After 21 years, 674 races, 34 wins, 146 top-5s and 287 top-10s, 23 pole positions and 12,639 laps led in the Cup series, one Cup series championship and two Xfinity (then Busch) Series championships, Martin Truex will bid farewell to full-time Cup racing at the conclusion of the 2024 season.

His career is one with many highs and lows, and looked to be on life support on multiple occasions early on. Despite winning two Busch Series titles driving for Dale Jr.’s Chance 2 Motorsports, he did not find consistent success in his early years with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Michael Waltrip Racing, and after a decade in the sport he had only notched 2 victories.

Furniture Row miracle

Truex’s rise began at Furniture Row Racing, the now-defunct “little team that could” based out of Colorado owned by Barney Visser that took Truex in starting in 2014 (in the wake of the disastrous “spingate” incident that Truex was a part of in 2013, a PR nightmare that left him looking for a ride). This one-car team was not likely to be a path to winning races and competing for championships. But that’s exactly what happened.

Truex won 17 races in his five years at Furniture Row, including 8 wins during his Cup championship-winning season in 2017. The scenes of that championship race and Truex’s celebration with longtime partner Sherry Pollex (RIP) are some of the most emotional and memorable in recent NASCAR history. This one-car team had stunned the field to win the title and slayed all the giant three- and four-car battalions.

Strong finish at Gibbs

After his time with the Furniture Row team came to a conclusion when the team sadly closed its doors at the end of 2018, Truex then moved on to powerhouse Joe Gibbs Racing, where he has continued to rack up wins (15 in total under the JGR banner).

Perhaps the most telling stat on Truex: Between 2017 and 2021 he not only won the lone Cup title, but also finished 2nd in points 3 different times. If a few small things change in those championship races, we could be talking about a multiple-time series champion.

So what’s the lesson from Truex’s career? He’s proof that a talented driver will eventually deliver if given the right equipment. The talent was always there, but the circumstances were not always in his favor at the teams where he drove.

Despite a decade of mostly struggling as a mid-tier performer in the Cup series, nowhere near showing championship caliber, a little team from Colorado showed faith in him, and together they shocked the world.

Other drivers have had late-career resurgences. Michael Waltrip comes to mind, for example. But none have taken that opportunity and made the most out of it as well as Martin Truex did. If you went back in time to 2014 and told a 34-year-old Truex that he would retire in a decade with 34 wins, he would have told you to get your head examined.

But it happened, and it’s a great story with a Hall of Fame spot likely awaiting Truex down the road. And don’t lock in those career stats just yet: He very well could knock out a few more wins and contend for one more title before he transitions to part-time in 2025.

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Outside of its flagship Range Rover offering, Land Rover’s most interesting vehicle may be the Land Rover Defender, which delivers a rugged, boxy look, an upscale interior, and a high-performing option to fans of getting off the beaten path.

With four decades of history, including a lengthy time frame when it was not sold in the U.S, the Defender is somewhat of a niche vehicle option today — but still has plenty to offer buyers in the off-roader segment.

WIth many off-roaders being rather pedestrian in terms of interior design, the Defender offers an opportunity to explore far-flung locales while remaining in a high-class setting.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a Land Rover Defender 110 SE, and I’m back with a full report on how it holds up vs. other top off-roaders.

Subaru may not be the largest automaker, but they know what their customers like, and do it very well.

One vehicle that stands out in their lineup is the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, including the brand new off-road friendly Wilderness trim level introduced for 2024.

Aimed at adventurers, the Crosstrek is quickly becoming a contender for the best-selling Subaru model in the U.S. I recently got the chance to test out a 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness.

Read on to learn 5 key things you should know about this unique vehicle offering.

The RX lineup of vehicles is a longtime heavy hitter in the Lexus lineup. In 2023 alone, Lexus sold over 114,000 RX vehicles, extremely strong numbers for a luxury ride.

In the Lexus SUV world, the RX slots above the smaller NX model, but below the larger TX option.

Lexus has long been a fan of offering hybrid vehicles across its vehicle lineup, and among the offerings in the RX landscape are several hybrid offerings. While 2024 brings a new addition with the 2024 plug-in hybrid RX 450h+, also returning are the traditional hybrid offerings — including the RX 350h and the more powerful RX 500h.

With the steady drumbeat in the news today that many people in 2024 are skipping the move to a full EV and instead preferring to explore hybrid options, the RX hybrid’s popularity should be safe for many years to come.

I recently tested an RX hybrid — specifically the 2024 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance AWD model — and I’m back with a full report on how it holds up against its luxury hybrid competitors.

With the demand for SUVs as high as it’s ever been, automakers are wise to cover all bases and offer additional models and vehicle styles to fit different buyers.

