Martin Truex Jr. could've been "stuck in a sea of B-Class rides" as per Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earlier this season, Martin Truex Jr. announced that 2024 would be his last season as a full-timer in NASCAR. Joe Gibbs and Dale Earnhardt Jr., gave their take on Truex Jr.'s career trajectory, with Earnhardt Jr. saying that Truex Jr. could've been 'stuck in a sea of B-Class rides' had it not been for his remarkable latter half of the career.

While Truex found enough success to argue for a Hall of Fame induction of his name, that success came quite late in his career, as he struggled in the initial years of his career. From 2006 to 2014, Martin Truex Jr. only had 2 wins to his name.

However, from 2015 onwards, Truex won 32 times, including a Cup Series title in 2017. According to Joe Gibbs and Dale Earnhardt Jr., this struggle made his success all the more deserving. Speaking to ESPN recently, Joe Gibbs praised Truex Jr. for his determination and grit and said:

"He had earned his way up in NASCAR, particularly at the Cup Series level, and really struggled through some years and paid a price. To get him into our program as an alliance partner and see what he and Cole Pearn were able to do with the team they put together over there, it was great. So, to see someone who has paid a big price in the sport get to the top level and be a part of that, is a thrill for us," he said.

Truex Jr.'s close friend and former on-track rival, Dale Earnhardt Jr., talked about how the 44-year-old driver's career could've panned out had it not been for a brilliant second half of a career.

"He could have easily been stuck in a sea of B-class rides his entire career," Earnhardt Jr. said.

---

Martin Truex Jr. isn't having the fairytale final year in NASCAR

While Martin Truex Jr. won 3 races last season, he has won none this year. Although he had 4 finishes inside the top 5 until Kansas this year along with a string of consistent results, Truex hasn't been in the top 5 finishing order since.

In fact, from Pocono onwards, Martin Truex Jr. hasn't finished inside the top 10, with 3 finishes outside the top 20 and three DNFs. Talking about Truex's current season, his teammate Denny Hamlin said (as quoted by ON3):

"They’ve certainly not had the year that they have been hoping for, by any means. So, tough on that #19 team, and I hate it for Martin, because, you know, he’s kind of getting caught up in some other people’s things, which is a bummer in your last year. But I think, if you would probably ask him, he would say good riddance Atlanta. He’s done with that place," Hamlin said.

Truex Jr. will enter the second playoff race 18 points short of the current cutoff, following his disappointing result at Atlanta.