Martin Truex Jr.’s final season as a full-time Cup Series driver isn’t going as he’d hoped. Despite making the playoffs, he’s been stuck in a winless streak, and the upcoming race at Bristol has become a critical moment for him. Winning there would mean a lot to Truex Jr., who first stepped into a Cup Series car 20 years ago. Over the years, he’s been a standout driver, consistently impressing fans and rivals alike. However, his current form isn’t reflecting his past success—his last win was over a year ago at New Hampshire, and since then, the victories have dried up.
Truex’s 2024 season started strong, with four top-five finishes by the time the NASCAR circuit hit Kansas. However, things have taken a downward turn since then, with his best result being an eighth-place finish at Pocono. This is a sharp contrast to the previous season when he won three races during the regular season but faltered in the playoffs. Now, as he prepares to retire from full-time racing, fans are left wondering when they’ll next see him on the track.
Speculations About Truex’s Post-Retirement Appearances
After the Watkins Glen race, Fox Sports interviewed several drivers about Truex’s retirement, including how often they expected to see him back on the track. Truex Jr. is known for being a bit of an introvert and keeping a low profile around the NASCAR scene. Many drivers believe that after he retires, his presence will become even more scarce.
There’s already speculation about Truex racing in the 2025 Daytona 500, possibly with 23XI Racing, a team owned by Denny Hamlin. When asked how often Truex might race post-retirement, Hamlin guessed that he’d see him around “three times.” NASCAR reporter Bob Pockrass hinted that Truex could be around even more, possibly at Hamlin’s team shop.
Brad Keselowski, on the other hand, gave a cryptic response. When asked how often fans could expect to see Truex, he guessed, “We’ll see Martin twice next year,” adding that he wasn’t sure where that number came from but that it was a gut feeling. While it’s widely assumed that Truex will compete in the 2025 Daytona 500, Keselowski’s comment has left fans speculating about what other races Truex might join. It’s possible Keselowski knows more than he’s letting on, but as of now, the only confirmed race is Daytona.
Drivers Share Thoughts on Truex’s Retirement and Future Races
As Truex steps away from full-time racing, fellow drivers have been reflecting on his career and his potential return to racing in a part-time capacity. Chase Elliott had one of the more pessimistic views, stating that he might not see Truex at all after retirement. Elliott said, “Probably none. I think he’s running the 500, but I don’t know that I’ll see him there. Zero percent. Which is good. That’s what it should be. He should enjoy his time.”
Christopher Bell was a bit more hopeful, predicting that Truex might race in the Daytona 500 and possibly take part in a couple of Xfinity Series races just for fun. Joey Logano, another top driver, said, “I think we’ll see him… maybe he will run a couple of races here and there in some different things. But I think that will be it.”
However, Ryan Blaney’s guess was far more optimistic. He predicted that fans would see Truex race more than seven times after his retirement, which would certainly please Truex’s supporters who are eager to see him continue competing. When Truex was asked how often he expected to race after retiring, his response was vague but somewhat promising. He said, “I’m not sure either. I’m kind of looking at it still. Definitely once. And then from there, my guess would be five, six, seven times. So we’ll see.”
What the Future Holds for Martin Truex Jr.
With various predictions from his fellow drivers and the man himself, it seems like Martin Truex Jr. won’t be entirely stepping away from racing. While his full-time Cup Series days may be behind him, it looks like fans could still see him on track a handful of times, particularly at high-profile events like the Daytona 500.
The 2025 Daytona 500 is the only race that’s more or less confirmed at this point, but given the rumors swirling around his involvement with 23XI Racing and the various predictions from other drivers, it’s likely that Truex will stay involved in the sport in some capacity. Whether he competes in Cup Series races or dips his toes into the Xfinity Series for fun, Truex fans have plenty to look forward to.
As retirement looms, Truex seems to be leaving the door open to future racing opportunities, but exactly how often we’ll see him is still up in the air. Will he race just a couple of times, or will Ryan Blaney’s optimistic guess come true? Share your thoughts on what you think the future holds for Martin Truex Jr. and how often we might see him race in 2025!
