LEBANON, Tenn. — It took Martin Truex Jr. only seven words to end the seasonlong speculation about his future in NASCAR.
«I'm back in the 19 next year,» Truex said at Nashville Superspeedway before his statement released by Joe Gibbs Racing was even more brief: «I'm coming back.»
Nice and succinct for the 2017 NASCAR champion, who has never been verbose but was particularly short on details as he pondered his future the past several months. His contract with Joe Gibbs Racing expires at the end of the year, and the most Truex would reveal was that the organization needed a decision from the driver this summer.
«The competitive side of me said I'm not done and I'm going to keep fighting, so here we are,» said Truex, who turns 42 on Wednesday.
Next year will be his 18th season in the Cup Series, and the New Jersey native has 31 career wins and a pair of Xfinity Series titles. He heads into Sunday's race at Nashville winless on the season but ranked sixth in the standings.
Now that Truex is signed, JGR can turn its full attention to two-time champion Kyle Busch. He is also in a contract year, but JGR needs a sponsor for the No. 18 because longtime partner Mars, Inc. is leaving NASCAR after this season.
With Truex returning, JGR keeps a perpetual title contender. He advanced to NASCAR's title-deciding championship race in four of the past five seasons, winning his only title in 2017 when he drove for now-defunct Furniture Row Racing. He has finished second in the championship three times since, including last year when he lost to Kyle Larson.
Truex has won 16 races since joining JGR.
«We're delighted that our 2017 Cup champion, partner and friend is back in his Camry TRD for at least another year,» said David Wilson,
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