As the sun sets on Martin Truex Jr.’s full-time racing career, it’s a bittersweet moment for fans and fellow drivers alike. After 18 seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series, Truex, at 44, is ready to step back from the grind of full-time racing, with his final race scheduled for this Sunday at Phoenix Raceway. It’s hard to believe that the veteran who’s become a staple in the sport is hanging up his helmet.

But don’t think he’s completely out of the picture. Truex has plans to return in a fourth car for 23XI Racing next year, eyeing that iconic Daytona 500. However, for someone known for his more introverted nature, don’t expect to see him lounging around the paddock all that much. This guy values his space after spending nearly two decades racing full-time, racking up 34 wins and a championship.

Martin Truex Jr.’s plans to take over the Phoenix race

In a chat with FOX Sports before heading to Martinsville, Truex seemed upbeat about his impending retirement. When asked if he felt emotional, he shrugged it off, saying he was excited and eager to soak in the last couple of races. His goal for Phoenix?

MTJ’s not just looking to ride off into the sunset; he wants to make some waves by playing spoiler in the championship race. When Bob Pockrass from FOX Sports asked if MTJ just wanted to have a solid race at Phoenix to close out his full-time career, Martin Truex Jr. didn’t hold back on his real ambitions.

“I’d like to spoil the championship party,” he admitted, as he would like to win a race during his final season as a full-time driver. Winning at Phoenix Raceway would be the perfect way to cap things off, he explained, adding, “You’d love to win that thing. It’s happened before.”

Truex knows Phoenix isn’t unfamiliar territory for him and his team—they’ve had strong runs there in the past, and he’s hoping they can dig a little deeper to make it happen one more time. “Going out with a win would be the most amazing thing ever,” he said, acknowledging that while a championship is out of reach, he’s still aiming to leave the track with his head held high.

Although he knows that winning the race is a difficult but now impossible task, he does have his headset to “just want to go have fun and enjoy the last race with the team.”

Martin Truex Jr. would have wanted his final season to have gone better. So far he has been winless all season, and his try spell extends beyond that. Now the question stands: will he end his career on a dry streak or surprise the fans with a finals-sabotaging victory?

More plans for his final race

So, will there be a grand farewell? Truex isn’t entirely sure yet, though he’s thinking of an “old-school little get-together at the coach after the race or something.” In the interview with FOX Sports, Truex chuckled at the thought of sticking around after the checkered flag, admitting he’s usually “the first one out” and proud to “win, always win, the race to the airport.”

As for any special plans to mark his farewell at Phoenix, he mentioned the possibility of a little get-together with the team after the race, though he’s not one for post-race hangouts. “Usually the first one out,” he joked, referring to his tendency to bolt to the airport as soon as the checkered flag waves. “I usually win, always win, the race to the airport.”

So, as we gear up for the final chapter of his full-time career, it’s clear that Martin Truex Jr. isn’t just ready to say goodbye; he’s looking to go out on a high note, with a nod to the past and an eye on what’s next.

Do you think he will be able to disrupt the finals and win his last race as a full-time driver?