Martin Truex Jr. unsure if he will return in 2025, fans may have to 'wait until September'

A new NASCAR Cup Series season starts a new round of retirement rumors and speculation for Martin Truex Jr. Fans had to wait a long time last year to hear if the driver would return for 2024. They might have to wait longer this time.

NASCAR is heading into a critical year in 2025. While 2024 promises to be an exciting season across all three national series, the new TV deal and charter agreement will make things different.

I’m sure Truex Jr. won’t be the only driver wondering if they want to continue into this new phase of the sport. Still, as a champion of the sport and one of the elder statesmen as it were in the Cup Series, it’s an important question.

Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports asked Martin Truex Jr. about next year – the driver wasn’t thrilled about the question.

“I mean, come on,” Truex said. “It’s January. January.”

After another question, Truex Jr. said, “I can tell you it’s probably going to take even longer this year to figure it out. So you might have to wait until September.”

In 2023, fans and media had to wait until August to hear about Martin Truex Jr. returning to his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team. If you are hoping that the 2017 series champion is going to run it back one more time, it’s going to be a long wait this year.

Martin Truex Jr. – will he stay or will he go?

This year, Martin Truex Jr. will turn 44 years old. There aren’t many drivers that go that long anymore in the Cup Series. However, there is Kevin Harvick, who is 48 years old now in his first season of retirement. Denny Hamlin is the same age as Truex and shows no signs of slowing down.

So, why wouldn’t he come back? Well, there are probably many reasons. In that same interview with Pockrass, Truex noted how short the offseason felt this year, and how it only feels shorter every year.

To me, that doesn’t sound like a driver who is ecstatic about thinking of another 38-week season in the Cup Series after this one. Then again, Truex Jr. is an incredibly competitive driver and he got a taste of winning again last season.

Starting with the Busch Light Clash, Martin Truex Jr. went on to win three more races on his way to the regular season championship. He faltered in the playoffs, but JGR gave him fast cars and opportunities to win. Sometimes, that’s enough to keep a driver around.

Where do you think Truex Jr. will be this time next year?