Martin Truex Jr. didn’t perform well during last year and that was obvious as he missed the NASCAR playoffs and failed to win a race for the first time since 2014. However, the 2023 NASCAR season has represented a different story.
Truex Jr. has won two races at Dover Motor Speedway and Sonoma Raceway over the last six races. The driver of the No. 19 car for Joe Gibbs Racing also has the points lead coming out of NASCAR’s only off-weekend as the sport transitions to NBC Sports.
It is no secret that Truex has been considering retirement; however, would he really step away after having this much success? There are reasons for and against retirement but Toyota Racing seems to have an idea of his future.
Related: Joe Gibbs Racing provides big update on Martin Truex Jr.’s future beyond 2023
Toyota reveals thoughts on Martin Truex Jr.’s future in NASCAR beyond 2023
It has previously been reported that Truex is expected to return to Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2024 season but nothing has been made official yet. Everything is still on the table as the 42-year-old driver works through the process.
This is similar to the situation that took place in 2022. Truex was unsure about retirement and took his time to make a decision. He wasn’t having the same amount of success as the 2023 season but a decision was made at this point last year.
With the end of June 2023 quickly approaching, Truex’s future is becoming more of a topic. Still, all signs point toward him returning for a 19th season in the NASCAR Cup Series with Joe Racing Racing and there is optimism that it will end taking place.
Toyota Racing Development president David Wilson jumped on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and revealed that everyone is trying to make Truex return. Plus, Wilson gave his thoughts on whether he will return or not.
“It sure has, and I am optimistic…From my frame of reference and where (Martin Truex Jr.) is, a future Hall of Famer in this sport, it’s about how fun he’s having, and you see him climbing out of that race car more and more often with a smile on his face…We certainly hope that Martin continues to have fun because I believe that that will be integral to him coming back for another year at least.”
David Wilson on Martin Truex Jr.’s possible return in 2024
Wilson seems optimistic that Truex will return to the Cup Series in 2024 and it is for good reason. When a driver is having success, that turns into excitement and even more success. In Truex’s case, there are significant reasons for optimism.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver is already expected to return and it feels like Toyota understands that it is a good situation for them. Losing a Cup Series champion is always bad for an organization and manufacturer since the idea of replacing them is difficult.
Hopefully, Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota won’t need to deal with the headache of trying to find another driver for the No. 19 car next year. If Truex keeps winning and having success, it’s hard to envision that being a problem.
In the meantime, whether you are watching it live or looking for how to watch NASCAR on TV or another streaming platform, Sportsnaut has you covered for the upcoming weekend at Nashville Superspeedway!