New Hampshire gives Martin Truex Jr. a good chance for elusive 2024 win

Martin Truex Jr. is retiring at the end of the 2024 season, but that doesn't mean he's no longer competitive. 

The 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion sits 11th in the Cup Series playoffs standings, 122 markers inside the postseason. With New Hampshire being one of his best racetracks, Truex has an excellent shot at earning a final win at one of his home tracks and his first win of the season. 

The USA TODAY 301 is scheduled for Sunday, but the weather forecast for New Hampshire is ominous, so the race could be moved to Monday or Tuesday. 

Truex won last year's New Hampshire race on a Monday, so he likely wouldn't mind a potential postponement. 

Races such as New Hampshire, Pocono and Dover always mean a little bit more for Truex, who grew up in Mayetta, New Jersey. 

New Hampshire, however, is the one track on the schedule that always showcases Truex's ability behind the wheel, though he didn't earn his first win at the facility until 2023. 

In the two races held at New Hampshire with the Next-Gen car, Truex has led 426 of 602 laps. Overall, he has led 1,170 laps at the "Magic Mile." That averages out to 39 laps led every time Truex has fired up his engine in Loudon. 

Truex hasn't shown winning speed since Richmond in March, but New Hampshire provides an excellent opportunity for a "get right" race for the No. 19 team as the summer heats up. 

Truex sits high enough above the playoff cutline that he has more than enough cushion with nine regular-season races remaining. If needed, Truex and crew chief James Small can take extra strategy risks if they feel it's needed to win. 

Although Truex hasn't held the Loudon Lobster in victory lane, he has not finished worse than 12th in his past nine races at New Hampshire. In those nine races, he has led a total of 899 laps, just shy of 100 laps per race. 

Truex has been close to victory a couple of times in 2024, but New Hampshire might be his best chance to win and earn an emotional send-off.