Martin Truex Sr., a veteran racer in the former NASCAR Busch North Series and father of two racing stars, has passed away at the age of 66.
The news was shared on Friday in a statement from his children, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Truex, and Marsha McVey: “We are devastated by the loss of our father, Martin Truex Sr. He was our hero and an incredible man. We appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers and kindly ask for privacy at this time.”
Truex Sr. competed in 135 races on the Busch North circuit, now known as the ARCA Menards Series East. His sole win came in 1994 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway during a preliminary event for the NASCAR Cup Series.
“He was a gentleman racer, fun to race with,” recalled four-time Busch North champion Andy Santerre in a September interview. “I remember Martin Sr. beating me at New Hampshire in ’94. I finished second, and I was as happy for him as I was for myself—it was a great moment.”
Truex Sr. balanced his racing career with running a wholesale seafood business, often featuring industry-related sponsors on his No. 56 car. A skilled driver in New Jersey and the Northeast, he later stepped back from racing in the late 1990s to support his oldest son, Martin Truex Jr.’s career.
In a 2000 interview with the *Atlantic City Press*, Truex Sr. expressed confidence in his son’s potential: “He’s at the age where hopefully he can make it to the big leagues. That’s the plan.” His investment paid off, as Martin Truex Jr. went on to become a NASCAR Cup Series champion (2017), a two-time Xfinity Series champion, and a 34-time Cup winner before retiring from full-time competition last season.
Truex Sr.’s youngest son, Ryan, also followed in his father’s and brother’s footsteps, securing three Xfinity Series wins over the past two years.
The family celebrated a special moment together last November, posing for a photo at Phoenix Raceway as Martin Truex Jr. competed in his final full-time race. In tribute to his father, Ryan Truex will race the No. 56 car—Truex Sr.’s iconic number—on his Tricon Garage-prepared Toyota in an attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 next month.
