Former NASCAR champ Martin Truex Jr. has 'no clue' whether he'll retire after this season
Unlike almost every other major sport, which ends with its highest-profile event, the NASCAR season starts with the biggest race of the year, the Daytona 500. And Ocean County's own Martin Truex Jr. could be there.
But, Truex must get through Thursday night's Bluegreen Vacations Duel (7 p.m. on FS1.)
Truex is winless in 19 starts in the 500, none more agonizing than losing to JGR teammate Denny Hamlin by inches in 2016. Truex doesn’t have a top-10 finish in the 500 since, but he did win the series championship the following year.
The Strafford Township native has 34 career Cup wins. Joe Gibbs, the 83-year-old team owner, has yet to ask Truex about his plans for next season.
“I think I’m the oldest driver now,” Truex said. “It doesn’t seem like that long ago I was one of the young guys.”
Truex turns 44 in June, just beating out Hamlin for the oldest full-time driver in the Cup Series. Hamlin turns 44 in November. Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson, who is scheduled for nine races this season, turns 49 in September.
More: Joey Logano wins Daytona 500 pole in qualifying, Michael McDowell joins him in front row
How to watch the Daytona 500
The race will air on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 2:30 p.m. on FOX.
Daytona 500 watch parties
The Original Mulligan's Bar and Grill, 203 Squankum Road. The event starts at 1 p.m. and supports the Farmingdale Fire Dept. Info: https://allevents.in/farmingdale/2024-daytona-500-watch-party/200026101378006
Jackson Moose: Lodge 1459, 560 Monmouth Rd (Rte 537) Millstone. The event runs from 2 to 7 p.m. Info: https://allevents.in/imlaystown/daytona-500-qualified-members-and-guests/200026092968916
Freehold American Legion: Monmouth Post 54, 62 W. Main Street, Freehold. The event runs from noon to 10 p.m. Info: https://fb.me/e/gWwY4QoVY
Slocum's Bowling, Bar & Grille, 1675 Pennington Rd, Ewing. Starts at 2:30 p.m. Info: https://allevents.in/trenton/daytona-500-party/200026110848240
VFW Post 491, 9 Fisher Place, Yardville. The event begins at 1 p.m. Info: https://fb.me/e/b3PqNLaSK
XFINITY Live!, 1100 Pattison Ave., Philadelphia. The event begins at noon. Info: https://www.poconoraceway.com/daytona-500-watch-party.html
More: Frankie Muniz set for NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Daytona International Speedway
About the Daytona 500
Often referred to as "The Great American Race," it's the most prestigious race of the NASCAR season. It is held at Daytona International Speedway and is scheduled for 200 laps around a 2.5-mile oval in Daytona Beach, Florida. Winning it can get your picture on a Wheaties box. It comes at the end of a series of races and qualifying events that take place over several days and are designed to rev up excitement for the season.
NASCAR just celebrated its 75th season, but Sunday's race will be the 66th running of the 500.
The Daytona 500 was first carried live on television in 1979 and became the opening race of the season in 1982.
Seven-time series champion Richard Petty's seven wins are the most among all drivers in the Daytona 500. There are two other seven-time series champions, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Sr. Johnson won the race in 2006 and 2013, while Earnhardt Sr. won it in 1998. He died in the race three years later while racing against, among others, his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., for the last-lap lead. That day has since been referred to as "Black Sunday." The death of the driver known as "The Intimidator" for his fearless driving style overshadowed a victory by Michael Waltrip, the first victory of his career coming in his 463rd race.
Among active drivers, Denny Hamlin and Johnson are the only winners of multiple Daytona 500s. Hamlin has won three times, in 2016, 2019 and 2020. Since Hamlin's back-to-back wins, the last three winners have been surprises: Michael McDowell (2021), Austin Cindric (2022) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2023).
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Daytona 500 qualifying: Will Truex Jr. make the cut?
