The season finale isn’t just for crowning the sequence champion, but it surely additionally signifies the tip of careers, partnerships and in some circumstances, race groups. The thirty sixth and last points-paying race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup season at Phoenix Raceway was no totally different. Whereas all the main focus was on the championship showdown, a number of different storylines had been quietly tying up their very own endings within the background.
MTJ goes fishing
There was Martin Truex Jr., making his last begin as a full-time driver. MTJ hasn’t missed a Cup race since 2005 in a formidable streak totaling almost 700 consecutive races. Truex was given a spherical of applause by his fellow drivers within the pre-race assembly, who then took a gaggle image with the longer term NASCAR Corridor of Famer.
Martin Truex Jr, Joe Gibbs Racing, Bass Professional Outlets Toyota Camry
Picture by: Danny Hansen / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
Anybody who has been watching NASCAR for lengthy sufficient would have instantly acknowledged the DEI-esque paint scheme — a throwback scheme honoring his Cup debut from almost twenty years in the past — main the cost of his last full-time race. And whereas race itself did not pan out maybe the way in which Truex would have needed to finish issues, which has been a theme for him this yr, he crossed the end line in seventeenth.
Later, on pit street, he was approached by legends equivalent to Michael Jordan and Jeff Gordon who merely needed to shake his hand.
“Yeah, it means so much to have the respect of men like that and what they imply to the game,” mentioned Truex. “Absolute legends, proper? It makes me really feel good that I’ve earned that respect through the years, and it means so much. From right here ahead, I’m simply going to go have some enjoyable and do some little bit of racing right here and there only for enjoyable. Hopefully, it will likely be much less annoying than days like right this moment.”
A NASCAR large calls it quits
For Truex, it was his option to lastly stroll away from the weekly grind, however for others, this was the tip and never precisely by selection. Stewart-Haas Racing, co-owned by Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, are shutting their doorways now that the season is over. They had been certainly one of simply three four-car Cup operations within the sport, and a relentless presence on the grid since 2009. On Sunday, the No. 4, No. 10, No. 14 and No. 41 raced beneath the SHR banner for the ultimate time with 323 staff cheering them on. Noah Gragson was the very best of the bunch ending the race in twelfth place.
A few of the drivers organized a victory lap of types on the cool-down lap and later, Stewart himself directed the final hauler out of the observe. 16 seasons, 70 wins, 62 poles, almost 20,000 laps led later, the journey has come to an finish.
“Man, that is simply such a particular group and I can’t say thanks sufficient to everybody at SHR for all they did this season,” mentioned Berry, who’s heading to Wooden Brothers Racing in 2025. “We had some actually robust circumstances and a variety of uncertainty, and the No. 4 group nonetheless confirmed up and gave it their all and I’m simply so grateful.”
Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing, Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang
Picture by: Danny Hansen / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
Chase Briscoe, who earned SHR’s last win with a dramatic victory within the Southern 500 at Darlington, was most likely about as blissful as you will ever see somebody after working close to the again all day.
“I imply, that is most likely essentially the most smiling and laughing we’ve ever had after a Twenty ninth-place end,” famous Briscoe. “So, yeah, we clearly would’ve liked to have a greater end result, however on the finish of the day, it was all about simply having fun with one another and the folks and every little thing that makes Stewart-Haas so particular. It’s been a spot I’m so grateful to have known as house for the final seven years. I knew, actually, it was going to be a bit of bit emotional however, I imply, I used to be crying earlier than we rolled off pit street. Simply appreciative of the chance Tony (Stewart) and Gene (Haas) gave me. My dream was to make it to the Cup Sequence and the 14 automobile was the automobile I all the time cheered for, so the truth that I acquired to drive it and do it for my childhood hero was fairly cool. Undoubtedly one thing I by no means took without any consideration.”
Almost 20 years of delivery it to P1
Elsewhere, the solar was quietly setting on one other partnership courting again to 2006. FedEx has stood beside Denny Hamlin since he made his Cup debut virtually twenty years in the past and was one of many longest driver/partnerships remaining within the sport — maybe solely overwhelmed by Bass Professional Outlets and Truex. Nevertheless, FedEx has steadily disappeared from the No. 11 Toyota, sponsoring fewer races yearly. Hamlin posted a somber video on race morning, thanking FedEx and primarily confirming their exit. Hamlin gained his very first race with these colours on his automobile, taking the checkered flag within the 2006 Conflict at Daytona as a 25-year-old rookie. 47 of his 54 Cup wins through the years got here with FedEx as the first sponsor.
“Thanks FedEx for being there from the beginning,” a voiceover from Hamlin started within the video. “All of the wins, and all of the losses … thanks for letting me be me. For all the time making a distinction. For serving to make this child from Virginia’s dream come true. Thanks FedEx for every little thing.”
The tip of a file win streak
Lastly, a formidable statistic additionally got here to an unceremonious finish. Kyle Busch held the file for many consecutive years with a race win at 19 whole. Whereas 2024 was maybe the worst yr of his profession, he nonetheless got here agonizingly near extending that win streak with runner-up finishes at Darlington and Daytona. He additionally crashed from the lead at Kansas, and misplaced Atlanta within the closest three-wide photograph end in NASCAR historical past.
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing, Freeway Insurance coverage Chevrolet Camaro , Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet Camaro and Ryan Blaney, Workforce Penske, BodyArmor Zero Sugar Ford Mustang race to the checkers
Picture by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
The streak definitely didn’t finish with no valiant struggle from KB, but it surely did in the end finish with a Twenty first-place end at Phoenix. Taking on the mantle with the longest energetic win streak is the game’s newly topped three-time champion Joey Logano, who has gained a minimum of one race for 13 consecutive seasons.
These are simply the most important storylines that performed out within the shadow of the principle occasion on Sunday. So as to add, there have been retirements of highly-respected business figures, whereas a number of drivers nonetheless face unsure futures within the sport. However like each season finale, some tales will conclude with blissful or bittersweet endings in some form of bow, as the remaining will prepared themselves so as to add one other chapter — subsequent yr.
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