Martin Truex Jr. Sparks Concern Leaving Fans Baffled by the Sale of NASCAR Keepsakes

“I really appreciate everyone at Bass Pro Shops, TRICON, and Toyota helping put this together to go have some fun.” These words came from Martin Truex Jr. ahead of his Daytona 500 start this year. The former Joe Gibbs Racing driver left full-time racing at the end of 2024. Yet he still looked forward to sporadic appearances in 2025. Although Truex finished disastrously in 38th place, fans still looked forward to his return. But he went off the grid after Daytona.

Over his almost two-decade-long career, Martin Truex Jr. has collected several accolades. Those include NASCAR’s highest achievements – two consecutive Xfinity Series titles (2004, 2005) and a Cup Series title (2017). That is why a recent development left his fans dazed and confused.

Martin Truex Jr. undertakes a spring cleaning

NASCAR is a rich sport where racers accrue heavy cheques for race wins. But more than the monetary benefits, the trophies carry the true meaning of victory. Over his career, Martin Truex Jr. has picked up 34 Cup Series race trophies alongside 13 trophies in the Xfinity Series. From New Hampshire’s iconic Loudon lobster to Martinsville’s grandfather clock, Truex’s collection is dazzling in its sheer variety. However, the veteran driver may be detaching himself from all this NASCAR memorabilia, according to a recent X post by a fan. The caption read, “Lot of interesting Truex stuff for sale on race day authentics, especially the final win trophy from Loudon. Surprising he’d get rid of that specifically.”

Among the pictures added to this intriguing X post are Martin Truex Jr.‘s top honors. One shows his 2023 NASCAR 75 Greatest Drivers’ honorary t-shirt and watch. Despite “only 1 of these made and given to the drivers,” Truex sold them for $700. He also sold his Toyota Diecast, presented by TRD, for $700. Then Truex’s last Cup Series trophy, the Loudon lobster at the 2023 race, also went out for $1,750. Lastly, his 2023 regular-season championship trophy was picked up for $2,750.

This development is bizarre, to say the least. When Martin Truex Jr. retired at the end of 2024, it was a decision he approached with much difficulty. He had avoided that conversation, delaying it for two years. Yet now, the veteran is easily giving away his precious souvenirs from his career. Further, this seems to be a follow-up to the update earlier in June. It was reported that his Mooresville, N.C., mansion along Lake Norman (a property he bought in 2006) was put on sale for $7.5 million. That indicated that Truex was willing to move away from North Carolina, the base of NASCAR, and the roots of his star-studded career.

The recent pictures, however, sent ripples of concern through the NASCAR community. After all, it has hardly been a year since Truex decided to retire.

Fans rack their brains over this sale

Usually, diehard NASCAR fans drool over any merchandise related to their favorite drivers. However, getting access to the items that racers keep close to their hearts seems a tad bizarre, as fans questioned Martin Truex Jr.’s sudden spring cleaning. One fan wrote, “Selling his final win and 75 Greatest Driver stuff is wiiiiiild lol.” What is more, Truex’s career has been one of long-awaited success. Despite starting his career in 2006 at the same time as Denny Hamlin, it took time for Truex to get his breakthrough. So one fan questioned his giving away of his hard-earned spoils: “Idk I think it’s weird in general he of all drivers is selling his actual trophies.”

Others drew out speculative reasons for Martin Truex Jr.’s sudden selling spree. When drivers like Carl Edwards or Jimmie Johnson retired, they took up extra-curricular hobbies like sailing and marathons. So somebody suggested that Truex try to follow a similar path, but it turned sour. “If Truex is selling these things why do I think he got into a hobby he didn’t realize was so expensive 😏” Another fan referred to Truex’s hobby of hunting. It is either that or Truex genuinely wants to move on from NASCAR: “So either he’s buying new stuff for hunting or he just wants to be gone gone from the sport.”

Somebody else brought out a more tragic reason. Martin Truex Jr. lost his long-time girlfriend, Sherry Pollex, to ovarian cancer in September 2023. What is more, he also lost his father, Martin Truex Sr., in January this year. The weight of these losses may be bearing down heavily on him, as a fan wrote, “I hope he’s ok. Losing Sherry and his dad is tough.”

No matter what the reason is, it is genuinely baffling the NASCAR community. Let’s wait and see if Martin Truex Jr.’s spring cleaning extends to more of his memorabilia from the sport.