Why is Martin Truex Jr. retiring from NASCAR? All you need to know

Martin Truex Jr., the 2017 Cup Series champion, is retiring from full-time NASCAR competition at the conclusion of the 2024 season. The 19-year veteran driver is calling it a career because he wants more time for other aspects of his life outside of racing.

The driver of the #19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota made the annoucement the Friday before the Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway this June. Rumors had been swirling in the weeks leading up to the annoucement that the 44-year-old was going to call it quits, so much so that he jokingly questioned why he was at the press conference to confirm his retirement. In the press conference, Truex said:

“I mean, it’s as simple as just not having a crazy schedule where, you know, you’re 40 weekends at a racetrack. Everyone in my family, who’s ever gotten married, I’ve missed their wedding. You know what I mean? ... You don’t have a life. You’re married to racing, that’s all you do. Monday until Sunday, that’s all you do.”

Car owner Joe Gibbs was at the press conference, too, and spoke highly of the driver he's worked with over the last six seasons that saw him make two Championship 4 appearances.

“It’s been just absolutely great working with him," Gibbs said. "I think everybody knows Martin’s reputation — a real gentleman, a great competitor. And it’s obviously something that is going to be a big deal for us, and a big loss.”

Chase Briscoe, current driver of the #14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, was later announced as the driver who will replace Truex in the #19 machine ahead of the 2025 season. Briscoe won at Darlington earlier this season and made his second career playoff appearance.

Truex found a litany of success in his NASCAR career with a lot of it coming in the back half of his 19 seasons. Since moving to the Cup Series full-time in 2006, Truex won 32 of his 34 career races from 2015 and beyond. He won a career-high eight races in 2017 en route to his first career Cup championship driving for Furniture Row Racing.

Prior to Cup, Truex won back-to-back Xfinity Series titles in 2004 and 2005 for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated (DEI). Since joining JGR in 2019, the New Jersey native tallied 15 wins with a high of seven victories in 2019.

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Martin Truex Jr. still seeking first win in 2024

Martin Truex Jr. has put together a Hall of Fame-worthy career over the last two decades, but his final season has been a struggle. He made the playoffs on points but failed to make it out of the first round.

Truex finished runner-up at Bristol in the spring and has notched two third-place finishes, but has yet to find victory lane in his final season. He's posted five top-fives and an average finish of 17th through 33 races.

Truex's most recent victory came at New Hampshire last year. With four races to go, he'll look to cap off a decorated career with one more victory.