AROUND 2024, MARTIN TRUEX JR. WILL RETIRE FROM THE NASCAR CUP.
At the end of the 2024 season, Martin Truex Jr. has finally made the decision to retire from the Cup, but he has stated that he still intends “to be around” NASCAR.
Since he has been considering retiring from the Cup for a number of years, Truex, 43, has signed a one-year contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing and has been delaying his decision every year for as long as possible.
Truex announced his decision on Friday at Iowa Speedway: regardless of how his season turns out, he will leave JGR’s No. 19 Toyota squad at the conclusion of the season.
“I guess the news has been circulating online all week, so you probably already know why I’m here,” Truex nervously began at the beginning of his press conference. “I’m here to inform you all that I won’t be returning full-time next year.
“I’m looking forward to the remainder of this year, though. Having Johnny Morris from Bass Pro Shops here means a lot to me; he’s been a tremendous supporter throughout my career. None of my achievements would have been possible without him.
“It’s been an incredible journey, truly. I’m optimistic about what lies ahead, even though I’m not entirely sure what that entails just yet. But I’m confident in my decision.”
Despite his announcement, Truex expressed deep gratitude for his time working with crew members and team owners over the years, calling it “a true honor.”
“I won’t disappear completely. I’ll still be around,” Truex reassured. “We’ll continue to collaborate and enjoy ourselves together.”
Truex, who has yet to secure a victory in 2024, currently holds fifth place in the Cup standings, positioning him well for another playoff push.
Since joining JGR at the start of the 2019 season, the veteran driver has amassed 34 Cup-level victories, with 32
coming since 2015. Over the past decade, he has finished outside the top five in points only three times. His
crowning achievement came in 2017 when he clinched the Cup championship with Furniture Row Racing.
“Martin has always been held in high regard by us,” stated Joe Gibbs, owner of JGR. “I made every effort to continue our partnership. We now have two individuals who, in their 40s, are at the top of their game.”
Truex’s career in the Cup series has spanned nearly two decades and encompassed 673 starts. His maiden Cup
victory occurred in 2007 at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway, his home track. He has secured victories in prestigious
NASCAR events such as the Coca-Cola 600 twice, triumphed at the Southern 500, and boasts five wins on road courses, including four at Sonoma.
Truex claimed consecutive Xfinity Series championships in 2004-05 while driving for Chance 2 Motorsports before
transitioning to the Cup series with Dale Earnhardt Inc., which later merged with Chip Ganassi Racing.
Subsequently, he competed for Michael Waltrip Racing until joining Furniture Row Racing in 2014. Following the team’s closure after 2018, Truex has driven for JGR.
In addition to his Cup successes, Truex has made three starts in the Truck Series, securing one victory, and clinched five wins in what is now known as ARCA East. He also boasts a pair of victories in the now-defunct International Race of Champions.
A statement from Toyota highlighted Truex’s accomplishments and praised his contributions both on and off the
track. It noted his distinction as the only driver to win Cup races in a Toyota Camry across three different race teams,
emphasizing his status as a fan favorite and a respected figure in NASCAR. The statement also underscored Truex’s
charitable efforts through the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation, concluding with the assertion that he is destined for the
NASCAR Hall of Fame and will always be regarded as a valued member of the Team Toyota family.