Martin Truex Jr. explains disappointing finish to Cook Out 400 at Richmond

Martin Truex Jr. suffered engine failure during the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on Sunday and was not happy that his last full-time race at the track ended abruptly. While speaking to NBC Sports, Truex explained why his engine failed during the final stage of the race.

“It hiccupped once down the backstretch and then started missing. It’s like it broke a valve spring or something, and then it just kind of self-disintegrated right there, self-destructed really quickly, Truex said. “I don’t know, it’s just one of them days.”

Truex was then asked about the challenges he and his team faced on Sunday due to the option tires and the different pit strategies. “It wasn’t. I think James [Small] made the right call to put the tires on when he did,” Truex said. “We just had that issue on pit road with the wheel coming off. We went from being one of the fastest cars on the track to not having a very good car with a very small change.

“We just missed an adjustment race track-wise, we were still going to be okay. It’s a shame, last race here full-time. Would have been since to get another win.”

Truex earned a DNF due to the engine failure, and it’s a big blow for him as he’s looking to clinch a playoff spot. Ahead of the Richmond race, the 43-year-old driver was 13th in the playoff standings and was the top driver that hasn’t won a Cup Series race this year. Truex would love to have a shot at another Cup Series title before he retires from full-time racing at the end of the year.

Martin Truex Jr. ready to ‘do something else’

“It’s the right time for me. I’ve thought about it a lot for the last few seasons — just waited for that feeling in my mind to be positive, like ‘This is OK, I’m good, and I want to do something else,’” Truex said when he announced his retirement in June. “In the 21 years that I’ve done this, I’ve never missed a race. I’ve never missed a practice. I’ve never been late for anything. I’ve never missed an appearance. You live your life by a schedule that somebody makes for you, and it’s just time for me to make my own schedule.

“That’s really what it boils down to. I want to go do the things I want to do, and I don’t want anyone to tell me when I can and when I can’t do those things. I still love racing. I’m still going to race some — I don’t know what, when, how, why — but I feel very fortunate to be in this position to make this decision.”