For Volkswagen, which already offers the Volkswagen Atlas three-row SUV, that means also having a shorter two-row version of the Atlas  — dubbed the Atlas Cross Sport — for folks who need fewer seats and are seeking a sharper look.

There’s a ton of strong competitors in the midsize SUV segment (including Jeep Grand Cherokee, Honda Passport, and many others), so the Atlas Cross Sport must clear a high bar to make a significant impact.

New for 2024 is an updated engine (a four-cylinder engine that replaces the previous model’s V6 but adds power), and some styling updates and additional standard tech features.

I recently spent some time in a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL R-Line, a midsize SUV which catches your eye with its attractive, sloping roofline, and I’m back with a full report on this stylish ride.

A global giant, Volkswagen continues to make its best effort to find its place in the SUV market in the United States.

One of their key offerings is the Tiguan, which slots in the middle of its SUV lineup between the smaller VW Taos and larger VW Atlas/Atlas Cross Sport options. It’s the highest-selling vehicle for Volkswagen in the U.S., with more than 71,000 Tiguans sold in 2023.

It’s competing with some strong vehicles, including Toyota RAV4, Kia Sportage, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Chevy Equinox, Ford Escape, Mazda’s CX-5 and CX-50, and more.

Standing out is tough in this segment, but VW pulls a bit of a wild card by offering the Tiguan with a third row, a feature most of the alternatives do not offer. 

There are no major changes for 2024, as the main changes for the 2024 model are additional features becoming standard on lower trim levels. (Note: A completely new design is anticipated for the 2025 model year.)

I recently spent time behind the wheel of a base model 2024 Tiguan, and I’m back with a full report on how it holds up in today’s SUV landscape.

Electric vehicles continue to generate news, specifically regarding how ready the public are to adopt them en masse.

But in the luxury realm of vehicles, many automakers are fully committed to making EVs a priority, and Audi is one that fits that category — planning to make all new vehicle offerings electric by 2026, and completely electrify its vehicle lineup by 2033.

At the moment, they have several EV options for sale, and I recently spent some time behind the wheel of their flagship EV — the 2024 Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron.

Improved for 2024 with a more powerful battery and longer range, improved aerodynamics, as well as some styling updates, the Q8 e-tron aims to be one of the main options for people looking to join the ranks of luxury EV ownership.

Read on for a full breakdown of what it has to offer and how well it competes in the overall EV landscape vs. rivals from BMW, Genesis, Jaguar and more.

Before we get into the thrilling racing at Darlington on Sunday that saw Brad Keselowski return to Victory Lane in a stunning day of redemption for both driver and team, let’s talk a bit about history.

When I think of Roush Racing, I initially think of the 1997 Cup race I attended at Michigan Speedway, my first race I watched at the track, where Mark Martin took home the checkered flag for Jack Roush in the No. 6 Valvoline car, one of 35 victories for Mark in the 6 car.

I think about all the races I saw won over the next two decades — with Roush drivers including Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards and more. Since launching his Cup team in 1988, the Cat in the Hat had a team that was formidable week in and week out, not only in Cup but also dominating many races in Xfinity and Trucks for years.

Continuing an ongoing trend as SUVs and trucks continue to dominate sales, yet another sedan has reached the end of its road.
Subaru has announced that production of the Subaru Legacy midsize sedan will conclude with the 2025 model year, with the last vehicles rolling off the assembly line in spring of 2025.

The Legacy first came to the U.S. market in 1989, making this the end of a 36-year run. Subaru claims that over 94% of Subaru Legacy vehicles sold in the last 10 years are still on the road today. The 2025 Legacy will be priced starting at just under $25K.

Since its debut, Legacy models sold in the U.S. have been assembled at Subaru of Indiana in Lafayette, Indiana. Through six generations of the car, it has generated 1.3 million sales in the U.S. and was the longest-running Subaru model.

With the loss of the Legacy, Subaru’s lineup will be even more focused on SUVs, and Subaru is also moving toward electric vehicles including its Solterra EV (and plans to offer eight EV models by the 2028 calendar year).

In recent years, Hyundai has asserted itself as a strong contender in many different vehicle categories, and that’s probably the most true in the compact SUV segment, where its Hyundai Tucson has regularly been a top-seller.

It’s the most popular Hyundai model in the U.S., with over 200,000 Tucsons sold in 2023, in large part due to its standout exterior design, roomy and upscale interior, plus comprehensive warranties and competitive pricing.

I recently tested a 2024 Hyundai Tucson XRT AWD model, which featured an attractive and aggressive design, and there are a variety of Tucson models offered — including hybrid options for the eco-friendly buyer.

Last fully redesigned in 2022, the 2024 Tucson features minor changes to the various trim levels and adds some tech and safety features, but maintains the strong features that have kept it so competitive in a segment featuring strong competition including the Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4.