Martin Truex Jr. is having a great 2023 season and it feels like last year was a long time ago. In reality, Truex is not even 365 days removed from missing the 2022 NASCAR playoffs but there is plenty to be happy about right now.
The driver of the No. 19 car for Joe Gibbs Racing is second in the point standings behind William Byron and has two wins at Dover Motor Speedway and Sonoma Raceway. Needless to say, the excitement and success that Truex lacked in 2022 has returned.
Truex considered the idea of retirement during the 2022 season but decided to come back. Now, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver is considering retirement once again and gave an update on his future in the NASCAR Cup Series.
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Martin Truex Jr. reveals timeline on NASCAR retirement decision in 2023
It has previously been reported that Truex is expected to return to the No. 19 car for Joe Gibbs Racing next season; however, that has not been confirmed by the driver or organization yet.
While many people expect that to be the case, the door has not been closed on potential retirement. Truex is 43 years old so this will likely be the situation that he faces every single year.
It is hard to make the decision to step away from the NASCAR Cup Series and that is the battle Truex is facing right now. In fact, Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing are pushing for his return as they love the 43-year-old driver.
Truex talked to the media ahead of the race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway and gave a quick update on a potential retirement decision after being asked if he will return for another season.
“Good question…I probably need to (make a decision) pretty quick. A lot of people behind the scenes are counting on what they’re doing next year so I need to figure it out pretty quick.”
Martin Truex Jr. on a potential NASCAR retirment decision in 2023
Truex was also asked if winning has made a decision on retirement any easier and he shot that down quickly. It appears that his success on the race track has not been very influential when it comes to retirement.
At this point last season, Truex had already made the decision to return as it was late June. With the calendar almost hitting mid-July, the time for a firm answer is coming soon as NASCAR teams are looking to fine-tune their lineups moving forward.
Joe Gibbs Racing is one of NASCAR’s powerhouse organizations so this is a huge decision that will have a significant domino effect on the rest of the sport, including the NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series due to Toyota’s presence.
What if Truex shockingly decides to step away from NASCAR and leave the No. 19 car vacant for 2024? Continue reading to find out three ideal candidates for Joe Gibbs Racing!
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3 ideal drivers Joe Gibbs Racing should consider if Martin Truex Jr. retires at the end of 2023
Joe Gibbs Racing might have to fill the No. 19 car in the NASCAR Cup Series if Truex retires and luckily for them, there are plenty of names that make sense. This includes two drivers in the organization’s NASCAR Xfinity Series program.
Sammy Smith is another solid option as he represents Toyota’s best prospect in NASCAR right now. Smith, 19, is currently in his first full-time season in the Xfinity Series and has a victory at Phoenix Raceway over Busch.
The 19-year-old driver will certainly join the Cup Series program one day but he may not be ready for the big stage yet. Smith has a lot of potential but it is important to not rush him into the Cup Series as he continues his development.
John Hunter Nemechek would be a top candidate as his path through NASCAR’s lower ranks is nearing an end. Nemechek, 26, was previously in the NASCAR Cup Series with Front Row Motorsports but moved to Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Truck Series the next year.
The 26-year-old did this to reset his career with Toyota and it has definitely worked to this point. Nemechek currently drives the No. 20 car for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series and would be a very good option if Truex were to leave.
Michael McDowell would be an out-of-the-box idea for Joe Gibbs Racing but he would be a very good selection. McDowell, 38, is the driver of the No. 34 car for Front Row Motorsports and has been running very well since his 2021 Daytona 500 victory.
The 38-year-old driver has been linked to Stewart-Haas Racing so there would be competition if Joe Gibbs Racing decided to go this route. Of course, McDowell’s arrival at the organization would only happen if Truex didn’t return.
The NASCAR team hopes to see Truex return to the No. 19 Toyota Camry next season but it is still up in the air. If not, there are plenty of names that make sense for Joe Gibbs Racing with Nemechek being pretty high on the list.