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AVONDALE, Ariz. — Martin Truex Jr. experienced an emotional moment when he received a heartfelt standing ovation from his fellow competitors during the prerace meeting on Sunday ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series finale.
Once on the track, the veteran driver, who is 44 and hails from New Jersey, took a moment to express his gratitude towards his team for the incredible memories they created together before competing in his last race as a full-time Cup driver.
“Thanks for sticking it out all the way to the end here,” Truex shared over the radio, his voice filled with emotion. “Hopefully we can go out on top. I appreciate all your hard work and dedication over the years. It means a lot.”
Unfortunately, Truex’s wish for a perfect send-off didn’t materialize.
The driver from Joe Gibbs Racing managed to lead for 10 laps after starting in the pole position. However, a series of pit stops and caution flags disrupted his strategy, taking away his opportunity to vie for a final victory. He ultimately finished the race in the 17th position at Phoenix Raceway, trailing behind the race winner Joey Logano. Following the race, Truex received congratulatory handshakes from notable figures such as Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, who owns 23XI Racing, and four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon.
Truex’s career has been remarkable, with a notable achievement being his 2017 Cup Series championship win and a total of 34 victories in NASCAR since starting his career in 2004. Additionally, he claimed two championships in the Xfinity Series.
Though he will step back from full-time racing, Truex is slated to participate in next year’s Daytona 500 and is in discussions with Joe Gibbs regarding the possibility of competing in a few Xfinity races.
“It means a lot to have earned that respect over the years,” Truex remarked. “Going forward, I plan to do some racing just for fun, and I hope it’s not as stressful as today.”
Hamlin and FedEx
In another notable development, it appears that Denny Hamlin’s lengthy partnership with FedEx, which has lasted for two decades, is heading towards a conclusion.
Hamlin expressed gratitude to FedEx in a social media message prior to the race, and the shipping conglomerate reciprocated with a message of appreciation. “What a ride it’s been!” they stated. “Denny and the entire Joe Gibbs team, it’s been an incredible 20 years of racing with the best. #TeamFedEx will always be cheering you on.”
FedEx has been a sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing since 2005, albeit they have scaled back their involvement in recent years. Following their sponsorship of Hamlin’s car for all 36 races in 2020, FedEx took a more limited approach this season, serving as the primary sponsor for 14 of the points races.
Pace car crash
The race experienced an exciting start when Ty Gibbs encountered the first official crash of the day, colliding with the outside wall on just the second lap.
A second incident involving the pace car caused a delay, though it didn’t take any competitors out of the race. When leading the field back to green after the first stage caution, the pace car driver unexpectedly decided to pit and inadvertently swerved in front of the leading cars. This erratic maneuver caused the pace car to slide into safety barrels, sending debris onto the track and prompting a red flag to halt the race.
Jordan, watching from the 23XI Racing pit, found humor in the chaos while the pace car sustained damage and required replacement by a backup vehicle.
Odds and ends
Kyle Busch faced a significant challenge as he aimed to extend his record of winning a Cup Series race for 19 consecutive seasons. Unfortunately, he started in 25th position and struggled to gain traction, ultimately finishing 21st, marking the first season in his career, which includes two championships, without a victory.
The Cup Series finale remained relatively free of chaos, with just two caution flags resulting from accidents. Ty Gibbs was one of the unfortunate few who experienced a severe crash on the second lap. He reflected on the incident, saying, “We’ve been really hard on the track all week, and I think I just caught it at a bad angle, and it just took off from me. There was no control there. It was a really, really big hit though.”
In a notable recognition, Carson Hocevar was named the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year after an impressive inaugural full season in the No. 77 car, which included six top-10 and one top-five finishes.
Additionally, Chevrolet clinched the NASCAR Cup Series manufacturers championship, celebrating their success in the competitive racing environment.
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