Martin Truex Jr. will reach a milestone in his racing career this weekend, as he will make his 600th start in the NASCAR Cup Series. And this step comes at a time when his racing future is less than certain.

Midway through his 17th full-time Cup season, speculation is rife over Truex Jr.’s future in NASCAR, as the 2017 Cup Series champion has been the subject of retirement rumors as his current contract with Joe Gibbs Racing is coming to an end. . According to Jordan Bianchi of The Athleticthe Truex team are giving him time to think about his future but are waiting for a decision to be made before too long so they can plan accordingly for 2023.

Speaking to the media at World Wide Technology Raceway on Friday, Truex Jr. acknowledged he was considering his future in racing, sharing that he was currently “tormented” trying to decide whether to continue in the Cup or not. remove.

“I think about it every day. We’re working on it. I should know something soon,” Truex Jr. told reporters on Friday. “It’s a big decision, a lot of factors. I would say in a few weeks you’ll know what I’m doing.”

A full-time Cup driver since 2006, Truex Jr. has been runner-up three of the past four years and has remained highly competitive this season, finishing twice in the top five and seven times in the top 10. But at nearly 42 years old, Truex Jr. acknowledged that it’s a “fair statement” to say that quality of life is more of a consideration than his finances.

The uncertainty surrounding Truex Jr. adds to an already complicated business situation for Joe Gibbs Racing, as the team is also trying to resolve Kyle Busch’s sponsor and contract situation. Busch seeks a new contract with Gibbs as the team searches for a new sponsor to replace M&M’s, which is leaving NASCAR at the end of the season.

Whatever Truex Jr. decides to do, his legacy as one of the best riders of his generation is assured. Truex Jr. won the NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2017, and his 31 career wins rank 28th on NASCAR’s all-time win list.