(Video) NASCAR driver honors Martin Truex Jr.  with a standing ovation at Phoenix season finale

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Martin Truex Jr. was honoured by his fellow drivers with a special gesture during the Phoenix drivers meeting.

(Video) NASCAR driver honors Martin Truex Jr.  with a standing ovation at Phoenix season finale

Driver honors Martin Truex Jr. with a standing ovation (Via IMAGO)

The 2024 NASCAR season finale marked an end of an era, with 2017 Cup champion Martin Truex Jr. retiring from full-time racing. The Joe Gibbs Racing veteran announced the retirement plan earlier in the season and has produced a solid farewell season, though it ended winless and him getting eliminated early in the playoffs.

Martin Truex Jr., being one of the most respected drivers on the grid is loved by everyone in the racing community, as they have often raced fairly by them. They showed their love and respect to veteran during the last drivers meeting for the 2024 season, ahead of the season Cup season finale at Phoenix Raceway.

They gave him a standing ovation, and Martin Truex Jr. who was sitting beside Erik Jones and Joey Logano seemed really happy with the respect shown by the drivers. The race though didn’t turn out to be as exciting as expected for Truex Jr. as he was able to secure just a P17 finish, despite starting on the pole.

Oh man. I wanted it to go better than that. We were pretty good early and then lost track position and then the track just continued to rubber up and get hotter. At least that’s what I felt like it was doing. I kept losing the grip. I kept losing more balance. I just losing track position. It just all magnifies with this thing.

Martin Truex Jr. said via NBC.

Martin Truex Jr. is celebrating his retirement

While reflecting in his retirement, Truex Jr. pointed out that he isn’t sad about the end of his full-time career, though many wants him to. He celebrating it and looking forward for the next chapter of his life. The JGR veteran wants to have fun in his time off, and is also looking to comeback to NASCAR to race just for fun.

Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr. (Via IMAGO)

Everyone wants me to be sad, but I’m happy. I’m celebrating this. Got a lot to be thankful for. Got a lot to be proud of. Go enjoy some time off, do the banquet and all the fun stuff, and it’s gonna be fun to come back in a different role and come race for fun (laughs). Hopefully, have fun, it’s hard to have fun when you take it this serious.

Martin Truex Jr. said.

While the fans and his rivals are finding it bit hard to say goodbye for the veteran, he seems comfortable with his choices and how the season so far has turned out for him. It will be interesting to see what the future has in hands for Martin Truex Jr. on and off the track.