The crowds at North Wilkesboro Speedway are drinking in the enthusiasm ushered in by the CARS Tour. The short-track racing series co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. hosted an event that seems like a love letter to the history of stock car racing. With its 150-lap runs, the CARS Tour is a no-holds-barred attitude, and now, one of NASCAR’s all-time greats, Mark Martin, has tossed a match onto this smoldering argument with a remark that has the racing world abuzz.

Mark Martin’s name is inscribed in NASCAR lore with 40 Cup Series victories and a 2017 Hall of Fame induction. And he has never been one to beat around the bush. He competed during a time when stock cars still looked pretty much like the Fords and Chevys in your driveway, when racing was as much about toughness as it was about bling. Throughout his years, he’s seen NASCAR change—new cars, new regulations, new configurations. Not all of that has been easy for him to take, though.

He’s been outspoken about the sport’s move toward four-hour marathons, stage racing, and what he perceives as gimmicks that water down the racing he grew up adoring. The CARS Tour, its brief, hard-fought races, and its retro-looking Late Model Stock Cars serve as a throwback to that bygone period. No surprise Martin likes it, and he’s not afraid to let others know.

Mark Martin isn’t holding it easy against NASCAR

North Wilkesboro, an old gem rekindled by the fire of Earnhardt Jr.’s enthusiasm, pulsed with life as drivers fought door-to-door. On-air in the FOX Sports booth, Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick, the 2014 Cup champion, called the action with a blend of excitement and nostalgia. “We are very proud and something that we are very very passionate about. And just an incredible night. I hope everybody enjoyed the broadcast, I had a lot of fun being part of it.” Earnhardt Jr. said after the race, as he celebrated the series’ growing footprint. Harvick, no stranger to high-stakes racing, was equally impressed: This is going to be really awesome, and I think for grassroots and short-track racing, this is a big moment.” The CARS Tour was proving it could deliver where NASCAR sometimes stumbled.

Then came Martin’s post on X, a sarcastic zinger that stopped scrolling thumbs in their tracks: “Everyone loved the @CARSTour race last night @FloRacing @FS1 Congratulations @DaleJrand @KevinHarvick on a great job. Absolutely great racing 🏁. It just shows you don’t have to have 60 lead changes to have a great race and fans to love it.” The sarcasm dripped from the message, but it was clear. NASCAR’s long races seem plodding in comparison to the CARS Tour’s short, 90-minute firefights. To add to that, the CARS Tour didn’t see a swell of lead changes as fans expect on short tracks, but it was far better than any short track product NASCAR has produced in the Next-Gen era.

The latest Cup Series short track race at Bristol Motor Speedway was a sobering reminder of how drab short track racing can get with the Gen 7 car. Kyle Larson led 477 out of 500 laps at the 1-mile oval in what looks like a dominant performance from the outside. However, with all the cars being so similar to each other, it led to everyone just racing bumper to bumper, unable to make a move ahead. This is what differentiates the CARS Tour from NASCAR for Mark Martin. While Landen Lewis dominated the field, leading every lap from the pole to win the race, the racing going on behind him was electric and made it worth watching. However, this wasn’t the only thing Mark Martin liked about the CARS Tour.

Mark Martin also posted on X during the race, writing, “In my opinion, @CARSTour cars look like race cars. It’s a shame some people don’t recognize the fact that part of being a fan is the love of the look of the cars.” The Late Model stock cars embodied the gritty look of race cars in an era that Mark Martin holds dear to his heart. The Next-Gen cars are much bulkier in design compared to the sleek look of the late models, taking the visual appeal away from the car.

And Mark Martin’s swipe at NASCAR isn’t his first clash with the sport’s modern era. He’s taken swipes at the inconsistent caution flags, like the one during the Duel race at Daytona. Erik Jones crossed the finish line first, but a caution called a mere 100 yards from the line determined Austin Cindric as the winner. Martin referenced his 2007 Daytona 500 second-place finish on X, writing, “2007. No yellow 🤦🏻 @DAYTONA @NASCAR” Martin finished second in that race after no caution was called despite a wreck behind himself and Kevin Harvick fighting for the win on the last lap, and Harvick eventually edged Martin out by 0.2 seconds in a thrilling finish.

