Mark Martin has worked with many talented crew members throughout his career, but perhaps none of them were as special to him as RFK Racing’s Edgar Aleman. Martin has 40 Cup Series wins under his belt, but the foundation of that career was built in the Xfinity Series, where he won 49 times.
Most of those wins came in the RFK Racing Ford No.60, which Aleman used to tune. After a career spanning four decades, Aleman has announced his retirement, prompting a tribute from The Kid.
Can RFK Racing Ever Replace Its Engine Genius? Mark Martin Honors Edgar Aleman’s Retirement
Back in the late 1970s, a chance encounter at a Puerto Rican drag race changed Edgar’s life. Jack Roush, watching from the sidelines, saw something special in the young mechanic — a mix of technical flair, intuition, and raw enthusiasm. That brief meeting led to an instant job offer, and Edgar became Roush’s very first hire.
Over the next 47 years, the Puerto Rican became a cornerstone of Roush’s operation. Today, he is celebrated as one of NASCAR’s great engine tuners.
Edgar’s mastery under the bonnet powered Martin’s No. 60 Xfinity car to 39 wins. So when Roush shared a post to honour Aleman’s legacy, Martin also took the opportunity to express his admiration for the legendary mechanic.
“Edgar was the engine man on the 60 car the entire time I drove it. He was a fantastic friend and team member. Congratulations Edgar,” the five-time Cup Series runner-up wrote.
Later in his career, Edgar took on the role of assembly mechanic, still driven by the same passion that defined him. His legacy lived on not just in the engines he crafted but in the mechanics he mentored along the way.
As a tribute to his incredible dedication, Roush presented Aleman with a custom helmet bearing his name and his well-worn toolbox — a fitting send-off for a lifetime of hard work.
Martin Opens Up About Life After Racing and His New Passion
Martin is widely regarded as one of NASCAR’s all-time greats. He stepped away from mainstream racing in 2013, leaving behind an illustrious career that included five IROC championships, two Southern 500 wins, a Coca-Cola 600, and numerous other accolades.
Retirement could easily have slowed someone of his calibre, but at 66, Martin has found new ways to stay active and engaged.
One of Martin’s favorite pursuits off the track is building and designing motor coaches. Speaking with Kenny Wallace, he compared it to the old-school days when drivers would hand-build their race cars year after year.
“After I retired, I didn’t really have any passion, and it took me a while to find some passion like I had about race cars. I don’t know,” he said.
“There’s something about these coaches with the big wheels. You know, my dad started a trucking company the year I was born. So, I was around trucks for… I think if the wheels were small, I probably wouldn’t care about them so much, but there’s something that draws me to them.”
Martin has also made headlines this year for his outspoken criticism of the current playoff format. He was at the forefront of the debate and played a key role in pushing NASCAR to consider change.