LOUDON, N.H. — Martin Truex Jr. got one of the biggest decisions of his life off his chest last weekend at Iowa Speedway.
Though it wasn’t completely unexpected, the former NASCAR Cup Series champion announced he’ll step away from full-time driving duties after the 2024 season.
It had been a decision the Mayetta, New Jersey native pondered for multiple years. With a long-term deal with Joe Gibbs Racing concluding in 2022, Truex announced he’d come back for at least one more season. As he won three times in 2023, he decided for at least one more campaign behind the No. 19 Toyota Camry.
But something told him internally that his time was finally up. Making that decision has put him at a little more peace, though the emotion swings of racing don’t tend to bother him much anyway.
“I feel like I’m pretty relaxed generally,” Truex joked Saturday in a press conference at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “I feel relieved after I finally made a decision after thinking about it for two years.”
A late bloomer in his career, Truex didn’t start to find massive success until 2015 – nine years into his Cup tribulations. He won four times in 2016 before his historic championship run a year later, recording eight triumphs and 26 top-10 finishes.
That year began a stretch of four of the next five seasons finishing second or better in driver’s points.
One of the most respected drivers in the garage, Truex gained a reputation for racing others fairly and cleanly.
“This week was really kind of humbling to see the comments and it means so much to me just to hear what people think,” he said. “A lot of people that I really respect and look up to have sent messages or said something in interviews, just whatever. It is really special to know that you’ve represented yourself well, your family well, your teams – all of the people I’ve worked with over the years.
“I’m sure there will be more down the line, but it means a lot. It’s really special. It reminds you of how lucky we are to be able to do this.”
Truex opened the door to more racing beyond 2024; he just doesn’t want to be full-time. He hinted at potentially driving one of JGR’s Xfinity cars, while teammate Denny Hamlin said he’d make a car available for him 23XI Racing.
It seems like he’ll take Hamlin up on that offer.
“[Hamlin] threw it out there in the media center and we’ve chatted a few times this week,” Truex said. “A few things to figure out, but it seems like we will be able to do some races if we want, which will be awesome. Excited about that.
“It is really cool that Denny did that and reached out this week. It means a lot to me.”
But with the announcement in the rear-view mirror, Truex’s focus remains in the present. He sits fifth in points without a victory heading to New Hampshire – the site of his last victory.
Truex always wanted to win a Cup race at New Hampshire, a place he grew up watching his dad race at. His family has an incredible history in the Northeast.
He’d like nothing more than to do it again in his final season.
“I think winning here in general is a really big deal,” Truex said. “It was a frustrating thing to come here year after year after year – and feel like it got away again, so many times we were in position to win, or we were right there leading laps and things. It has always been a really good track for me and just not having that win for so long was really, really frustrating.
“I think to be able to go back-to-back would be awesome. That is what we are looking to do, and we are excited to be here.”