Martin Truex Jr.’s NASCAR journey isn’t quite over, but his chance of becoming a multi-time Cup champion did end with his elimination in the opening round of the 2024 playoffs. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver at least had one championship to his name, in 2017, as well as three championship runner-ups. It’s reflective of his time in NASCAR in a way, which was a rather unusual one spanning over two decades and saw an unlikely rise in the second half of his career. Respected throughout the paddock and even to rivals for being a clean driver, what else does he leave as his legacy? When the checkered flag waves on MTJ’s full-time career, what will he be remembered for?
Watch: ‘You never like to let anybody down’: Truex speaks on playoff heartbreak
A promising start
Driving for the Earnhardt-owned Chance 2 Motorsports team, he immediately demonstrated his potential in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The New Jersey native won back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005 including 12 wins in two seasons. Among the names he defeated en route to these championships were Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer and Greg Biffle.
His success earned him a promotion to Dale Earnhardt Inc.’s Cup team in 2006, driving the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet. This was a difficult and tumultuous time for DEI as the team struggled and relationships were frayed. Michael Waltrip left the team after 2006 and Dale Earnhardt Jr. followed suit a year later. Despite the turmoil, Truex managed to earn his first victory in 2007 at Dover, which essentially functions as his home track (though no fewer than four tracks have been called his home track in the past, but let’s not start that debate). His Dover win was DEI’s 24th and final win before merged, becoming Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing.
Race winner Martin Truex Jr. does a burnout
Photo by: Getty Images
Years of struggle
Truex did not find much success following his victory and the merger didn’t seem to help. He was consistently bested by teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, departing the team at the end of the 2009 season. He joined Michael Waltrip Racing to drive the No. 56 NAPA Toyota. Unfortunately, the change of race teams didn’t initially change the results on track. The team made agonizingly slow improvement. But that would pay off in 2013 when MTJ finally returned to Victory Lane, ending a six-year winless streak. That win also put him in contention to make the playoffs for the second…
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