Martin Truex Jr. expresses disappointment in the Truck Series finale, calls it a domain for a ‘bunch of kids’ with privileges

Martin Truex Jr. adds his voice to his fellow Cup Series drivers who were critical of the Truck Series finale.

Martin Truex Jr. expresses disappointment in the Truck Series finale, calls it a domain for a ‘bunch of kids’ with privileges

Martin Truex Jr. (Via IMAGO)

In the wake of a tumultuous 2023 NASCAR Truck Series championship final race at Phoenix Raceway, the motorsport world found itself embroiled in controversy. The race had devolved into a chaotic showdown between Corey Heim and Carson Hocevar, leaving fans and Cup series drivers deeply dissatisfied. Cup Series regular-season champion Martin Truex Jr. minced no words expressing his disdain for the race’s proceedings.

The Truck Series championship race at Phoenix Raceway saw a fierce contest between Heim and Hocevar. Hocevar spun out Heim with 35 laps to go, which appeared contentious given Hocevar’s track record of such incidents. Heim, in retaliation, deliberately rammed Hocevar’s truck into the wall during the 147th lap, creating pandemonium on the track.

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The JGR driver did not hold back when he described the race, asserting:

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 I was not impressed. It's not professional auto racing; it's a joke. They need to fix it. Stop running through people every day and every race. A guy runs you down a passage, and then you run into him once, and then the next corner, you spin him out.” 

Truex Jr. lamented the conduct of some drivers, likening it to “a bunch of kids that never had to pay for anything or fix anything that they ever drove.” He expressed concern that the sport might see drivers who haven’t paid their dues on short tracks, leading to a decline in respect and sportsmanship.

Martin Truex Jr. claims Carson Hocevar was “acting out” for sympathy

The JGR driver also expressed concern about the racing culture, wondering if it had shifted away from the professionalism expected in the sport. Truex raised questions about the background and experience of some of the newer drivers, suggesting they may not have paid their dues on the short tracks before arriving in NASCAR. 

Furthermore, Truex highlighted the issue of respect within the sport, noting that it had been on a downward trend for years, especially in the lower series like the trucks. He mentioned the recent Xfinity race at Martinsville as a “complete disaster,” further underlining his concerns about the sport’s image. Truex acknowledges sport’s rough culture, but not all endorse it. Racing the same rivals exposes counterproductivity.

Specifically addressing the incident involving Carson Hocevar, who was at the center of the controversy, Truex suggested that Hocevar’s frustration might have been an act to garner sympathy, given that he had taken someone out during the race. He said,:

I think he was just acting out to try to make people feel sorry for him.

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