Can Martin Truex Jr. get that send-off win in his last full-time NASCAR Cup Series season?
Lost in the aftermath of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway was how quickly things changed for Truex.
Truex, who led over half the laps in Richmond’s first race this season, was one of the favorites to win in the return trip to the Virginia short track.
Instead, Truex and the No. 19 team got their nightmare scenario. A blown engine forced Truex out of the race after 250 laps, relegating him to a last-place finish. To make matters worse, the race ended with Austin Dillon, a new winner, capturing the checkered flag. Dillon’s victory delayed Truex, who is still winless in 2024, from being able to lock down a postseason berth with points.
But the story did not end there. On Aug. 14, NASCAR penalized Dillon for rough driving by revoking his playoff eligibility. That decision reset the playoff grid to 12 eligible winners with three races to go, meaning at least one driver would get in on points. Going into the next race at Michigan International Speedway, Truex held a 60-point advantage over Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Ty Gibbs, the next highest winless driver.
Michigan International Speedway provided another twist in Truex’s quest to reach the playoffs. The No. 19 was fast when the rain-delayed race resumed on Monday (Aug. 19). Truex led for a total of 28 laps and appeared to be on his way to a top-five finish.
But with seven laps to go, he got loose in turn 4 and popped the wall, bringing out the caution flag. He was able to limp to the finish in 24th, a result that was not indicative of how strong he ran.
Even with the disappointing ending, Truex’s spot in the playoffs finally feels secure. Tyler Reddick’s victory opened a second postseason opportunity for a winless driver. Although Truex’s advantage over Gibbs shrunk to 38 points, he still leads Chris Buescher, the next winless driver, by 61. Even in the unlikely event that Dillon’s penalty gets overturned this week, Truex still has the upper hand in the battle for the final playoff positions.
Having announced his retirement from full-time racing after this year, this will be Truex’s last shot to win another Cup Series championship. He has been one of the best ever under the elimination-style playoffs, having won the title in 2017 and appeared in the championship round five times.
On the other hand, Truex has not won a race in over a year and will…
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