Brad Keselowski and His Racing Prodigy Tip Their Hats to Martin Truex Jr and His Racing Legacy After He Announced His Retirement

Jeff Gluck had asked Martin Truex Jr in 2011 how he wanted to be remembered after he’d hung up his helmet for good. And now, as the 2024 season also wraps up his career as a full-time driver in NASCAR, it is safe to say that Truex Jr is a happy man as he retires. It is true that this season, luck has stalled the stalwart’s efforts to reach the victory lane, however, there is something more important that the JGR driver craves.

Truex Jr has commanded a lot of respect from his peers and the community, and it is well-deserved. Among his many admirers is his long-time competitor Brad Keselowski. Ahead of the Cup race at Iowa, Keselowski and teammate Chris Buescher honored the #19’s contributions to the sport and praised his remarkable career.

Brad Keselowski showered praises on the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran

The 2017 Cup Series champion has amassed a grand total of 34 wins with three crown jewel events in his nearly 20-year career. And his run to being a champion saw one of the most glorious title runs in history, as he clutched four wins and nine top-five finished in 10 playoff races. Thus, it is no surprise that Truex Jr will eventually be inducted into the Hall of Fame. However, being a good driver isn’t all about winning for him.

Answering Jeff Gluck’s previously mentioned question, Martin Truex Jr had made it clear that having the “respect of your peers and your competitors is important”. After the 43-year-old announced his retirement on Friday, Gluck asked him again if ‘his goals from 2011 came to fruition’. “One hundred percent,” Truex Jr confidently exclaimed. And his confidence is just in the right place, as Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher recently confirmed.

Keselowski said in a press conference, “Martin certainly has earned a lot of respect and credibility out of the industry. He’s done that with things he’s done on the track and off the track. Sad to see him go and just kind of reminded that life is about change. Not always fun change, but it’s tough seeing any champion leave the sport. Kind of wishing the best in his next endeavours. To speak of his career, as you’re asking. Martin was kind of a telltale story of this sport, of somebody that came in with a really great pedigree. Winning two Xfinity championships and got to the Cup side.”

The #6 driver did confess that there were occasions where Truex Jr got the short end of the stick. However, he would usually adapt to the situation and turn a negative into a positive. He even cited the earlier race at Sonoma as an example. However, the point is that Martin Truex Jr has a knack for putting his car in the right positions. Furthermore, he is also capable of looking after his car and staying clean.

Chris Buescher also had some kind words to say about Martin Truex Jr

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Meanwhile, Chris Buescher affirmed, “Brad covered it quite well. I know he’s raced with Martin a lot more through the years. Big news that I guess we probably felt was coming at some point within the next year. But good for him, and like Brad said, he’s been a lot of fun. to race with. A very respectable racer that has been able to have good clean battles through the years, consistently. It’s always been a lot of fun for me. It still want to be a little upset with him for being able to run me down last week, but congrats to him. Really cool and wishing him the best, moving forward. Like Brad said, you’re losing another veteran that’s unpredictable.”

The general sentiment is that a driver of Truex Jr’s caliber will be sorely missed. Many can attest that he was a tough opponent and his shoes will be difficult to fill. However, someone’s got to do it and Joe Gibbs Racing will be on the hunt to see who is worthy of earning that #19 seat.