Martin Truex Jr.’s former right-hand man allegedly slams him, says JGR can now “actually build the team” as Chase Briscoe enters the picture

Martin Truex Jr. has retired from full-time NASCAR Cup Series racing and called his penultimate race at the Phoenix Raceway. Through 21 years of his high-octane motorsport career, the former Joe Gibbs Racing driver earned high praise from his rivals, mostly for his calm and composed demeanor in a mentally and physically challenging sport.

However, James Small, MTJ's former crew chief, appeared displeased in some aspects. In his latest conversation with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Small talked about having Chase Briscoe on board and emphasized two things the retired driver allegedly didn't do. The crew chief also mentioned that JGR can build the #19 team now.

"It’s just going to be really great to actually have somebody, for one, who lives in North Carolina. Two, comes into the shop multiple times a week. We can actually build the team around him, and having a process of developing a setup each week. Helping us be better as well, so we’re all really excited to have him on board. I think it’s going to be a big gain for the #19 team,” Small said (0:21).

Martin Truex Jr. entered Joe Gibbs Racing in 2019 and began his 2020 campaign with James Small calling the shots. It's worth mentioning that the 2017 Cup Series champion averaged nearly five wins per season from 2016 until his first year under the JGR banner, but couldn't recreate the supreme performance following Small's arrival.

Since 2020, Martin Truex Jr. has won eight races and has spent two winless years (2022 and 2024). Even though their pairing recorded four wins in 2021 and three in the previous season, the partnership largely wasn't enough to make the driver clinch another title.

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Martin Truex Jr.'s former crew chief underlines "point to prove" amid Chase Briscoe's arrival

Stewart-Haas Racing announced during the mid-season that they would end their operations at the end of the 2024 season, jeopardizing Chase Briscoe, Ryan Preece, Noah Gragson, and Josh Berry's Cup Series future. Briscoe's relationship with Bass Pro Shops, one of JGR's biggest sponsors, played a key role in his multiyear deal.

The 29-year-old recently completed his fourth full-time season, registering his second playoff entry since his sophomore season in 2022. Since his Cup debut, the Indiana native has claimed two wins, 13 top-5s, and 30 top-10s. But as he will be running for JGR, the team with 214 Cup wins and five Premier level titles, the stakes will be high, and so will the pressure to perform.

Martin Truex Jr's former crew chief James Small spoke of high expectations from Briscoe and expressed they have to prove a point. During the above-mentioned conversation, he said.

"I'm expecting a lot. He's a really good kid. I spent a lot of time with him, talking to him, and he seems very motivated to do well, and he's got a point to prove and, you know, to show people now that he's going to be in a much more competitive car week on week out, that, you know, he can do this and win multiple races a year," Small said.

Do you think Small would be a better fit for Chase Briscoe than he was for Martin Truex Jr.?