Sunday marks Martin Truex Jr.'s last race at Pocono as a full-time Cup Series competitor. The track will use the event as an opportunity to honor the 2017 Cup champion and his accomplishments in NASCAR.
According to a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, the track will have a new addition for the race weekend. The words "Truex Jr." are painted at the start-finish line, stretching across the majority of the racing surface.
The drivers from the Truck Series, Xfinity Series, and Cup Series will see Truex's name when they line up for their respective races. They will cross over his name dozens of times while racing around the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania track.
Thank You @MartinTruex_Jr!
It’s been a great ride here at one of your home tracks! Congrats on an amazing full-time career! 🏁
Here’s to one more great run at Pocono this Sunday in the #PAGetaway400! pic.twitter.com/lXY9El7hC9
— Pocono Raceway (@PoconoRaceway) July 11, 2024
Pocono Raceway is one of Truex's "home tracks" on the Cup Series schedule. It is only 152 miles from Mayetta, New Jersey, the veteran driver's hometown.
This track is also one where Truex has achieved success during his time in the NASCAR Cup Series. He has made 34 starts at The Tricky Triangle since 2006, and he has finished top 10 in 44.1% of his starts. Truex has also won two times at Pocono, once in 2015 and once in 2018.
"The 2015 win was huge because we had been in a drought for a couple of years," Truex said. "We had a new group of guys (at Furniture Row Racing), which ended up being our championship group.
"At that point, we were still a young team and things were feeling like they were coming together. We had been in position to have a chance to win a few races that season up to that point, so it was really good to get our first win together. It was a big deal for all of us."
Truex was in contention for the win last season at Pocono. He led 20 laps after starting second, and he scored 10 stage points. He ultimately crossed the line third while teammate Denny Hamlin won.
The 2017 Cup champ will have another opportunity to contend for the win this weekend. He hasn't reached victory lane yet in 2024, but he has had fast cars at a variety of tracks. The result is that Truex is fifth in the standings and 125 points above the playoff cutline.