Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) veteran Martin Truex Jr. has confirmed that his plan to race in the 2025 Daytona 500 with 23XI Racing is still on track, despite the team’s ongoing legal battle with NASCAR. The legal drama, which stems from 23XI Racing’s lawsuit against NASCAR over alleged monopolistic practices, has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the team’s future, especially since NASCAR announced the team would not have charters for the 2025 season.
Truex, who is set to retire from full-time Cup Series competition at the end of 2024, has made it clear that he doesn’t want to step away from racing entirely. His post-retirement plans include a deal with 23XI Racing to field a car for the prestigious Daytona 500. However, with the team embroiled in a court battle, there have been questions surrounding whether those plans will come to fruition.
Ahead of the Las Vegas race, Truex addressed the situation, acknowledging that the future remains uncertain but expressing optimism about the Daytona entry.
“I should probably only have one,” Truex said, referring to his race commitments post-retirement. “I don’t own a car, so it’s going to depend on a lot of people to figure it out. Hopefully, a couple of Xfinity races and the Daytona 500. We’ll see.”
Truex, who signed a contract to compete in the 2025 Daytona 500 with 23XI Racing, maintained that as far as he knows, the plan is still moving forward. However, he admitted that the ever-changing nature of NASCAR could alter things quickly.
“As far as I know, it’s all still going. I think we’re good. You never know these days, things change in a hurry, right?” Truex continued. “There’s a lot going on, but I feel confident. I have a contract, so that’s a good sign, right?”
While uncertainty looms, the existence of a contract has given Truex some confidence, even though the outcome of the charter dispute could have a significant impact on 23XI Racing’s future in NASCAR.
In a recent interview, Truex also reflected on the highlights of his career, particularly recalling his 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Championship win with Furniture Row Racing. He emphasized the importance of teamwork in that victory, stating that even though his car wasn’t the best that night at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the crew’s efforts allowed him to take the lead at the crucial moment and secure the title.
“You know, as a kid or as a young driver coming up, that’s your dream—to win the Championship in the Cup Series,” Truex said. “We didn’t have the best car all night, but we got the lead when we needed to. The pit crew did that, and I was able to hold him off. Thinking back on everything I’ve been lucky enough to accomplish, that’s one of the things that sticks out the most.”
As Truex’s full-time career draws to a close, he remains focused on going out on a high note. His primary goal for the remainder of the season is to secure one more win, with only three races left to achieve that. Truex, who has been a force in NASCAR for years, is determined to make his final season one to remember.
Truex’s future in the Daytona 500 and beyond may be tied to the outcome of 23XI Racing’s legal battle, but for now, the 2017 champion is holding on to his hopes of making one last splash in one of NASCAR’s biggest races.
