Last week, he finished 27th at the Toyota/SaveMart 350, following a 34th at the Enjoy Illinois 300. Continuing with the former, Truex was unable to finish the race at Sonoma Speedway after running out of gas on the home stretch of the final lap.
Over the last year, there has been speculation and whispers that Truex will retire from the NASCAR Cup Series after the 2024 season. On the most recent episode of “Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour,” host Kevin Harvick speculated whether this season is Truex’s final one.
“This is a sport that requires daily commitment at the highest level. It’s not that Martin isn’t committed to what he’s doing, but the uncertainty makes it difficult to go through the building process on a daily basis because you don’t know what’s going to happen next year,” Harvick said. “Eventually, it’s awful for the squad, and I believe we’ve reached that stage. With everything going on at Stewart-Haas Racing, there are a lot of whispers regarding Chase Briscoe taking over the [No.] 19 car.
“Maybe they’ve reached a point where they believe it’s time to move on and begin rebuilding the [No.] 19 team to be what the [No.] 20 team is, to be the [No.] 11, the [No.] 54?” They have solid situations that will last for many years.
Truex is seventh in total points this season (508), with four top-five and seven top-ten finishes, but he has yet to win a race. His last victory was on July 17, 2023, at the Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Truex has 34 career victories and was the 2017 Cup Series winner. He is in his sixth season with Joe Gibbs Racing (2019–present). Truex formerly worked with Furniture Row Racing (2014-18),
Michael Waltrip Racing (2010-13) and Dale Earnhardt Incorporated/Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing (2004-09 and full time from 2006-09).
As for the Briscoe rumor, the 29-year-old is one of four NASCAR drivers who will have a new race team next season, as Stewart-Haas Racing announced last month that it’s shutting down after the 2024 season.
Truex, 43, is the oldest current driver on the NASCAR circuit; Harvick wants to see Truex go out on a high note.
“I wish he would just say ‘I’m done, this is going to be my last year,’ so that we can celebrate Martin. I want the fans and the sport to be able to celebrate what Martin Truex has done in this sport,” Harvick said. “I feel like the situation is not positive right now for that type of scenario, and I just don’t want him to walk away and say ‘I’m done’ at the end of year like Carl Edwards did and not be able to celebrate his greatness and his achievements in the sport.
“He’s a champion. He’s a winner. He’s done everything that he needs to do in this sport … I hate the fact that he might just walk away and be done, and I hope that doesn’t happen.”
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