Martin Truex Jr. has experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows during his NASCAR racing career.
Truex is making his final start as a full-time Cup Series driver this weekend at Phoenix Raceway aboard his familiar No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
It all began 20 years ago, when Truex won back-to-back NASCAR Xfinity Series championships in 2004 and 2005, graduating to the NASCAR Cup Series with Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 2006.
A win at what he considers to be one of his home tracks at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway one year later looked to be the start of a blossoming career.
Then came five straight winless seasons with two different race teams.
While Truex landed on his feet briefly at Michael Waltrip Racing, however, that unraveled, leaving Truex with Furniture Row Racing in 2014.
However, Truex stayed the course with the Colorado-based team as he scored his third career victory a year later at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, which kickstarted perhaps the most unlikely resurgence of any driver in NASCAR Cup Series history.
Fast-forward two years and Truex was hoisting a championship trophy after completing a stout eight-win season with Front Row. Most Cup Series drivers find most of their success during their 20s and early 30s.
Truex scored the title at age 37.
While Truex hasn’t won a championship since, his career has been defined by resilience. Jokingly, Truex stated his career could be described as “stressful.”
“I don’t know, I’m not sure there’s one word,” Truex began. “There are so many different emotions and things I’ve been through over the years. It’s been a roller coaster, there’s no question. Just thankful for everyone who has done so much for my career, there’s more than I could even begin to thank.
“I’m looking forward to celebrating a lot of those people this weekend. I’ll have some friends and family at Phoenix and I know a lot of people from Bass Pro Shops and Toyota will be there, as well. I’m thankful for so many people and hope we can celebrate with them during the weekend for all we have been able to do together.”
Truex’s JGR entry will sport a special paint scheme that pays homage to his first Cup Series start at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Oct. 31, 2004.
While it’ll certainly be an emotional weekend for Truex, he affirmed he’ll still be at a race track somewhere competing from time to time for the foreseeable future.
“I still want to race, I don’t think I want to completely stop going forward,” Truex said. “I don’t know when and in what, but I’ll still try to have some fun. I still love racing and driving cars, just ready to not travel 40 weekends a year more than anything. That’s the only thing, just the travel and, every week, having to pick up and go again.
“So now I’ll be able to make a schedule, I can pick and choose when and where I go and I’m looking forward to that.”
Truex has 34 Cup Series victories and Phoenix will mark his 684th consecutive start.