In his final NASCAR Cup Series race, Martin Truex Jr. left Phoenix Raceway without the fanfare many expected but with the satisfaction of a career he’s ready to leave behind. Truex capped his full-time career with a 17th-place finish that didn’t reflect the strong start he had hoped for, and he made it clear that he wasn’t feeling sentimental about his departure.
“No emotions,” Truex said after a disappointing end to his day. “I wanted to run better than that. Thought early on it was going to be a good day, but it just kept getting worse and worse the more we tried to fix the car. I don’t know.”
Starting from pole, Truex briefly led the race, holding the top spot for the first nine laps. However, as the day progressed, his No. 19 Toyota slipped back, his crew struggling with brake and handling issues that sent him down the ranks. “We contended to win the first stage,” said crew chief James Small. “But then we lost track position, and it all went downhill. We had some brake issues, and it just created handling problems.”
While Truex’s race didn’t unfold as he’d hoped, pre-race activities were full of tributes. NASCAR played a video honoring his career, earning him a standing ovation. “That was unexpected, but it was very cool,” Truex said. “I’m very honored and humbled.”
In a symbolic nod to his retirement, NASCAR marked his pit area with “Gone Fishing” instead of his No. 19. Truex, known for his love of fishing, appreciated the gesture. “I thought that was cool because I’m going to be doing a lot of that.”
Although Truex plans to step back from full-time racing, he’s still considering some select races, like the Daytona 500, which remains one of the few accolades missing from his career. He’s also open to potentially racing in the Xfinity Series for Joe Gibbs Racing.
“Still not sad,” Truex reiterated. “Everyone wants me to be sad, but I’m happy. I’ve got a lot to be thankful for, and I’m looking forward to coming back in a different role and racing just for fun. Hopefully, I’ll be able to enjoy it without the pressure.”
After the race, Truex shared a quiet moment with Small, his longtime crew chief, discussing the day’s performance. “Usually, I don’t see him afterward—he’s sprinting,” Small laughed. “It was good to see him; he’s off to go fishing somewhere.”
Truex may not have closed out his career with a storybook win, but he leaves the sport with pride, grateful for his time and ready for what lies ahead.
