Martin Truex Jr., a prominent figure in NASCAR, has announced his retirement from the NASCAR Cup career at the end of the 2024 season. The announcement was made at a press conference held at Iowa Speedway. Truex humorously noted that the news of his retirement had been circulating online, saying, “I guess the news has been on the internet all week, so you guys already know and I don’t know what I’m here [for]. I’m just here to let you all know I will not be back full-time next year.”
Denny Hamlin said 23XI would have a Cup car ready for Martin Truex Jr. if he wanted to run an occasional race after retiring from full-time competition. Hamlin: "I told him that I will have his Daytona 500 car ready immediately. Just tell me the word." pic.twitter.com/EEQP7e8q5l
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 15, 2024
Despite not securing a win in 2024 thus far, Truex remains a strong contender in the sport, currently positioned fifth in the Cup standings and looking forward to another playoff season. He joined Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in 2019 and has since led the #19 Toyota team to significant success. His racing career, which began with a dramatic first win at Dover Motor Speedway in 2007, spans nearly two decades with 673 starts.
Reflecting on his time in NASCAR, Truex expressed both satisfaction and excitement about the future, stating, “It’s been incredible. It’s been a hell of a ride. I’m excited about the future. I’m not really sure what that looks like yet, but I feel good about my decision. I won’t be gone. I’ll be around still. We’re going to do some stuff together and have some fun.”
Chase Briscoe is the top candidate to replace Martin Truex Jr. at Joe Gibbs Racing. What he said yesterday about possibly leaving Ford and also not doing sprint-car races. The start of this clip comes after he was asked if he knows what he's doing next year. pic.twitter.com/A9ityaAlIV
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 15, 2024
Throughout his career, Truex has secured major victories including the Coca-Cola 600 and the Southern 500, and he boasts five road course wins. One of his standout achievements was winning the Cup championship in 2017 with Furniture Row Racing, solidifying his legacy in the annals of NASCAR history.
Joe Gibbs, the owner of JGR, commented on Truex’s retirement, highlighting his attempt to keep Truex on the team and his admiration for his skill, saying, “Obviously, we’ve had a tremendous respect for Martin. I did everything I could to keep it going. I think we have two 40-year-olds at the top of their game right now.”
Martin Truex Jr.'s retirement means that Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski are the only drivers who made the 2012 Chase still racing full time in Nascar. pic.twitter.com/tH7P6t4DQm
— 5️⃣⚙️ (@FifthGear10) June 14, 2024
Truex’s career extends beyond the Cup series. His journey in professional racing began with consecutive Xfinity Series titles in 2004 and 2005 with Chance 2 Motorsports, followed by his progression to the Cup series with Dale Earnhardt Inc., which later became part of Chip Ganassi Racing. He also raced for Michael Waltrip Racing and Furniture Row Racing, which closed in 2018, before finally joining JGR. This diverse journey through various teams underscores his adaptability and impact within the sport.
As Truex prepares for his final races in the coming months, there is significant interest in what his next steps will be. The racing community is keen to see how he will continue to shape and influence NASCAR. His enduring spirit of competition and resilience will likely inspire future generations of racers.
Major Points
- Martin Truex Jr. has announced his retirement from full-time NASCAR Cup racing after the 2024 season.
- Despite not winning in 2024, he remains competitive, holding fifth in the Cup standings and aiming for the playoffs.
- Truex has had a successful career with notable achievements including a Cup championship in 2017 and victories at major races like the Coca-Cola 600 and the Southern 500.
- He began his NASCAR career with back-to-back Xfinity Series titles in 2004-2005 and has raced for several prominent teams.
- As he approaches retirement, there is significant anticipation about his future contributions to the sport, with expectations that he will continue to influence NASCAR.
Fallon Jacobson – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
