For a few glorious hours today, the NASCAR corner of the internet felt like Christmas morning. An account called The Daily Downfords dropped a rumor that hit every nostalgic nerve at once: Mark Martin, 66-year-old Hall of Famer, the driver who turned runner-up finishes into high art, was supposedly coming back.

Not just any comeback, either. The story claimed he’d climb into Kaulig Racing and Ram’s brand-new “Free Agent” Truck for 2026 and make his big return at North Wilkesboro Speedway, the reborn half-mile that feels like a time machine.

People lost their minds in the best way. Old-school fans who grew up watching Martin dice through traffic in the Valvoline Ford started typing in all caps. Younger fans who only know him from highlight reels and “Greatest Drivers” lists started asking

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