"I literally just broke down in tears": Martin Truex Jr. gets emotional about NASCAR title ahead of potentially final visit at Homestead-Miami 

NASCAR driver Martin Truex Jr. recently expressed his feelings about retiring from the sport ahead of his race at Homestead, where he won his first title in 2017. The 44-year-old has been competing in the Cup Series for nearly 21 years and will retire from competing full-time following the end of the 2024 season.

Martin Truex Jr., the 2017 Cup Series champion, drives the #19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, competing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series. Over his 20-year career, he’s earned 48 wins across NASCAR's divisions, with 34 in the Cup Series. A native of New Jersey, Truex also captured back-to-back Xfinity Series titles in 2004 and 2005.

Ahead of the Cup Series' return to Homestead-Miami for the second race in the Round of 8 of the playoffs, Martin Truex Jr., who won his first Cup Series title at the track, looked back at the career-defining moment of his NASCAR career. In an interview with NBC Sports, the former champion said(via X, formerly Twitter):

"I got to the white flag finally, and I said 'It's over, game over', and I put it away. When I'd seen the checkered flag, literally, I thought of everything that you could imagine. I literally just broke down into yours. I couldn't talk. I didn't know what to say," Truex Jr. said.

"I think all those things you go through make you who you are. I don't think you want to cast them by the wayside. We're really proud to win for those reasons, for Jim, for Cole's friend, for Cher, for her battle, for regular people out there everywhere that are dealing with a bunch of crap that they didn't sign up for," he added.

Martin Truex Jr.'s 2017 season was not short of troubles, as his partner during that time, Sherry was suffering from ovarian cancer. Further, a crew member from the #78 Furniture Row Racing (James Watson) had passed away, and his crew chief Cole Pearn had lost his best friend. Despite all the heartbreak and difficulties, Truex Jr. won the Cup Series title, leaving a permanent mark in the sport.

As the New Jersey returns to Homestead-Miami reportedly for the last time, catch the former champion live on SiriusXM, MRN, and NBC Sports on October 27 at 2:30 PM ET.

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Martin Truex Jr. commented on seeing Chase Briscoe take his JGR ride

Following the announcement of Martin Truex Jr.'s retirement from the Cup Series, Stewart Haas Racing driver Chase Briscoe, who was left without a seat on account of SHR's closure, had been selected by Joe Gibbs Racing as a replacement in Truex Jr.'s #19 Toyota.

On an episode of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Dirty Mo Media podcast in July this year, the former Cup Series champion expressed his views on seeing Briscoe in his racecar come next season (via X, formerly Twitter):

"I guess it was a little weird seeing him stand there next to the car, at the shop, wearing the Bass Pro hat and all that like yay look at me, it is a little strange for a minute, but I don't think it gave me any weird feelings," Truex Jr. said

Chase Briscoe’s playoff run ended without advancing to the Round of 8, concluding Stewart-Haas Racing’s (SHR) final playoff campaign before their anticipated departure from NASCAR. Briscoe’s performances throughout the playoffs, particularly in the recent rounds, fell short of what was needed to continue in the championship contention.