The season finale is not just for crowning the series champion, but it also signifies the end of careers, partnerships and in some cases, race teams. The 36th and final points-paying race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup season at Phoenix Raceway was no different. While all the focus was on the championship showdown, several other storylines were quietly tying up their own endings in the background.
MTJ is going fishing
There was Martin Truex Jr., making his final start as a full-time driver. MTJ hasn't missed a Cup race since 2005 in an impressive streak totaling nearly 700 consecutive races. Truex was given a round of applause by his fellow drivers in the pre-race meeting, who then took a group picture with the future NASCAR Hall of Famer.
Anyone who has been watching NASCAR for long enough would have immediately recognized the DEI-esque paint scheme — a throwback scheme honoring his Cup debut from nearly two decades ago — leading the charge of his final full-time race. And while race itself didn't pan out perhaps the way Truex would have wanted to end things, which has been a theme for him this year, he crossed the finish line in 17th.
Later, on pit road, he was approached by legends such as Michael Jordan and Jeff Gordon who simply wanted to shake his hand.
“Yeah, it means a lot to have the respect of guys like that and what they mean to the sport," said Truex. "Absolute legends, right? It makes me feel good that I’ve earned that respect over the years, and it means a lot. From here forward, I’m just going to go have some fun and do a little bit of racing here and there just for fun. Hopefully, it will be less stressful than days like today.”
A NASCAR giant calls it quits
For Truex, it was his choice to finally walk away from the weekly grind, but for others, this was the end and not exactly by choice. Stewart-Haas Racing, co-owned by Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, are shutting their doors now that the season is over. They were one of just three four-car Cup operations in the sport, and a constant presence on the grid since 2009. On Sunday, the No. 4, No. 10, No. 14 and No. 41 raced under the SHR banner for the final time with 323 employees cheering them on. Noah Gragson was the best of the bunch ending the race in 12th place.
Some of the drivers organized a victory lap of sorts on the cool-down lap and later, Stewart himself directed the last hauler out of the track. 16 seasons, 70 wins, 62 poles, nearly 20,000 laps led later, the journey has come to an end.
"Man, this is just such a special group and I can’t say thank you enough to everyone at SHR for all they did this season," said Berry, who is heading to Wood Brothers Racing in 2025. "We had some really tough circumstances and a lot of uncertainty, and the No. 4 group still showed up and gave it their all and I am just so thankful."
Chase Briscoe, who earned SHR's final win with a dramatic victory in the Southern 500 at Darlington, was probably about as happy as you'll ever see someone after running near the back all day.
"I mean, this is probably the most smiling and laughing we’ve ever had after a 29th-place finish," noted Briscoe. "So, yeah, we obviously would’ve loved to have a better result, but at the end of the day, it was all about just enjoying each other and the people and everything that makes Stewart-Haas so special. It’s been a place I’m so thankful to have called home for the last seven years. I knew, honestly, it was going to be a little bit emotional but, I mean, I was crying before we rolled off pit road. Just appreciative of the opportunity Tony (Stewart) and Gene (Haas) gave me. My dream was to make it to the Cup Series and the 14 car was the car I always cheered for, so the fact that I got to drive it and do it for my childhood hero was pretty cool. Definitely something I never took for granted.”
Nearly 20 years of shipping it to P1
Elsewhere, the sun was quietly setting on another partnership dating back to 2006. FedEx has stood beside Denny Hamlin since he made his Cup debut almost two decades ago and was one of the longest driver/partnerships remaining in the sport -- perhaps only beaten by Bass Pro Shops and Truex. However, FedEx has gradually disappeared from the No. 11 Toyota, sponsoring fewer races every year. Hamlin posted a somber video on race morning, thanking FedEx and essentially confirming their exit. Hamlin won his very first race with those colors on his car, taking the checkered flag in the 2006 Clash at Daytona as a 25-year-old rookie. 47 of his 54 Cup wins over the years came with FedEx as the primary sponsor.
Thank you, @FedEx pic.twitter.com/9VaeOB2YQ8
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) November 10, 2024
"Thank you FedEx for being there from the start," a voiceover from Hamlin began in the video. "All the wins, and all the losses ... thank you for letting me be me. For always making a difference. For helping make this kid from Virginia's dream come true. Thank you FedEx for everything."
The end of a record win streak
Lastly, an impressive statistic also came to an unceremonious end. Kyle Busch held the record for most consecutive years with a race win at 19 total. While 2024 was perhaps the worst year of his career, he still came agonizingly close to extending that win streak with runner-up finishes at Darlington and Daytona. He also crashed from the lead at Kansas, and lost Atlanta in the closest three-wide photo finish in NASCAR history.
The streak certainly did not end without a valiant fight from KB, but it did ultimately end with a 21st-place finish at Phoenix. Taking up the mantle with the longest active win streak is the sport's newly crowned three-time champion Joey Logano, who has won at least one race for 13 consecutive seasons.
These are just the major storylines that played out in the shadow of the main event on Sunday. To add, there were retirements of highly-respected industry figures, while several drivers still face uncertain futures in the sport. But like every season finale, some stories will conclude with happy or bittersweet endings in some kind of bow, as the rest will ready themselves to add another chapter — next year.
