Coming off dominant win in contract year, NASCAR's Martin Truex Jr. ponders future
When Martin Truex Jr. strapped into his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this past Monday due to Sunday's rainout, the Mayetta, New Jersey, native had never won a Cup race at the New England track.
In addition to his three wins through 21 points-paying races this season, Truex has seven top-five finishes and 10 top-10s after 20 starts. With his race-high 254 laps led of 301 prior to taking the checkered flag at New Hampshire, Truex eclipsed 12,000 laps led in his Cup Series career and now sits 17th on the all-time laps led list in NASCAR’s top series.
Monday’s victory at New Hampshire vaulted Truex back into the lead in the Cup Series driver standings. He has 667 points, 17 ahead of second-place William Byron. The regular-season champion will receive 15 important playoff points when the playoffs begin on Labor Day weekend in September at Darlington Raceway.
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Truex has won twice at Pocono Raceway, the track where the Cup Series races next on the Cup Series schedule (Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET; USA). A third-career win there would further build the team's confidence.
“... (Pocono is) one of our home tracks, as they say," Truex said. "I’ve won there a couple of times and kind of struggled there last year. But I'm really excited to get back with the fast race cars James (Small, crew chief) and all the 19 (crew) guys have been bringing to the track lately. The team is doing a great job, and we’re fired up and hope we can get another win at Pocono.”
Truex and Small, a native of Melbourne, Australia, have communicated well in 2023. The chemistry shows up each week on the track. Both are used to the current Generation 5 race car now and can adapt to whatever chassis adjustments they need to make wherever they race.
So what's the key to their success?
“Just experience with this race car, really,” Truex said. “I think James and I have always had a great relationship, have always jelled and worked really well together, and understand each other. Last year was just one of those years where we had a lot working against us. But we learned a lot, and now we’ve got better race cars. We have a better understanding of them, and the consistency that we’ve shown and the ability to lead laps and win races is proof of that.
“We never changed a thing with our team, our people, our process, the way we do things. We just have better cars, better understanding of our cars, and showing up to the racetrack ready to roll with a lot of speed this year, and we hope we can continue that this weekend at Pocono.”
At this time of year, questions are posed to drivers in their contract years about their futures. Truex falls into that category with JGR. Soon to move into August, there isn’t much talk about 2024 for the 2017 Cup Series champion. Decisions need to be made very soon and he knows the clock is ticking.
“… This sport isn't exactly what it appears to be sometimes," Truex said. "It takes a big commitment. My team is amazing. They deserve the very best driver, the guy that wants it more than anyone else, and I've been that guy. I want to make sure that if I come back, I'm willing to do that. It takes a lot. It's not just show up at the track, drive the car, go home. It takes a lot. It takes a lot of commitment. It's a lot of travel. A lot of time missing things with family and friends and all those things that I've done for 25 years. Do I want to keep doing it and am I willing to sacrifice all those things again for my team?
“So that's just what I'm thinking about. I don't know that running well and winning makes a difference. It would be pretty awesome to win the championship and walk off into the sunset.
“I just don't really know. I'm bad at making big decisions. I told somebody out there, I was like, ‘I've been looking at saltwater boats for five, six years. Love to fish, spend a lot of time on the water, and I haven't pulled the trigger on a boat because I just can't make up my mind on what I want. I'm just bad at big decisions.
“... I wish I had more time to figure out what I want to do next year, but I don't, so I'll know soon and you'll know soon.”
While that decision is being made, Truex will be committed to driving race cars, winning races and working toward winning a second-career Cup Series championship. Then, the sunset may come. Time will tell.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Martin Truex Jr. has uncertain future in NASCAR contract year
