| Full Name | Martin Truex Jr. |
| Date of Birth | June 29, 1980 |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5'11" |
| Role | Driver |
Martin Truex Jr. is entering his third season as a Cup Series driver in the No. 19 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing, and 16th overall as a full-time competitor. Paired with one of the top crew chiefs in the Premier Series, Cole Pearn, Truex won the 2017 series championship for Barney Visser and Front Row Racing. He joined the Gibbs organization after FRR ceased operation after the 2018 campaign.
Truex had just three victories in his first 369 Cup starts, but after his breakout season with four in 2016 with the single-car Front Row entry, he has racked up 24 over the last five, 16 of them for Visser. His high-water mark came the year he won the title with eight wins, 19 top-fives, 26 top-tens, and three poles. Two seasons later, Truex visited victory lane seven times. In both instances, he led all Cup Series drivers.
Since the playoff format began, Truex has qualified eight times. Despite winning only once in 2020, it came at Martinsville in the seventh event after NASCAR resumed racing. He rode that into the Round of 8, finishing seventh overall.
Truex's first career Cup victory came in 2007 in Dover spring race, driving for Dale Earnhardt. Inc., his second full season with DEI. Before moving up to the Premier Series, he won back-to-back Xfinity Series championships (2004-05) and is just one of seven drivers to turn the trick. Sam Ard (1983-84) was the first, followed by Larry Pearson (1986-87), Randy Lajoie (1996-97), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1998-99), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2011-12), and Tyler Reddick (2018-19).
2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion
2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Champion
2004, 2005 NASCAR Busch Series Champion
2016, 2019 Coca-Cola 600 winner
2016 Southern 500 winner
2007, 2010 NASCAR All-Star Race Open winner
2004, 2005 Busch Series Most Popular Driver
2018 ESPY Best Driver
Martin Lee Truex Jr. was born in Mayetta, New Jersey, on June 29, 1980 (now 40). He enjoys building and racing radio-controlled hydroplane boats, fishing, and hunting in his spare time. Before he got into racing, he worked on a clam boat for his father’s seafood business.
He is engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Sherry Pollex, who has battled ovarian cancer. She announced last November that the cancer had returned and was undergoing treatment.
Together they founded the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation in 2007. It has raised more than $2 million with the help of donors, partners, and corporate sponsors to help underfunded cancer initiatives specific to ovarian and childhood cancers.
Due to Sherry’s diagnosis, she and Martin found purpose and focus on their mission to raise awareness, boost advocacy, and generate financial support. Its signature event is Catwalk for a Cause, a yearly event before the All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. NASCAR drivers, wives, owners, and industry professionals were usually in attendance.
Because of COVID-19 and the event moved to Bristol Motor Speedway, it did not occur in 2020. There has been no announcement for the upcoming season, with the exhibition now moved to Texas Motor Speedway for the foreseeable future. The pandemic could also affect the 2021 event.
