Martin Truex Jr. closes out full-time NASCAR Cup Series career at Phoenix Raceway

Martin Truex Jr. got a nice surprise when his fellow drivers gave him a standing ovation during prerace meeting Sunday before NASCAR Cup Series finale.

Once on track, 44-year-old driver from New Jersey took time to thank his team for all memories before his final race as a full-time Cup driver.

“Thanks for sticking out all way to end here,” Truex said on rio, his voice breaking at end. “Hopefully we can go out on top. Appreciate all your hard work and dedication with all things we’ve done over years. It’s meant a lot."

Truex didn't get his wish.

Joe Gibbs Racing driver led 10 laps after starting on pole, but got caught in a shuffle of pit stops and cautions, costing him a chance to compete for one final win.

Truex finished 17th at Phoenix Raceway after all hoopla — well behind winner Joey Loga — earning post-race handshakes and praise from Basketball Hall of Famer and 23XI Racing owner Michael Jordan, along with four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon.

Truex h a stellar career as a full-time driver, winning 2017 Cup Series championship and 34 career victories in a NASCAR career that started in 2004. He also won two Xfinity Series championships.

Truex is expected to race in next year's Daytona 500 and has talked to team owner Joe Gibbs about running a few Xfinity races.

“It means a lot to have earned that respect over years,” Truex said. “Going forward, do a little bit of racing just for fun and hopefully it's t as stressful as today.”

It appears Denny Hamlin's 20-year run with FedEx as a sponsor is coming to an end.

Hamlin thanked FedEx in a social media post before Sunday's race and shipping company followed with one of its own.

“What a ride it’s been!,” FedEx posted on X. Denny and entire Joe Gibbs team, it’s been an incredible 20 years of racing with best. #TeamFedEx will always be cheering you on."

FedEx has been a sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing since 2005, but has pulled back in recent years. After sponsoring all of Hamlin's car for all 36 races in 2020, FedEx was primary sponsor in 14 points races this year.

Ty Gibbs h first official crash of Sunday's race, climbing up into outside wall on lap 2.

second didn't kck any of competitors out, but it did delay race.

Leing field back to green after first st caution, pace car driver caused chaos with a late decision to turn into pit ro. pace car cut across front two cars, slid into barrels protecting end of pit ro wall and sent sand flying onto track, leing to a red flag.

mishap delayed race for several minutes, but garnered a chuckle from Jordan in his 23XI Racing box on pit ro.

pace car suffered dam to rear right side and h to be replaced by a backup car.

Kyle Busch's record of winning a Cup Series race in 19 straight seasons came down to one last race. Busch never really h a chance to extend his streak. He started 25th and h a hard time making up ground, finishing 21st in failing to win for first time in his career in a Cup Series that included two championships. ... Cup Series finale was a relatively clean race, with just two cautions caused by accidents. Ty Gibbs was among few unlucky drivers, crashing hard into wall on second lap. “We’ve been really hard on track re all week and I think I just caught it at a b angle, and it just took off from me,” he said. "I h control re. It was a really, really big hit though.” ... Carson Hocevar was named 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of Year after earning six top-10s and one top-five finish during his first full season in . 77 car. ... Chevrolet won NASCAR Cup Series manufacturers championship.