Dale Earnhardt Jr. Criticizes Mark Martin's Take on Anthony Alfredo After NASCAR Wreck

Earnhardt Jr. disagreed with Martin's comments praising Alfredo's driving abilities after a recent incident on the track.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. took issue with comments made by Mark Martin about NASCAR driver Anthony Alfredo following a wreck at the recent O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race in Phoenix. Earnhardt Jr. criticized Martin for saying Alfredo "can wheel" after Alfredo was involved in an incident that caused another driver, Lavar Scott, to finish 33rd. Alfredo finished 10th in that race and also competed in his first Cup Series race of the year at Phoenix, filling in for the ill Alex Bowman.

Why it matters

The exchange between Earnhardt Jr. and Martin highlights the ongoing debate around driver conduct and accountability in NASCAR. As one of the sport's most prominent figures, Earnhardt Jr.'s criticism of Martin's assessment could influence how Alfredo and other up-and-coming drivers are viewed by fans and the media.

The details

Alfredo, who competes full-time in the O'Reilly Series for Alpha Prime Racing, was involved in an incident with Lavar Scott during the final stage of the Phoenix race that caused Scott to finish 33rd. Despite this, Martin tweeted that he wishes Alfredo the best and that "he can wheel." Earnhardt Jr. took issue with this, responding on Twitter: "He wheeled it right into Lavar (Scott) Saturday night." Alfredo finished 10th in the O'Reilly race and also competed in his first Cup Series race of the year at Phoenix, filling in for the ill Alex Bowman and finishing 33rd.

  • Alfredo was involved in an incident with Lavar Scott during the final stage of the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Phoenix on March 4, 2026.
  • Alfredo competed in his first Cup Series race of the year at Phoenix on March 5, 2026, filling in for the ill Alex Bowman.

The players

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

A former NASCAR driver and current NBC Sports commentator who is one of the most prominent figures in the sport.

Mark Martin

A former NASCAR driver and current commentator who made comments praising Anthony Alfredo's driving abilities.

Anthony Alfredo

A 26-year-old NASCAR driver who competes full-time in the O'Reilly Series and filled in for the ill Alex Bowman in the Cup Series race at Phoenix.

Lavar Scott

A NASCAR driver who was involved in an incident with Anthony Alfredo during the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Phoenix.

Alex Bowman

A NASCAR Cup Series driver who was unable to compete at the Phoenix race due to illness, leading to Anthony Alfredo filling in for him.

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What they’re saying

“He wheeled it right into Lavar (Scott) Saturday night.”

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Twitter)

“I wish Alfredo the best and he can wheel.”

— Mark Martin (Twitter)

“It's just weird, right? I don't want to see anyone in the position Alex is in, so it's hard for me to be excited. That makes it certainly disappointing, because a lot of people are asking me how excited I am, and I'm not excited that I have to fill in for someone who's not able to be in their own car this weekend.”

— Anthony Alfredo (NASCAR.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This exchange between Earnhardt Jr. and Martin highlights the ongoing debate around driver conduct and accountability in NASCAR, with prominent figures in the sport taking different stances on how to assess up-and-coming drivers like Alfredo.