Martin Truex Jr. Reveals Potential Return to NASCAR Post-Retirement, Wishing to Erase One Blemish From His Career
“You can’t even explain the feeling — it’s overwhelming.” That is how Martin Truex Jr. worded the indescribable rush associated with a race victory. Even after announcing his retirement in June, the veteran Cup Series driver is frantically searching for that giddy feeling once more. And especially if it can be found on a track where Truex has narrowly shaved Victory Lane twice.
With NASCAR moving into a slew of new tracks next season, drivers are pumped. But 13-time Xfinity winner is gluing his eyes to one particular track, revamped for Xfinity and Craftsman Truck races. “The Rock” is the newest revival on the sport’s schedule, and Truex is all for it.
Rockingham Speedway was first opened in 1965 and gained traction for its spectacular races. The North Carolina track is hallowed ground for NASCAR fans. Yet lack of attendance and the Ferko lawsuit in 2004 ultimately axed the track on the Cup Series schedule. The Xfinity Series also wrapped up its operations by 2004, when Jamie McMurray won his fourth consecutive Rockingham Xfinity start. Yet now, NASCAR is ready to head back there, with both Xfinity and Truck races scheduled to be held on Easter weekend next year.
And Martin Truex Jr. wants to be part of that comeback plan. As the press asked him recently about missing out on NASCAR’s revamped schedule, the No. 19 driver initially did not concur, having won 34 times in the Cup Series. “Not at all, not at all. I have done a lot of different things throughout my career. You know, certainly, the sport has changed a lot, especially in the latter years here. But it’s probably gonna continue doing that. It’s fortunate that we’re going to a lot of new places and win a lot of races.”
