Martin Truex, Jr. Makes It Official
Credit: NEWTON, IOWA - JUNE 14: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Reser's Fine Foods Toyota, speaks to the media announcing his retirement prior to practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway on June 14, 2024 in Newton, Iowa. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
In his mind, he’d been going back and forth on a decision for the last several years, Friday, at Iowa Speedway, Martin Truex, Jr. made it official that he will retire from full-time racing in NASCAR’s Cup Series at the end of the 2024 season.
“Just felt like the right time for me. Honestly, I’ve thought about it a lot the past few seasons and just waited for that feeling in my mind to be positive, like this is okay, I’m good, I want to do something else.
“Yeah, something just felt different this year for me. I felt like it was time to slow down and do something else. It’s been a great ride.”
According to the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion, he made his decision to step back from racing full-time a couple weeks ago.
“I’ve known for a few weeks – we’ve known for a few weeks. I was leaning that way most of the season – I was leaning that direction, but I wasn’t totally sure. So, just took a while to think about it all.
“It’s a big decision. It affects not just me, it affects a lot of people and again that’s the toughest part. You don’t want to let people down. I’ve been – 21 years that I’ve done this I’ve never missed a race, I never missed a practice, I’ve never been late for anything, I’ve never missed an appearance. I mean, you live your life by a schedule that somebody makes for you and it’s just time for me to make my own schedule. It’s really as simple as – that’s really what boils down to me is I want to go and do the things I want to do and I don’t want anyone to tell me when I can and when I can’t do those things.
“I still love racing,” Truex continued. “I’m still going to race some. I don’t know what, when, how, why, I don’t know any of that yet. I’m going to figure it out. I feel very fortunate to be in this position to be able to make this decision on my own terms. It’s something that was always something I wanted to be able to do because there was times in my career where I didn’t know if I was going to have a job next year or in six months or whatever. It’s just a good feeling to be able to make your own way, do the things you want to do and that’s kind of what led me to this.”
Credit: (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
While Truex claims his decision was not performance related, the driver of the No. 19 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing did admit to not having as much fun as he once did.
“Sometimes. Yeah, sometimes. It’s hard to explain. I have my reasons. I have, like I said, I feel really good about this and this is what I want to do.”
Growing up as a second-generation racer, Truex admits never thought he’d win 34 races in the series and become a NASCAR Cup Series champion.
“Yeah, no for sure. I never thought of that. When I was running up in the north series in my dad’s cars I was -- honestly moving to North Carolina and racing cars for a living was never on my radar. It just wasn’t. It was on my dad’s radar I guess because he was talking to people and whatnot. I was just working on cars and building race cars and trying to go fast and win races and it all kind of played out.
“Thinking back to all those memories, it’s amazing to – talking to Johnny (Morris, long-time backer and sponsor), talking about the memories we’ve shared together and the great wins we’ve had over the years. I never dreamed of any of this. Just very, very lucky.”
As far as the timing of Truex, Jr.’s decision, team owner Joe Gibbs said it was always up his driver.
“We talked over the years as Martin, I think, thought about things and I think it was just different this year. I could kind of tell when I called him to get the final result, he was totally relaxed and so I could read that in him.
“We’re excited about going forward. I think now he’s going to have a lot of opportunities and some with us. So, I think, as much as anything he’ll be setting his own schedule and kind of doing whatever he wants to do.”
So, what does Truex want to do once the checkered flag waves on the season at Phoenix in November?
“It’s as simple as just not having a crazy schedule where 40 weekends I’m at a race so that’s part of it. I don’t know. I don’t know exactly what I’m going to be doing yet aside from the fun stuff I like to do away from the race track. Hunting, fishing, hanging out with friends.
“Everyone in my family that’s ever gotten married, I missed their wedding. You know what I mean? You don’t have a life. You’re married to racing. That’s all you do Monday to Sunday. That’s all you do. It’s just going to be interesting to just lead kind of a normal life for while and see what that’s like. It’s been – I’ve never done that.”
Credit: DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 14: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, poses for a photo on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2024 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Going forward, Truex would like nothing better than to go out as a 2-time Cup Series champion.
“Yeah, I’m just going to do my job and do what I’ve always done. Again, I don’t think anything changes here. I’m here to win this weekend and I’m going to do the best job I can do.
“I don’t know. I don’t really overthink all of these things. I just make a decision, do my thing, go out and race and try to enjoy it and do a good job for the team. We’ve got a great team, great cars and we can win some races and that’s the goal.”
As far as those competitive juices, Truex isn’t overly concerned about missing them.
“He’s (Joe Gibbs) got Xfinity cars (laughter). Coach, I’m bored I want to race. Let’s go!”
To which Gibbs replied, “We’re working on that!”