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.

Martin Truex Jr. slips a winning wish

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.”

Yet one particular race tugged at his heartstrings, as he hoped to remove a winless blemish from his career. Martin Truex Jr. has visited “The Rock” only twice in his career before it shut down. Both times, he led for 68 laps and came dangerously close to a win – and now he really wants it. He said, “Man, pencil me in for the Xfinity race at Rockingham Speedway, I can see that, that looks pretty fun. I have only raced there twice and it got me both times, so I finished second. So I’d like to have a shot at winning there, would be a cool place to win.”

Despite the Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s eagerness to visit Rockingham Speedway, the same does not apply to other tracks. Even if that means going back to a track where Martin Truex Jr. has won before.

The City of Palaces is not on Truex’s list

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Well, after retirement, only your favorite places rank on your travel list. For Martin Truex Jr, Mexico City is not one of them. For the first time since 1958, NASCAR will hold a points-paying Cup Series race in the City of Palaces. Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, a 2.67-mile track, had hosted Xfinity races in 2005-2008. Truex won the second race there, in 2006. However, some nightmares still linger in his head, like the added travel costs. Teams had to drive 4,000 miles roundtrip and cross an international border twice.

Then the street course around a public park did not really spell great racing. Despite a new race layout and other changes since F1’s involvement in 2015, Truex is not so interested. He hailed the tremendous fan reception at the track but does not want to go back there. “It was great to win there once and not go back! I think it’s exciting for the sport. I remember the fans there, just so excited about that place. Many people were there, I can remember that. I think it will be a huge deal for the Cup Series…I’ll be happy to be watching it on TV though.”

Evidently, Martin Truex Jr. wants to filter down his choices post-retirement. Meanwhile, the JGR driver is focusing on breaking into the playoffs for the final time, as his last chance at Darlington knocks on the door.