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Martin Truex Jr. is one of the more influential drivers in the NASCAR field. With a career spanning close to two decades in the Cup Series, he has won over 30 races and was crowned the champion in 2017. He raced in more than 600 races during his full-time career, and despite his retirement, that number is set to increase, as he will participate on a part-time basis in 2025.
Truex began karting at an early age and moved to cars as soon as he turned 18, old enough to drive. His first appearance in NASCAR was in the Busch Series (now called the Xfinity Series) in 2001 at the Dover International Speedway, when he drove his father's #56 Chevrolet.
However, it's not just these statistics that make Martin Truex Jr. truly an inspirational driver. Many other aspects, some related to racing and others to his personal life, make him one of the favorites among fans.
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Here are some extraordinary facts about Martin Truex Jr.
#1 Martin Truex Jr. drove with a fracture in 2013
During a race at Bristol in 2013, Truex suffered a crash at such an angle that fractured his right arm's wrist. He was racing with Michael Waltrip Racing at the time.
Despite the fracture, he continued to race the #56 Toyota and finished in third in the race immediately after the fracture. He finished the season in 16th place, with a P4 in Homestead Miami.
#2 He operates the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation
Along with his partner, the late Sherry Pollex, Truex Jr. founded the MTJ Foundation in 2007.
It works for cancer patients by raising funds for research and underfunded childhood cancer initiatives and raises awareness about ovarian and childhood cancers. Since its inception, the MTJ has made monumental donations.
#3 Excellency on road courses
While he might not be the best driver in NASCAR's history to take on the tight turns and speedy curves of the road courses, Truex has shown some excellence. He has amassed five wins on road courses, three of which were on the Sonoma Raceway.
#4 Oldest driver on the Cup Series field
After Kevin Harvick's retirement at the end of the 2023 season, Martin Truex Jr. emerged to be the oldest driver on the Cup Series field. Born on June 29, 1980, he turned 44 during the last season. Although he announced his full-time retirement, he will return in 2025 on a part-time basis.
#5 Named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers
In 2023, during NASCAR's 75th Anniversary celebration in 2023, they released a list of drivers, claiming that they were the 75 best ones in the sport's history. Martin Truex Jr. was one of the drivers alongside legends like Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.