It might seem like Martin is just against most things in modern NASCAR; however, last week at Kansas, he went against fan sentiment of it being a ‘boring race’. Martin pushed back hard, calling out their unrealistic demands. His blunt take on X read, “It was a good race. You could line them up tomorrow and get a completely different-looking race. You can’t make every race a three-wide finish.” This was a reference to the photo finish at Kansas last spring, where Larson beat Chris Buescher by 0.001 seconds for the closest finish in NASCAR history.

So it’s evident that Mark Martin is simply a fan of pure stock car racing, and he feels the CARS Tour does it better than NASCAR. The race at North Wilkesboro Speedway was the first race of the Tour broadcast on FOX, a landmark moment for the series that was bought by Dale Jr., Kevin Harvick, Justin Marks, and Jeff Burton in 2022.

Earnhardt Jr.’s vision is ambitious—he’s eyeing new tracks and bigger broadcasts, with FOX Sports already planning expanded coverage for 2025. The series’ focus on young talent, like 2024 champion Connor Hall, is drawing comparisons to NASCAR’s early days, when drivers like Martin cut their teeth on short tracks. Martin’s post tapped into this groundswell, amplifying a sentiment that the CARS Tour could shake up the racing hierarchy.

Fans on social are all in, and their reactions show why Mark Martin’s words hit so hard.

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Fans are in awe of the CARS Tour

One fan wrote, “Watched it too, Mark. It was great to hear @DaleJr and @KevinHarvick, on the broadcast.” The North Wilkesboro broadcast was a game-changer, with Earnhardt Jr. and Harvick’s easy chemistry stealing the show. Unlike NASCAR’s FOX broadcasts, which have been dinged for awkward sponsor plugs and technical hiccups, the CARS Tour’s coverage felt like two racing legends just geeking out over a great race. Harvick’s play-by-play, paired with Earnhardt Jr.’s insider stories, gave fans a front-row seat to the action.

Another fan said, “We love the pureness of the race without all of the gimmicks. Also they use the correct number placement.” This gets to the CARS Tour’s core appeal—no stage breaks, no playoff points, just wheel-to-wheel racing. NASCAR’s modern formats, like stage racing introduced in 2017, aim to keep races exciting but often feel like manufactured drama to purists. The CARS Tour’s simplicity is its strength, letting the racing speak for itself. The cars’ classic design—numbers on the doors, not slid to the side like NASCAR’s Next Gen cars, a change fans have griped about since 2022.

A third fan gushed, “I absolutely LOVE those cars. They look like real race cars. Or, the way a race car should look.” This is the CARS Tour’s secret weapon—its cars are a time capsule, with boxy frames and paint schemes that scream 1980s stock car racing. Fans at North Wilkesboro couldn’t stop snapping photos of the cars, with their bold colors and retro sponsor logos. Compared to NASCAR’s sleek, uniform Next Gen cars, the CARS Tour’s machines have personality.

“Its very possible that in the next five years, the @CARSTour could be more popular than @nascar. Think about that! And doesn’t have to be a 4 1/2 hour race either. Love those cars🏁🏁🏁🏁” wrote another fan. NASCAR’s sprawling races, often stretching past four hours, can feel like a slog compared to the CARS Tour’s tight, 90-minute showdowns, and this fan feels the future is with shorter races.

Martin’s sarcastic dig might have been a jab, but it sparked a real conversation. The CARS Tour’s short races, classic cars, and fan-first mentality are winning over hearts, from legends like Martin to diehard fans in the stands. With Earnhardt Jr. at the helm and a groundswell of support, NASCAR might just have to watch its rearview mirror. The CARS Tour isn’t just a series—it’s a movement, and it’s picking up speed.