A strong screw in the Joe Gibbs Racing machine will be coming loose soon. Martin Truex Jr is currently in his fifth season driving for the stellar Cup team and is packing up his things already. Despite a dearth of wins so far this season, Truex accompanies his teammate Denny Hamlin as “two 43-year-olds that are at the top of their game,” as Joe Gibbs said.

Denny Hamlin and MTJ have locked horns on the racetrack, with the latter fuming after the Richmond fallout. Yet the No. 11 driver recently spoke highly of his teammate, choosing to dump differences and bid an honorable goodbye to his rival.

Martin Truex Jr gets a Medal of Honor

Earlier this year, tensions reached a tipping point within Joe Gibbs’ racing when Martin Truex Jr largely dominated the Toyota Owners’ 400 race at Richmond Raceway, leading 228 of the 400 laps, but still couldn’t finish first. All his hard work turned into nothing on the final restart. Denny Hamlin’s team clocked in the fastest pit stop, and the driver allegedly jumped the restart. Truex was far from happy, and he fumed, “I got beaten out of the pits, he [Hamlin] jumped the start and just used me up in Turn 1.”

This is only one circumstance out of many where Denny Hamlin outsmarted Martin Truex Jr. Yet the latter has never miffed Hamlin. After the No. 19 driver officially announced his retirement, Hamlin tipped his hat to his clean racing through the years. “It’s hard to believe I’ve been teammates with Martin as long as I have. And I’ve never had a ‘What the f**k, Martin’ moment. Like never. I’m sure that he’s said that to me, about me in his head because of the things that I’ve done as a teammate. But I’ve never had that moment. I don’t think anyone has as a teammate to him or anything.”

Hamlin further recalled how he looked up to Martin Truex Jr as the brightest rookie. “We had such a big rookie class in 2006 when we had Martin, Reed Sorensen, JJ Yeley, David Stremme. Everyone’s gone. Martin was just the barometer for success and speed when we were coming into the Cup Series.” He further praised Martin Truex Jr in one aspect. This uncannily resembles the latter’s retirement goal that he pronounced 13 years ago.

It looks like Truex’s wish has been fulfilled

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In 2011, The Athletic journalist Jeff Gluck interviewed Martin Truex Jr, where he asked the then 30-year-old driver what his retirement would look like. Martin Truex Jr significantly said, “Just to have the respect of your peers and your competitors is important.” And the stellar driver achieved just that. After clinching only three wins over the first ten seasons, MTJ roared into his prime. From 2016 until today, nobody has matched Martin Truex Jr’s winning streak – 31 trophies.

That is why Martin Truex Jr’s 2011 wish stands fulfilled, as he harbors immense respect in the NASCAR Cup garage. Denny Hamlin gave evidence for it recently, bowing to Truex’s superior racing ability. “He’s just so respectful, he reminds me of Jimmie Johnson. I think he’s so underrated as far as the natural ability to drive a car fast. I have to work tremendously hard, week in and week out to run the speed that Martin Truex runs…Like I have to work really hard to keep up with him. So I think he’s one of the most naturally gifted drivers that our Series has seen in quite some time.”

With NASCAR still in its regular season, MTJ still has a few months left on his full-time Cup Series schedule. It would not be surprising if he wows his peers with a win or two again and then goes out in glory.