Following the race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, Martin Truex Jr. took full responsibility for his disappointing performance that resulted in him falling out of the playoff race. As he competes in his final full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series, Truex Jr. is set to be replaced next year by Chase Briscoe from Stewart-Haas Racing, who will take over the No. 19 Toyota Camry.
Truex Jr. faced a setback on lap 333 when he was penalized for exceeding the pit road speed limit by just under one mile per hour. This misstep proved costly, as a timely caution could have allowed him to regain lost positions. Unfortunately, the last 163 laps of the 500-lap event unfolded without a single caution flag, preventing him from recovering from the penalty. In a post-race interview, he expressed his frustration, noting, “It’s really tough when it’s 0.09 mph. That kind of screws your whole chance at a good season up. I didn’t know I was that close, honestly. I felt like I did the same thing as every other stop.” He acknowledged that the error was his fault, stating, “It’s on me, obviously. My mistake. They said we needed to run second or third there to have a chance, and while I don’t know if we could have done it, it would have been nice to see. Just really sad for my guys.”
Truex Jr. ultimately finished the race in 24th place, earning just 29 points. This marked his eighth consecutive finish of 20th or worse since the Brickyard 400 in July. Despite not being a full-time driver next season, Truex Jr. has confirmed he will compete in the 2025 Daytona 500, reuniting with his former crew chief, Cole Pearn, who will lead him in a 23XI Racing car.
Pearn and Truex Jr. enjoyed a successful partnership from 2015 to 2019, winning the 2017 Cup Series championship and a total of 24 races together. After Pearn’s retirement in 2019, he transitioned to a consulting role with the Toyota team. Reflecting on their relationship, Truex Jr. shared, “We don’t talk very often, but when we do, it’s just like old times. He can pretty much read me like a book. He knows exactly what I’m thinking. I don’t know…it’s just…he’s a special guy. He’s different than anyone I’ve ever known. He knows everything. He knows the answer to everything. And he tells you things, you’re like, ‘How’d you know that?'”
Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing alongside NBA legend Michael Jordan, commented on the excitement of Truex Jr.’s return to NASCAR, saying, “23XI and (Joe Gibbs Racing) are kind of looking at the options and figuring out what’s the best avenue for it. Certainly, having Martin in the 500 is going to be exciting.” Although there has been no official announcement regarding the number on his car, Truex Jr. mentioned it could be either #78 or #56, both of which he has driven in the past. He notably won his only championship driving the #78 car, adding to the significance of this upcoming chapter in his racing career.
Martin Truex Jr. admits his “mistake” as he faces a playoff exit in his last NASCAR season!
