Martin Truex Jr. earned Joe Gibbs Racing’s second NASCAR Cup Series victory of the 2023 season after a hard-earned win at Dover Motor Speedway on Monday afternoon. It was an incredible race that ended with a late-race restart.
Truex was one of the two fastest drivers in the Final Stage alongside Ross Chastain and their duel was going well until Joey Logano’s crash. Then, Truex came down pit road for two fresh tires while Chastain restarted in fourth place on four fresh tires.
The driver of the No. 19 car held off Chastain and won his first points-paying race of the season. Joe Gibbs, the owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, talked about Truex and even answered a question about his status for the 2024 season.
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Joe Gibbs Racing gives update on Martin Truex Jr.’s contract status for 2024
It had been 54 races since Truex last won a points-paying race in the NASCAR Cup Series entering Monday afternoon but it finally came to an end at Dover. This represented the second-longest winless streak of his career.
Truex won the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum but had a rough start to the 2023 NASCAR season, which included major frustration at Richmond Raceway after his race-winning No. 19 car turned into a finish outside of the top-10 positions.
It has not been easy for the 42-year-old driver but it all paid off on Monday. Truex will return to the NASCAR playoffs after missing it last season and has the proverbial monkey off his back moving forward into the summer months.
After the race at Dover, Gibbs discussed Truex’s victory in a press conference with the media. In fact, he went further and talked about the driver of the No. 19 car’s status for the 2024 season and if a win will help his case.
“I think it’s huge, and we are constantly talking to (Martin Truex Jr.) about next year. We want him to stay with us as long as we can convince him to do that. I think the best way of doing that is winning races, or have a chance to win a championship. I think that’s the best sales job we can do.”
Joe Gibbs on Martin Truex Jr.’s contract status for the 2024 season
Truex considered retiring at the end of 2022 but decided against it to return for another season. During Daytona 500 Media Day in February, he revealed that if he was winning races, he would “probably be back” in the No. 19 car in 2024.
Based on Gibbs’ comments, it certainly helps everyone. It seems unlikely that Joe Gibbs Racing will push Truex out of the No. 19 car so it is completely up to him when he will step away from the Cup Series on a full-time basis.
The organization wants Truex to return and it is the first public expression from Gibbs on his status for the 2024 season. If Truex keeps winning races, it would be hard to see him step away, and both his and Gibbs’ comments certainly back that up.
However, the business in NASCAR is unpredictable so it is important to have a backup plan. If Truex were to retire at the conclusion of the 2023 season, who would be a good driver of the ride? Keep reading to find out three ideal candidates for the No. 19 car in 2024!
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3 ideal candidates to replace Martin Truex Jr. at Joe Gibbs Racing if he retires after 2023
Joe Gibbs Racing may have to fill the No. 19 car (or No. 18 car) if Truex steps away from the NASCAR Cup Series at the conclusion of the 2023 season. If so, these three candidates are likely the best options for the organization.
Sammy Smith, 18, currently drives the No. 18 car for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and has been really impressive. Smith shows speed every single week and won his first Xfinity Series race at Phoenix Raceway in March.
The 18-year-old driver is NASCAR’s best prospect and could be following a similar path to Ty Gibbs. If so, Smith will be in the Cup Series soon and Joe Gibbs Racing would be foolish to block his entrance to the top level.
John Hunter Nemechek is an obvious choice if the organization doesn’t want to rush Smith to the Cup Series. Nemechek, 25, is going to win multiple races this season and should be in the Cup Series no matter what in 2024.
The 25-year-old driver will have several options as teams look to pursue a good, young talent. If Joe Gibbs Racing wants to keep Nemechek within the program, it’s going to take a Cup Series seat to make it happen.
Michael McDowell would also be an unexpected name to some people; however, the driver of the No. 34 car has experience with Joe Gibbs Racing. McDowell, 38, has been impressive with Front Row Motorsports and could be in line for a better ride.
The 38-year-old driver could be given a one-year deal to prove his worth and represent another stop-gap option for the organization. Of course, if McDowell started to compete at a high level, it could create a complicated situation.
Joe Gibbs Racing would have plenty of drivers calling about a potential opening but replacing Truex is a difficult task. If everything keeps going well on the No. 19 team, it seems pretty likely that it won’t end up being difficult for the 2024 season at all.