Martin Truex Jr. receives warning about NASCAR return after retirement

With the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season closed, Martin Truex Jr. announced that he will step away from full-time racing. This marks the end of a strong chapter for one of the sport’s most accomplished and revered drivers.

Truex Jr. has received an outpouring of support and heartfelt goodbyes from the NASCAR community as he prepares to end his career on a high note. Describing his legacy, Joe Gibbs called him “a real champion, a real class act.”

Martin Truex Jr.’s journey in NASCAR began with difficulty. He started his career in the Busch North Series in 2000 with the family team. By 2001, Truex had moved to the Busch (now Xfinity) Series and made a name for himself with Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Chance 2 Motorsports in his first full program year in 2004, earning back-to-back championships in both 2004 and 2005.

When he moved to the Cup Series in 2006 with Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI), Truex faced tough times, including limited success with DEI and later Michael Waltrip Racing. His career trajectory took a transformative turn when he joined Furniture Row Racing in 2014, a move that catalyzed his breakthrough into NASCAR.

His tenure with Furniture Row Racing from 2014 to 2018 marked a turning point. Known primarily as a single-car team under Barney Visser, this stint was the foundation for Truex Jr., who won 17 races in his five seasons. His efforts culminated in eight remarkable wins during the championship-winning season in 2017. The feat was even more poignant given the personal challenges facing his longtime partner, Sherry Pollex, who was battling cancer at the time.

Following the closure of Furniture Row Racing in 2018, Truex Jr. moved. for Joe Gibbs Racing. During his time with JGR, he achieved an impressive number of wins, including seven wins in the 2019 season alone. Despite a change in crew chiefs from Cole Pearn to James Small in 2020, Truex’s performance remained top notch, further cementing his status as a formidable competitor within NASCAR circles.

Joe Gibbs said the following:

“I just want to say to everybody, this guy comes to our meetings a lot of times the day after tough things happen. And that guy’s personality and the way he handles things was a real champion and we all really appreciate him and we look forward to what we can persuade him to do next year, I hope everyone here has seen the same.Thanks, Martin.

Truex’s career statistics speak to his exceptional consistency. During his Cup Series career, he has participated in 693 races with 34 wins, 147 top-5 finishes and an impressive 25 pole positions. Despite a challenging start, Truex’s perseverance in the latter half of his career has earned him significant accolades, including his 2017 Cup Series championship, forever making him an important part of NASCAR history.

The announcement of Truex’s impending retirement has prompted reflection and praise throughout the NASCAR community. Denny Hamlin has been vocal about Truex’s impact and influence in the industry.

“I think Martin is one of the most underrated drivers we have. Certainly how our sport doesn’t forget Martin after he’s gone at the end of the year.” he said.

Likewise, younger drivers such as Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs have praised Truex’s mentorship and dedication.

“For me, Martin has always been my idol. I want to be like him. Martin Truex does things his way, and I’ve always appreciated that about him,” Bell said.

Looking to the future, Martin Truex Jr. hinted that he could potentially participate in one-off races. Denny Hamlin backs this up: “I told him I want his Daytona 500 car ready right away. Put me the word. 100%. I would 100% do it. … Every time Martin gets bored and wants to drive the Cup , we would definitely have a place for him.”

Still, not everyone is recommending a return. Kevin Harvick offered a warning.

“I hope he (MTJ) doesn’t come back and race, honestly. I think when we see Jimmie Johnson come back and race, it’s not the Jimmie Johnson that we’re used to seeing beforehand and competitive and do the things that he did.”

He continued: “And I hope that Martin, if he’s going to race, doesn’t drive a Cup car. I just hope that he can keep his career intact and the way that everyone thinks of him with the achievements that he’s had had over the past several years and be competitive.”