASCAR Hall of Famer, expressed concern about the sport’s direction, urging it not to mimic WWE’s theatricality for TV ratings. On a 2025 podcast, Martin criticized NASCAR’s 2000s shift toward manufactured drama, like the 2004 Chase format, which he believes diluted racing’s authenticity. He pointed to incidents like Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s $75,000 fine for fighting Kyle Busch in 2024, promoted by NASCAR’s social media, as crossing a line. Martin wants racing, not staged rivalries, to drive fan interest, citing Shane van Gisbergen’s 2025 Mexico City win as pure competition. Fans echoed

Mark Martin, a revered figure in NASCAR, has drawn a clear boundary: he doesn’t want the sport devolving into a spectacle akin to WWE just to boost TV ratings. Speaking on a 2025 podcast, the Hall of Famer voiced concern over NASCAR’s ongoing drift toward manufactured drama, criticizing changes like the 2004 Chase format that, in his view, compromised the integrity of competition. Martin highlighted recent incidents—particularly Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s \$75,000 fine for a post-race fight with Kyle Busch—as signs that NASCAR is prioritizing viral moments over authentic racing. He pointed out how NASCAR’s social media amplified the altercation, signaling a troubling embrace of theatrics.

Martin advocates for racing that stands on merit, not scripted storylines. He praised Shane van Gisbergen’s win in Mexico City as a refreshing example of pure competition, free from off-track distractions. His message resonates with longtime fans who feel the sport has strayed too far from its roots in pursuit of broader appeal and lucrative media contracts, like the ones recently signed with Amazon and TNT. While NASCAR seeks to modernize and attract new audiences, Martin warns against losing what originally defined it: honest, hard-fought racing. His comments are a reminder that while entertainment matters, authenticity is what truly sustains fan loyalty over time. As NASCAR balances tradition and innovation, Martin’s words offer a timely call to protect the soul of the sport.