NASCAR Cup Series: Best substitute drivers of the 2010s

NASCAR: Best substitute drivers of the 2010s

DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 31: David Ragan, driver of the #38 Shriners Hospital for Children Ford, climbs into his car during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on August 31, 2019 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

5 of 7

Mark Martin, Stewart-Haas Racing, NASCAR (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images) /

Mark Martin

With 40 wins and five runner-up finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series championship standings, series veteran Mark Martin started his final Cup Series season in 2013 as a part-time driver behind the wheel of the #55 Toyota at Michael Waltrip Racing.

After Denny Hamlin was injured in a last-lap crash at Auto Club Speedway, Martin was available, as he was not scheduled to drive the #55 Toyota at Martinsville Speedway. He took over the #11 Toyota for the one race, driving it to a 10th place finish.

Martin’s next substitute opportunity came that August after Tony Stewart was injured in a sprint car race before the Cup Series event at Watkins Glen International. His injury ended up sidelining him for the remainder of the season.

Martin took over the driving duties of the #14 Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway and competed in 12 of the final 13 events for Stewart-Haas Racing.

His best finish was a ninth place finish at Richmond Raceway, and he drove the #14 Chevrolet to two more top 15 finishes, an 11th place finish at Texas Motor Speedway and 15th place finish at Phoenix Raceway.

Martin finished in 19th place at Homestead-Miami Speedway in what turned out to be his final Cup Series start, ending his substitute run with an average finish of 20.6 in 13 races.

Home/NASCAR Cup Series