Joe Gibbs Racing has a seat to fill following Martin Truex Jr.’s announcement this past Friday that he will retire from full-time competition after the 2024 Cup Series season.
Truex, 43, contemplated walking away in the past few years, but has decided to leave the sport following a highly decorated career. Truex has won 34 races across 19 seasons in NASCAR’s premier series, including two Coca-Cola 600s and a Southern 500. He reached the mountain top in 2017 driving the No. 78 Toyota for Furniture Row Racing, winning his first and only Cup Series championship. Tough shoes to fill, yes, but whichever driver replaces Truex will enter a great situation as JGR remains one of the premier teams in the sport.
Denny Hamlin, the elder statesman of JGR, said on his “Actions Detrimental” podcast that he wouldn’t be surprised to see the team prioritize hiring a driver with a winning pedigree.
“I won’t have a huge role in it,” Hamlin said. “I believe that you have to rely on, you know I’m not at that shop every single day. So, they try to find what’s best fit for them. Joe Gibbs Racing wants winners. They certainly probably lean a little bit more on the side of just get me the best driver available. And put him in our equipment and he’ll go win. And then they figure out the sponsorship stuff after. So, I think that when you look at the opportunities and the possibilities to go in that 19 car, there’s a lot of good Stewart-Haas drivers available. There’s a lot of young prospects in Xfinity that are available. And I think they’ll get their pick of the litter because it is a ride that is very coveted.”
Chase Briscoe talks 2025 deal amid Joe Gibbs Racing speculation, Martin Truex Jr. retirement
One driver who has been linked with the No. 19 opening is Chase Briscoe. Briscoe is looking for a new ride with Stewart-Haas Racing set to close its operations after the season. Despite underperforming of late, Briscoe sits 17th in the points standings, best among all four SHR drivers.
Briscoe addressed the speculation ahead of Sunday’s race at Iowa. He said he feels pretty close to a deal for 2025. Briscoe didn’t specify which team or teams he’s negotiating with.
“I feel like I’m pretty close [to a 2025 deal],” Briscoe said. “I feel pretty good about it. There’s a lot of different [factors in the decision]. Performance is one thing that definitely [in] weighing the options is something that is important, the future and what the future looks like.
“And then obviously, the other part is, what’s going to be the best to provide for my family. With twins on the way, I’m going to have three kids. That is a real thought now, just what’s going to set us up for the future in the best way.”
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