Martin Truex Jr.’s career is coming to an end the trials and tribulations on the track that he overcame only tell half of his incredible story. He is a class act, a genuine person, and is as clean as they come on the race track. This is truly the end of an era as Truex Jr. is the final driver to race at Dale Earnhardt Incorporated during the glory years. The man from Mayette New Jersey made an improbable dream into a reality.
Chance 2 Motorsports
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Truex got his start in the Xfinity Series (Busch Series at the time) in 2001 racing for his dad in the number 56. In 2003 he split his time between his dad’s car and Chance 2 Motorsports number 81, owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelly Earnhardt, in 2004 Truex Jr. would run full-time for Chance 2 hand-picked by Dale Jr. to run the 8 car in the Xfinity series.
In his first full season with Chance 2 in 2004, he captured his first victory at Bristol. He would go on to win three more races including Talladega snapping the win streak of his boss Dale Jr. who had won four straight restrictor plates races in the Xfinity Series. Truex would go on to win the championship after a fierce battle with future teammate and two-time Cup series champion Kyle Busch.
Truex went on to defend his title in 2005 in a fending off Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Busch and Roush Racing’s Greg Biffle. Truex captured six checkered flags with an average finish of 7.6. With the success he earned at Chance 2 Dale Earnhardt Inc. came calling and in 2006 he got his first full season in the Cup series.
Dale Earnhardt Inc
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Martin Truex Jr. would begin his rookie in the number one Bass Pro Chevy. He would finish the year with two top fives and five top tens he would finish 19th in the points however he finished the year off strong finishing 14th at Texas, 12th at Phoenix, and second at Homestead.
In 2007 Truex would get his first cup win at his home track of Dover, Delaware. He led 216 of 400 laps in a dominant showing on the concrete mile. Truex would finish 11th in the point standing the highest in Dale Earnhardt Inc stable as Dale Jr. was on his way out to Hendrick Motorsports.
Michael Waltrip Racing
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After the collapse of Dale Earnhardt Inc., Truex would move on to Michael Waltrip Racing and race in his dad’s number 56 Napa Auto Parts Toyota Camry in 2009. He would have some ups and downs throughout his time at MWR, his lone win coming at Sonoma in 2013.
Ultimately his time at MWR is summed up in one phrase, “spingate” at Richmond in 2013. Spingate was a coordinated effort by MWR to help Truex gain enough spots at the end to get Truex into the chase. Clint Bowyer intentionally spun out to bring out a caution. Brian Vickers would pit to move Martin up another spot.
MWR was fined $300,000 a record at the time. All drivers were docked 50 points knocking Truex out of the chase and Ty Norris was suspended indefinitely. Napa Auto Parts would drop Truex ultimately forcing him out of MWR and leading the entire team to fold in 2015.
Truex Takes Over The World
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His first year at Furniture Row racing was rocky finishing 24th in the points. The second year, however, the switch got flipped. He scored seven consecutive top tens to start the year, won at Pocono made the the championship 4 of the playoff, and finished fourth.
In 2017 he would reach ultimate glory, winning the Cup series championship. He won a career-high eight races, in the final five races his lowest finish was third. In 2017 he racked up 19 top fives and 26 top tens. Only in ten races he finished outside the top ten. One of the most dominant seasons in the modern era of NASCAR.
In 2018 Furniture Row would fold due to financial constraints. Champions just one year ago and now a full team out of NASCAR.
Joe Gibbs Racing
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Following the closure of Furniture Row Truex along with his crew chief Cole Pern would move over to the team that supplied the parts for the 2017 championship car in Joe Gibbs racing in the number 19 replacing Daniel Suarez who had struggled after being thrust into the role. Martin would continue to have success but never back to the level at Furniture Row.
Truex has had a Hall of Fame Career, 34 wins, 146 top fives, and 287 top tens. He started rocky in his career but always showed promise. Once he got to a team that was stable and believed in him he thrived and excelled. No question he has earned a spot in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Sherry Pollex
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Sherry Pollex was his long-time girlfriend who was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. She was by Truex’s side throughout the successes and the failures all while battling cancer. Together the two started the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation to help kids with pediatric cancer. Sherry ran the Foundation and was the driving force for many great causes.
On September 17th, 2023, Pollex passed away after her nearly decade-long battle with cancer. Throughout the grueling schedule of NASCAR, Sherry was always there for Truex from the sweet victories to the stinging defeats Sherry was there. Martin Truex Jr. and Sherry Pollex are role models for how to live life on and off the track to the fullest and with honor.
About The Author
Dillon Hildreth is a writer for Total Apex and a lifelong fan of Football with his favorite teams being the New England Patriots and the Georgia Bulldogs. Dillon is also a fan of Motorsports Red Bull in Formula One and William Byron in NASCAR. You can catch Dillon Stream F1, NASCAR, and other video games and side casts on Twitch.
