“Everyone Wants Me to Be Sad”: Martin Truex Jr.’s Parting Words After Last NASCAR Race at Phoenix

NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway.

44-year-old Martin Truex Jr. participated in his final Cup Series race as a full-time driver in Phoenix on Sunday. As he finished 17th and got out of his car, out of breath for maybe the last time in a while, the atmosphere around him was one filled with nostalgia. However, the veteran blew that out of his way and enjoyed the moment, sharing his happy satisfaction with the press.

He said, “Everyone wants me to be sad, but I’m happy. I’m celebrating this. Got a lot to be thankful for. Got a lot to be proud of.”

He continued to reveal his plans for the immediate future, “Go enjoy some time off, do the banquet and all the fun stuff, and it’s gonna be fun to come back in a different role and come race for fun (laughs). Hopefully, have fun, it’s hard to have fun when you take it this serious.”

Asked if he was having any second thoughts about retirement, he declared, “No second thoughts. I’m happy.” Truex Jr. has had an illustrious career spanning two decades in the top tier of stock car racing. 34 victories decorate his crown and make him one of the greatest drivers seen in NASCAR.

It is the stature that his achievements provide that caused his fellow competitors to give him a standing ovation after the driver’s meeting ahead of the race. And also what caused Michael Jordan to approach him after.

The NBA legend walked up to him on the pit road and shared a small talk, which was captured by the surrounding cameras. Sportsnaut reporter Matt Weaver wrote on X, “MJ congratulated Truex on his career.”

Multiple similar messages and appreciations continue flowing in and will continue to do so for some time. He is not a guaranteed future Hall of Famer without reason.

Truex Jr. feels good about the respect he has earned

All the icons congratulating him on a worthy career have put the driver in a state of personal satisfaction. He told NBC Sports, “It means a lot. To have the respect of guys like that and, you know, what they mean to the sport and absolute legends, right? It makes me feel good that I’ve earned that respect over the years.”

Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman Jeff Gordon was among those who gave him a short visit at the pit road as well. He continued, “It means a lot. So, here forward, just go have some fun. Do a little bit of racing here and there just for fun. Hopefully, it will be less stressful than days like today.”

Truex Jr. retires with 289 top-10 finishes, 34 wins, and one championship in 681 starts in the Cup Series. It is a remarkable achievement that he hasn’t missed a single race in the last 21 years. He deserves, in every right, to finally end his watch and rest.

Post Edited By: Srijan Mandal
Jeff Gordon Martin Truex Jr. Michael Jordan

About the author

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Gowtham Ramalingam

Gowtham is a NASCAR journalist at The SportsRush. Though his affinity for racing stems from Formula 1, he found himself drawn to NASCAR's unparalleled excitement over the years. As a result he has shared his insights and observations by authoring over 3000 articles on the sport. An avid fiction writer, you can find him lost in imaginary worlds when he is not immersed in racing. He hopes to continue savoring the thrill of every lap and race together with his readers for as long as he can.

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