“Never Once Questioned Him”: Martin Truex Jr. Dismisses Grudge Rumors Against Ex-Crew Chief After Shocking NASCAR Exit

Martin Truex Jr. may have had extra success within the NASCAR Cup Collection had his crew chief, Cole Pearn, stayed with him for a pair extra years. The duo began working with one another in 2015 after Pearn was promoted to the position of crew chief by an engineer. They did have a profitable run that included the 2017 championship run. Nevertheless it all got here to an finish as Pearn determined to name it quits from his position after the 2019 season.

Truex Jr. was on his peak run on the time and had jumped to Joe Gibbs Racing, attempting to contest for one more championship. As in each the 2018 and 2019 seasons, they ended with a runner-up end within the championship standings. The JGR driver may’ve been mad for leaving when he was able to mount a championship run. However, moderately, he revered his resolution and allowed him to embark on his new journey.

Martin Truex Jr. was “okay” at Cole Pearn’s exit; right here’s why

Curiously, Truex was the one driver that Pearn labored with as a crew chief within the NASCAR Cup Collection. Throughout their run collectively in 179 races, the duo bagged 24 victories and have been real title contenders nearly each season. 2019 was the primary season that Pearn needed to relocate along with his driver to a brand new crew, and this resolution did weigh upon his name to take a step away from being concerned with NASCAR racing.

Pearn needed to spend extra time along with his household moderately than being on the racetrack, and whereas this resolution got here as a shock to Martin Truex Jr., he revered his name. Sharing the main points of how he reacted to an abrupt finish to his NASCAR profession, MTJ stated, “It was robust for me to kinda perceive for a minute. By no means as soon as questioned him or tried to speak him out of it. Or say, you recognize oh come on, simply do one other 12 months. I knew that’s what he needed to do; you recognize, it’s his life, it’s his resolution, and I used to be okay with that.”

Furthermore, Pearn’s name got here as an enormous shock as a result of they have been working properly in 2019, bagging seven wins however coming simply quick within the championship run. “I feel he knew earlier than the championship race or perhaps someday in the course of the playoff run that he was most likely gonna not do it subsequent 12 months. No one knew however him. I keep in mind when he informed me, I used to be actually stunned as a result of I didn’t see it coming or really feel it coming. He was all in 110% till he wasn’t. So I can admire that.” Truex Jr. added.

Following in his former crew chief’s footsteps, the JGR driver additionally introduced that he would retire from NASCAR Cup Collection racing on the finish of 2024. Nevertheless, he did depart the door open for working some races, and this resolution caught his good friend Dale Jr. abruptly.

The Daytona 500 win nonetheless eludes him

When Truex Jr. introduced his retirement from NASCAR racing, Dale Jr was certain he can be out within the wilderness having fun with his free time fishing, away from the hustle and bustle of racing. Nevertheless, it seems MTJ wasn’t bluffing throughout his retirement announcement when he stated he would run a few races. Heck, he’s now additionally open to working within the Truck Collection.

“I’m not precisely certain but, however I’ll most likely run the Daytona 500. Not a finished deal but, however I really feel it shouldn’t be too arduous to complete that up. I’ll undoubtedly run a couple of Xfinity Collection races; I don’t know if that’s two or 5 or 6. Perhaps even a couple of truck races right here and there if I may put one thing collectively.” He stated this in an interview with Dale Jr.

Nicely, it’s certainly arduous to maintain a race automotive driver away from the race monitor. That can also be true within the case of Martin Truex Jr. who remains to be on the lookout for that Daytona 500 win.