NASCAR
Top NASCAR Moments for Recently-Retired Star Martin Truex Jr
There is little doubt among anyone that Martin Truex Jr’s career ranks among NASCAR’s legends. The New Jersey driver earned 34 Cup Series victories, championships across the top two divisions, and helped define the 2010s decade. Here’s a look back at a few moments that put an exclamation point on a one day Hall of Fame racing résumé.
Three-Straight Talladega Triumphs
As a young Busch Series prospect, few could ever hang with the might of Truex at Talladega Superspeedway. Across his two championship-winning seasons, MTJ went undefeated at the Alabama superspeedway. He backed this up with a hat trick Talladega win in 2006.
None of these wins carried a heavier meaning than the 2006 victory, however. That day, Truex was driving a black Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet reminiscent of Dale Earnhardt’s iconic paint scheme. This race also ran on April 29, what would have been Earnhardt’s 55th birthday. Bass Pro Shops owner Johnny Morris recently presented Truex with an image commemorating this win at the NASCAR Awards.
Earnhardt-prepared cars were always the class of the field at superspeedways, whether Chance 2 Motorsports or JR Motorsports. Truex still put on a highly underrated clinic across three-straight seasons. It is quite ironic that Truex’s superspeedway prowess never panned out into an elusive Cup Series win.
First Cup Series Victory
Following Truex’s near-immediate Busch Series success, victory lane was far more fleeting in his first few Cup seasons. Career win number one came amidst his sophomore year of 2007, in a dominant run at Dover. The Dale Earnhardt, Inc. No. 1 led over 200 laps during a Monday rainout race. Truex seemingly established himself on the fast track to Cup stardom at this time, but his next moment in the spotlight would have to wait a few seasons.
Pocono 2015 Resurgence
Truex tragically saw two race teams collapse around him in the years after his maiden Cup win. DEI was plagued with mismanagement that forced a merger with Chip Ganassi Racing, and sent MTJ onto greener pastures at Michael Waltrip Racing.
Making the 2012 Chase for the Cup and winning at Sonoma in 2013 would be the high points for Truex at MWR. The low point saw his sponsor Napa Auto Parts vacate the team and leave him without a ride in the fallout from Spingate. Truex’s best available option left in Cup was fledging backmarker Furniture Row Racing.
The Denver, Colorado-based team and Truex struggled mightily in their first foray together. The No. 78 only earned five top-10s in 2014, and finished 24th in points.
An offseason move leading into 2015 would change the course of Truex’s career. Rookie crew chief Cole Pearn was put atop the 78’s pit box, and out of the gate they became weekly threats. While 2015 only saw one win with this team at Pocono in June, this was just the catalyst for what would come out of Colorado. The 78 put together a Championship 4 run, eventually finishing 2015 fourth in points.
2016 Coca-Cola 600 Domination
If any one race defines the unprecedented and unparalleled rise of Furniture Row Racing and MTJ, it’s the 2016 Coca-Cola 600. Much like how 2015 began, the newly-badged Toyota team hit the ground running and were regular winning contenders. Their breakthrough first win of 2016 did not come until May, but it was an unforgettable night.
After starting on pole at Charlotte, Truex rarely relinquished the lead in NASCAR’s 600-mile marathon night. He led the way for a record-setting 392 of 400 laps. No driver ever had led this many miles in a NASCAR race, and it’s a mark that may never be hit again.
This would be Truex’s only 2016 win until September, when he also claimed the Southern 500 at Darlington. An engine failure at Talladega in October ultimately derailed any championship aspirations for Truex. This team did firmly establish themselves however as title favorites heading into 2017.
2017 Title-Winning Drive
As if 2016’s four-win campaign wasn’t memorable enough, Truex and team 78 were on another playing field for 2017. Four wins in the regular season alone put MTJ as the top Playoff seed, with a wealth of bonus points too. Another trio of wins across the opening six postseason rounds had Truex eyeing the big stage at Homestead. Thanks to Round of 8 results of second, second, and third, the best team of 2017’s first 35 weeks had a chance to hoist the big trophy at season’s end.
2017’s season finale from Homestead-Miami Speedway was the end result of a blue collar career’s worth of turmoil and struggles. By virtue of leading 78 laps and beating Kyle Busch to the checkers, Truex was crowned 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion.
While Truex never quite replicated his stellar 2017 stat line, he was a championship-caliber threat as recently as 2023. Truex would make the Championship 4 three more years, being title runner-up each time. The regular season championship from 2023 was the last true hurrah for Truex, having a retirement tour season marred with bad luck at seemingly every turn.
It will be a treat to watch Truex occasionally return to racing on his terms in 2025 and beyond. While his title-winning days may be in the rearview mirror, a competitive fire still burns within the 2017 champion that could deliver a few more victories at any level.
https://youtu.be/XxnYANFjC3c /
Written by Peter Stratta
Be sure to follow us on Twitter/X
Be sure to follow the writer on Twitter/X
Photo Credit to Peter Stratta/TSJSports
