Martin Truex Jr. announced on Friday that he will retire from full-time racing at the end of this season. After 19 years in NASCAR’s Cup Series, he expressed a desire to live on a less hectic schedule.
“It’s about not having a demanding schedule where you’re at a race track for 40 weekends,” Truex shared at Iowa Speedway, ahead of his 674th Cup start on Sunday. “I’ve missed weddings of family members. You’re completely devoted to racing from Monday to Sunday.”
Speculation about retirement has surrounded Truex for the past couple of years, and the news was officially confirmed on Thursday. Reflecting on his decision, Truex mentioned that he had been leaning towards it for most of the season and took time to weigh its impact.
“It’s a significant decision that affects not just me but many others,” Truex explained. He also found it challenging to inform Joe Gibbs, the 83-year-old owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, about his decision.
“Coach has been incredibly supportive,” Truex added. “He helped me think through it, always outlining pros and cons.”
Truex has had a successful career with 34 Cup race wins, 32 of them since 2015. His best year was in 2017, when he won eight races and the series championship. Additionally, he won the Xfinity Series championships in 2004 and 2005, securing 13 wins in that series.
“It’s been an amazing experience working with him,” Gibbs praised. “Martin is known for his integrity and competitiveness. His retirement will be a significant loss for us.”
“Martin has a calm demeanor,” noted Brad Keselowski. “We’re unsure of his next chapter, but he’ll be missed.”
Truex, who will turn 44 on June 29, clarified that his decision was not influenced by his recent racing performance.
