Mark Martin's story of resilience, raw talent, and unmatched car knowledge defined the modern era of NASCAR drivers... and today, he sits down with fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. to discuss it all! Mark details key moments that defined his career, especially turning down the Ranier Racing No. 28 car ahead of the 1982 season. From there, Mark discusses his long and complicated relationship with Jack Roush. Mark feared Jack, but a trip to a test track and an unauthorized plane landing helped Mark realize the true level of their relationship. In that same trip, Mark and his team got reckless and totaled a group of rental cars — and somehow, the story never got out. And Jack? He was none the wiser. Racing back in the '80s and '90s brought its own slew of challenges, and Mark details several such moments, including subbing out of the car at Pocono mid-race due to heat exhaustion. On top of that, Mark raced with a hand-operated clutch in his late model just weeks after suffering a vicious crash. After discussing Mark's new book, he and Dale Jr. discuss the current state of NASCAR racing, namely the points format that Mark spearheaded as part of NASCAR's Playoff Committee. Plus, Mark shares his potentially radical idea to fix racing with the Next Gen car. All of this packed into another can't-miss episode of The Dale Jr. Download! THE PODCASTS YOU LOVE. THE MERCH YOU NEED. Get it all here: https://shop.dirtymomedia.com/ Follow Dirty Mo Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DirtyMoMedia Twitter: https://twitter.com/DirtyMoMedia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dirtymomedia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dirtymomedia_ All About Dirty Mo Media: https://www.dirtymomedia.com FanDuel: Must be 21+ and present in select states (for Kansas, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino) or 18+ and present in D.C. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets, which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome Back Mark Martin 04:09 Writing Never Lift 09:39 The Call That Changed Everything 19:52 The Rental Car Crash 29:05 Daytona & Career Turning Points 42:24 Jeff Gordon's Foreword 45:33 NASCAR's Playoff Committee 1:05:28 Fixing NASCAR 1:15:20 The Next Gen Car 1:23:30 NASCAR's Downforce Problem 1:27:39 Wrap Up