What Is Next for Ryan Truex?

Ryan Truex snagged his first ever NASCAR Xfinity Series win this past weekend at Dover Motor Speedway, but you already knew that.

While everyone else was lamenting the best weekend ever to have a brother with the last name Truex, I was left thinking about the younger Truex’s next steps and the road he took to get here.

Before joining Joe Gibbs Racing’s Xfinity squad part-time last year, Truex was a career part-timer across the entire sport, having only run one full season of Xfinity since 2010, two in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and almost one in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2014 for BK Racing. Remember them? Me either.

The Mayetta, New Jersey native had his best NASCAR year to date before the current season in the Truck Series in 2017 for Hattori Racing Enterprises when he earned a ninth-place finish in the final points standings. His best result in Xfinity was with the then-upstart Kaulig Racing in 2018, where he finished 12th.

Truex lost that ride due in part to Justin Haley, who had just finished inside the Championship 4 in the Truck Series, being announced as his successor, but in large part due to a lack of sponsorship that he brought to the team.

(I was personally shocked that big brother didn’t offer some Bass Pro Shops money, but manufacturer lines probably put a strain on that).

Now that Ryan has been in the same building as his older brother, though, and has a team behind him with enough money to fund the car themselves, he has his shining moment. A 13-year long career culminated in one glorious moment this past weekend, and there may not have been anybody more deserving.

But what’s next?