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SHR’s Tearful Goodbye, Martin Truex Jr.’s Full-Time Farewell Mark End of Era

2024 Cup Richmond I racing - Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, and Ryan Preece, No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (Credit: NKP)

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Every offseason brings about change, and the conclusion of Sunday’s (Nov. 10) NASCAR Cup Series championship race will see the emotional, tearful end of Stewart-Haas Racing along with the final race in Martin Truex Jr.’s illustrious full-time Cup career.

Unlike SHR’s closure, Truex’s race at Phoenix will not be a permanent goodbye. He’ll be back at the Daytona 500 next February, and he has every intention of making sporadic starts through NASCAR’s top three series in 2025.

“I’ve got to talk to Coach [Joe Gibbs] about the [Joe Gibbs Racing] Xfinity car,” Truex said. “We will see what the options are there. I would like to run a few of those next year for sure. I haven’t really looked into [the Craftsman Truck Series] at all – not sure about that – but I’m open to doing some things, so hopefully can have some fun next year and that will include some racing. So we will see how that all plays out.”

As for this weekend, it’s been business as usual for Truex, as he won the pole — his second consecutive pole and the 25th of his career — in Saturday’s (Nov. 9) qualifying session. He hasn’t found victory lane in his final full-time year, and doing so will be his biggest priority.

“I guess it hasn’t really sunk in yet, but I’m excited for the weekend,” Truex said. “I had a good practice yesterday, and I think as far as preparation, it’s been the same as usual, so we’ll see how it goes.

“I’m not sure it’s really sunk in yet. … I’m not super emotional I guess, so we’ll see what happens after the race. I’m looking forward to having a fun weekend and hopefully a great day tomorrow.”

There’s a lot for Truex to be proud of as he reflects on what he’s accomplished and starts his next chapter. Truex started his career with only two wins in his first nine full-time seasons, only for the switch to be flipped after getting paired with crew chief Cole Pearn at Furniture Row Racing in 2015.

Between FRR and Joe Gibbs Racing, Truex went on to win a whopping 32 races and the 2017 championship in the final 10 seasons of his career. It was an improbable rise that will end in retirement as a surefire NASCAR Hall of Famer.

“My career, I think, I’m most proud of is … doing the things I was able to do,” Truex said. “Being able to be around in the Cup Series and in this garage as long as…

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