Martin Truex Sr., the father of ex-NASCAR champion Martin Truex Jr., has passed away at the age of 66, as confirmed by his sons in a statement.
In their message, Martin Jr. and Ryan Truex expressed their deep sorrow, saying, “We are devastated by the loss of our father. Simply put, he was our hero and a great man. We appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers and ask for privacy at this time.”
Details surrounding the circumstances of Truex Sr.’s death have not been disclosed.
Truex Sr. had a brief career in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series, participating in 15 races from 1989 to 1998. His top finish was a 12th place at Nazareth Speedway in 1994. He ultimately chose to retire early to support the racing careers of his sons, including Ryan, who currently serves as the reserve and development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing.
In addition to his racing background, Truex Sr. was involved in the commercial fishing industry as one of the owners of Sea Watch International.
The announcement of his death occurred just a day after Truex Jr. revealed plans to compete in the upcoming Daytona 500 next month with TRICON Garage, marking the team’s attempt to debut in the Cup Series.
Truex Jr. will drive the No. 56 Toyota Camry XSE as part of a partnership between TRICON and Joe Gibbs Racing. However, the car will be classified as “open,” which means Truex doesn’t have a guaranteed entry into the race and must qualify by speed through time trials or qualify in one of the two additional races leading up to the main event.
Having secured the Cup championship in 2017, Truex Jr. retired at the end of last season, leaving behind a legacy of 34 career wins.
Notable competitor Jimmie Johnson, who has seven Cup championships and two Daytona 500 wins, is also gearing up to qualify for the race as part of a limited two-race schedule that includes the Coca-Cola 600. If all goes as planned, Johnson is set to reach his 700th career Cup Series start at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, where he has won the 600 event four times.
NASCAR is providing four open spots in the 40-car field for the Daytona 500, but recent rule changes allow four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves to be considered as a 41st entry if he fails to qualify through traditional means.
Seven drivers have already confirmed their intent to vie for these open spots, with at least two more expected to join the competition.
This report has been amended to clarify that Jimmie Johnson is a seven-time NASCAR champion, contrary to earlier statements.
