Mark Martin Will No Longer Drive But Avoiding “R-Word”

This will be Mark Martin's final year behind the wheel but the longtime NASCAR driver insists that the idea of retirement is not foremost in his mind. Martin, 54, told FOX Sports that racing isn't in the cards for 2014 but he will remain active behind the scenes.

 “I don’t have any racing scheduled for 2014 and haven’t had,” Martin said at Phoenix International Raceway. “I do, however, have an undefined role at Stewart-Haas (Racing). The major definition is I’ll do his (Tony Stewart’s) preseason testing.

via Mark Martin ending driver gig but shuns saying 'retirement' - NASCAR News | FOX Sports on MSN.

Martin went on to say that after 31 years of NASCAR racing he can tell that his ability is not what it once was.

“I can still drive a race car pretty fast, but I’m not the driver I was at my peak and I know it. Maybe for a while, I didn’t but I know it. I still run good. I’m not saying I can’t, but I can feel it in everything I do. But every time I walk across the room, I can tell I’m not 35.”

via Mark Martin ending driver gig but shuns saying 'retirement' - NASCAR News | FOX Sports on MSN.

Mark has been a successful and popular driver with some 40 Sprint Cup and 49 Nationwide Series wins to his credit. Best of luck, Mark, in your "non-retirement".