Martin Truex Jr. will be retiring from full-time competition from the NASCAR Cup Series at the end of the season, the driver announced June 14 during a press conference at Iowa Speedway.
Truex spoke alongside Joe Gibbs and Johnny Morris, founder and CEO of long-time Truex sponsor Bass Pro Shops. Teammates from Joe Gibbs Racing were in attendance as well.
“It’s been incredible,” Truex said. “It’s been a hell of a ride. I’m excited for the future, even though I don’t really know what that looks like yet. I feel good about my decision. I just want to thank Coach and everyone at JGR. They’ve been absolutely amazing.”
“To be able to win a championship is something I’ve always dreamed of and to get that done was amazing. Just feel very lucky to be surrounded by so many great people over the years. To all the guys I’ve worked with, crew members, crew chiefs, team owners, you name it, it’s been a true honor. I’ll miss all those people for sure, but I won’t be gone. I’ll still be around. We’re going to do some stuff together, enjoy life and wind down.”
Retirement rumors have swirled around the veteran Truex for years, including throughout last season before he signed a one-year extension with Joe Gibbs Racing in August.
Truex said he’s been leaning towards retiring most of the season before making his decision a few weeks ago. The decision ultimately came down to Truex wanting the freedom to set his own schedule
“It just felt like the right time for me,” Truex said. “I thought about it a lot the past few seasons and just waited for that feeling in my mind to be positive. Like ‘Okay, I want to do something else.’ Something just felt different this year for me and I felt it was time to slow down and do something else.”
“21 years I’ve done this and I’ve never missed a race, never missed a practice, never been late for anything, never missed an appearance. You live your life by a schedule that somebody makes for you and it’s just time for me to make my own schedule.
Joe Gibbs said that Truex will stay on with JGR as a team ambassador and that a part-time schedule might be a possibility.
“I think what we’re really excited about is him staying here in the future,” Gibbs said. “I’m sure I’ll have to find him some place in a boat or with Johnny in a tree blind someplace, but we’re going to run him down. We’re excited about the future.”
Truex plans to…
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