“We’re going to blow up”: When Martin Truex Jr. ‘smelled’ a major setback despite clinching a restrictor plate pole
NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. raced in the Hellmann's 500 at the Talladega Speedway on October 23, 2024. This was the last race of the Round of 12 to secure a spot in the next race, and Truex was in a must-win situation, but a major setback cost him the advancement.
Truex Jr., the Joe Gibbs Racing driver of the #19 Toyota Camry, had a solid start beginning the race in P1. He had the best time of 49.508 seconds and dominated the pack. The RFK driver Brad Keselowski was 0.015 seconds behind the #19 driver and gave him a head-to-head battle in the race.
Brad Keselowski challenged Martin Truex Jr. and took the lead in the first lap. Keselowski led the initial 12 laps of the race, and Truex Jr. took the lead back in the 13th lap but lost it to the RFK driver one lap later. The #6 driver controlled the lead and blocked all three lanes.
The Joe Gibbs driver's struggle in the race didn't end there; his engine blew up in lap 41, bringing out a caution. Truex Jr. radioed to his crew chief, Cole Pearn:
"F**k. I got a tire issue or something. I smell it. We're going to blow up." [01:35]
Further, the #19 driver mentioned that he saw smoke coming up through the shifter boot and lost the power. However, his chief advised him to run as long as possible. But a few seconds later flames were seen under Truex Jr.'s car, and his engine blew up, ending his race.
Martin Truex Jr. finished in P40 after getting disqualified from the race and ending his championship run. He finished 11th in the driver's standings in the 2016 Cup Series championship.
Martin Truex Jr. is "not sure yet" about his post-retirement plans
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. is competing in his last NASCAR Cup Series championship. He announced his retirement from stock car racing before the Iowa Speedway race in June 2024.
The 44-year-old driver was recently featured in an interview with FOX Sports's NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass and opened up about his post-retirement plans. Pockrass questioned the 2017 Cup Series winner about how he'll spend his Sundays when not racing on tracks.
"I'm not sure yet. Hunt and fish. Enjoy life. I'm sure I'll watch some racing still; I probably won't be as closely interested in it as I am now. But I don't know. We'll see. Time will tell," said the New Jersey Native.
The #19 Toyota Camry driver has special plans to end his 19-year Cup Series career and aims to spoil the Championship 4 race. He added:
"We've been pretty good there. And hopefully, we can find something a little bit extra and go there. Going out with a win would be the most amazing thing ever short of a championship, obviously, which is impossible. But just want to go have fun and enjoy the last race with the team."
Martin Truex Jr. competed in 681 races in his career and secured 34 wins, 289 top-ten finishes, and 24 pole positions. He currently ranks 10th in the 2024 Cup Series and aims to secure a win in the Championship 4 race.