(Photo: Josh Jones | The Podium Finish)
LOUDON, N.H. — It only took him 18 years to return.
Martin Truex Jr. grew up coming to New Hampshire Motor Speedway watching his father, Martin Truex, race in the NASCAR Busch North Series. He idolized local legends such as Kelly Warren and Dave Dion. In 1994, he even watched the elder Truex go to victory lane.
In 2000, Truex got an opportunity from his father to race in Busch North with him. They came to Loudon twice. After the first time, Truex’s father stopped racing altogether.
“He’s like, you’re too good. I need to give you my cars — the best equipment I have and put everything behind you,” Truex said after winning the Crayon 301 at New Hampshire. “I’m like, why are you doing that? Doesn’t matter. We’re just going to go race. He’s like, no, because you can win here and keep going.”
When they went back in July, Truex dominated. He won the pole and went wire-to-wire, leading every single lap.
In 2005, as the defending NASCAR Busch Series (now XFINITY Series) champion, Truex won at Loudon.
But that was the last time Truex made it to victory lane in Loudon. That was, at least, until now.
It certainly was not for a lack of effort. He has had fast race cars nearly every time he has come to New Hampshire Motor Speedway — he just was not able to seal the deal.
Last year, his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team elected to take two tires late after leading 172 laps. He finished fourth. From 2016 to 2018, he went five consecutive races leading 80 or more laps, but the best he finished was third.
But on July 17, 2023, he broke what he called “the Loudon curse.” He led nearly 85 percent of the race, pacing the field for 254 laps in a dominating effort.
Martin Truex Jr. dominated for his first Cup Series victory at New Hampshire. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
“I think it’s no secret that I’ve been after this one for a long time. It’s always been one that I wanted so bad, and maybe I think too bad at times,” Truex said. “But it was well worth the wait to be able to do it here today finally, take home the lobster and put another win at Loudon with the name Truex on it. Very special.
“I’ve been through so much in my career that I just kind of brush it off. I’m like, yeah. Wasn’t meant to be. We didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just the way — it’s racing. It will drive you absolutely nuts if you let it. I’ve been through enough, and I’ve had enough races slip away throughout my career that I don’t let it get to me anymore. I didn’t do anything wrong. There’s nothing I could do; why let it bring you down; why let it get to you. Just brush it off, go to the next one.
“But I think my team was really motivated, and they put a lot of effort into this one, and I appreciate that.”
Without New Hampshire, Truex might not be where he is today — a 34-time Cup Series winner and a champion of the sport. Getting a garage pass, in addition to his father’s influence, got him hooked.
One time when Truex came to Loudon, Dale Earnhardt was running against his father in a Busch/Busch North combination race. He got up close and personal with the icon, watching Earnhardt work on his car in the garage.
“[My dad’s car] was parked in the garage nose-to-nose with Dale Earnhardt’s car,” Truex said. “Seeing that was really cool because he was one of my favorite drivers growing up. It was the first time I got around anybody of that caliber of racing, and it was a very, very special memory.”
None of Truex’s family made it out to Loudon, however. They all watched on TV back home in Mayetta, New Jersey.
But after the race, Truex’s brother, Ryan, a part-time Xfinity Series driver, tweeted out an image of the two as children at New Hampshire. He texted Martin a one-word message: “finally.”
Re: sitting in grandstands with little brother drinking from bottle pic.twitter.com/E1yZ3B0w43
— Ryan Truex (@Ryan_Truex) July 17, 2023
“Just crazy to think about what has happened between then and now, and then also just how fast time flies by,” Truex said. “That was, what, 22 years ago probably. I was probably 13; Ryan was one, I’m guessing. It’s crazy how fast time goes by.
“But just seeing that, just a reminder of what this place means and how long we’ve been coming here and what it means to win here again was very, very special.”
Truex is unsure of what is next for him after the 2023 season. He said that retirement is on the table. He wants to spend more time with friends and family after 18 full-time Cup Series seasons.
But whether this season is it or not, Truex will always be enshrined as a Cup winner in Loudon.
