"We love him" When Martin Truex Jr. was retained by Teresa Earnhardt owned DEI in 2008

Amid speculation over his future in 2008, Martin Truex Jr. was retained by Dale Earnhardt Incorporated (DEI) for 2009. He began his career at DEI in the Cup Series in 2004. In the first five seasons, he won one race at Dover in 2007 and scored 11 finishes inside the top 5.

But heading into the 2009 season, there was uncertainty about both DEI, which was owned by Teresa Earnhardt at that time, and its #1 driver. Towards the end of the year, it was announced that DEI would merge with Chip Ganassi Racing and become Earnhardt Ganassi Racing for financial reasons.

Months before this merger became official, DEI's president of global operations, Max Siegel, cleared any uncertainty over Martin Truex Jr.'s future.

"He's important to us. We love him. We want him to be here long term. I don't want him to go anywhere. He's stated he loves DEI and loves working there. I want to make sure the overall package we put together gives him the security and comfort and resources he needs to compete at the highest level."

In the wake of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s departure from DEI to Hendrick Motorsports at the end of the 2007 season, Truex Jr. became the star driver of the team. But while his future with DEI, later Earnhardt Ganassi, was secured for 2009, and was being hoped to turn into a longer association, Martin Truex Jr. left the Earnhardt umbrella after 2009.

Martin Truex Jr. joined Michael Waltrip Racing in 2010, a team he raced at for four seasons. He then joined Furniture Row Racing in 2014, where he won his Cup championship in 2017. And in the last leg of his career, Martin Truex Jr. raced at Joe Gibbs Racing until his retirement at the end of 2024.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. claimed he has always cheered Martin Truex Jr. in his career

Ahead of Martin Truex Jr.'s retirement at the end of 2024, his former teammate and friend Dale Earnhardt Jr. expressed his thoughts on the 2017 Cup champion.

Earnhardt Jr. claimed he has always been a fan of Truex Jr. and has 'cheered him on' throughout his career.

“He’s never made me question allegiance or loyalty, and I’ve always appreciated the friend he’s been Now, he’s shitty at communication. He is terrible at text messages, and if you don’t, you know, you might not hear from him for damn months. He’s that kind of friend," Earnhardt Jr. described.

It's worth mentioning that in 2017, following the biggest moment of Truex Jr.'s career, Earnhardt Jr. claimed he wasn't 'surprised' by his success. The former HMS driver deemed him as someone who is a 'tough person mentally', but also an easy-going person who one can hang out with or go hunting with.

This was something that Dale Jr. believed served Truex Jr. and the success he achieved in his career.