When Martin Truex Jr. revealed what he thought about his “pretty accurate” reputation in NASCAR

Former NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. once sat down with motorsports journalist Jeff Gluck for the latter's well-recognized 12-question interview. Following the 2016 interaction, Gluck asked Truex Jr. what he thought about his reputation in stock car racing.

The 45-year-old professional driver made his first appearance in the Cup Series decades ago in 2004 with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and secured his maiden win in the series with the team in 2007 at Dover. Then he switched multiple teams during his 22-year stint. Additionally, Truex Jr. won the Cup Series championship with Furniture Row Racing in 2017. Then, he retired from full-time racing after wrapping the 2024 season with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Reflecting on his career, Jeff Gluck asked Martin Truex Jr. (via USAToday.com):

"What do you think your reputation is—and is that reputation accurate?"

The former Cup Series driver had a subtle answer ready for the question and claimed:

"I think my reputation is pretty accurate. I think people think I’m just a regular guy; I’m a nice guy, and I take my racing seriously and work hard. And I enjoy what I’m doing."

Martin Truex Jr. competed in 694 races during his Cup Series stint. He secured 34 wins, 147 top-fives, 291 top-tens, and 25 pole positions. Additionally, Truex Jr. led 12,747 laps with an average finish of 15.28 and an average start of 13.7.

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“We still have unfinished business”: When Martin Truex Jr. got candid about his feelings of FRR's closure

In 2018, former NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. was featured in an interview with NBC Sports. During the interaction, Truex Jr. opened up his feelings about Furniture Row Racing's cessation in 2019.

The stock car racing team debuted in November 2005 and faced multiple challenges during the initial years. However, years later, in 2011, Regan Smith won the team its maiden win at Darlington Raceway. Three years later, Truex Jr. joined the team and drove the #78 Chevy before the team switched the OEM from Chevy to Toyota.

In his third year with FRR, Martin Truex Jr. dominated the 2017 Cup Series season, securing eight victories and winning the championship title. The next year, the former NASCAR driver wrapped the season as runner-up. But FRR announced its departure from the sport after 5-Hour Energy parted ways with them.

Reflecting on the same, the former Joe Gibbs Racing driver stated:

“While I am saddened by today’s announcement, I totally understand the decision. Barney Visser, Joe Garone, and the entire Furniture Row Racing team took me in while my career was in a bad place, and together we reached the pinnacle of the sport. I will forever be grateful to each and every one of them, and also to Furniture Row, Denver Mattress, and the Visser family."

Martin Truex Jr. drove FRR's #78 car for 180 races in the Cup Series and amassed 17 wins for the team. Additionally, he secured 56 top-fives, 91 top-tens, and 12 pole positions in his five-year stint with the team.