Martin Truex Jr. has officially announced that this will be his final year competing in the NASCAR Cup Series, marking the end of an era for the veteran driver. Reflecting on his career, Truex Jr. said, “It’s been incredible. It’s been a hell of a ride. I’m excited about the future, and I’m not really sure what that looks like yet.” However, his last season isn’t shaping up as he might have hoped. After a disappointing DNF (Did Not Finish) at Darlington, Truex barely scraped into the playoffs, clinching the 16th spot. Things went from bad to worse with another DNF in the first playoff race in Atlanta, leaving him at the bottom of the standings. Hopes of adding a second championship to his resume are slipping away, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. shares a tough verdict on his friend’s chances.
According to Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex Jr. may deserve to be out of the playoffs this year. The comment came after another rough race for Truex at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where a crash involving Ryan Blaney and Chris Buescher left him finishing in 35th place, managing to earn only four points. He now sits below the playoff cut line, 19 points behind Ty Gibbs. It’s been a string of bad luck for Truex, as he hasn’t finished higher than 24th in six consecutive races and hasn’t cracked the top 20 in 10 of his last 13 starts. As things stand, Truex could very well be the first driver eliminated from the playoffs.
This idea was echoed on the September 11 episode of *Dale Jr. Download*, where the discussion began with Andrew referencing an article from *The Athletic* that speculated who might be a surprise first-round exit from the playoffs. Several drivers, speaking anonymously, had named Truex. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s response was swift: “He deserves it. He deserves that distinction.” But his reasoning wasn’t solely based on Truex’s on-track performance. It was more personal.
Andrew pressed Dale Jr. further, asking, “Distinction of what?” Earnhardt Jr. then shared a lighthearted, yet petty, reason from earlier in the season. Back in April, Kevin Harvick hosted a panel of Joe Gibbs Racing drivers on his podcast, “Happy Hour,” where he asked who was the better driver: Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Chase Elliott? Truex, a longtime friend of Dale Jr., sided with Elliott, pointing out that Elliott had won a Cup championship. Truex’s answer didn’t sit well with Earnhardt Jr., who playfully recalled the moment on his podcast, saying, “I’m a good friend of Martin Truex Jr., so yeah, I’m petty as hell.”
It wasn’t just a casual friendship either. The two drivers go way back, with Truex Jr. even living in Earnhardt Jr.’s house when he first started racing in NASCAR. They forged a close bond during that time, often hanging out and enjoying life together. Dale Jr. has often reminisced about those days, sharing stories of drinking, partying, and spending time on his farm. Given their long history, it’s clear Dale Jr. was half-joking, but his comment also highlighted how things can shift in the competitive world of NASCAR.
Jokes aside, the question remains: Can Martin Truex Jr. survive the first round of the playoffs? As he heads into the Watkins Glen race this Sunday, the odds are stacked against him. Truex’s season has been riddled with uncharacteristic struggles—he’s winless so far, and his stats since Nashville in late June tell the story of a driver who’s out of sync. He’s managed only one top-10 finish in that span and hasn’t placed in the top five since May at Kansas. NASCAR journalist Jordan Bianchi expressed concern in a recent episode of *The Teardown*, explaining that unlike last year when Truex overcame a poor Round 1 thanks to playoff points, this year offers no such safety net. He suggested Truex is likely in a “must-win mode” heading into Watkins Glen and Bristol.
Jeff Gluck, also part of the discussion, took a more optimistic view, saying, “I wouldn’t panic yet and say, ‘We have to go win Watkins Glen or Bristol.’ 19 points is not that much.” Truex’s past performances at Watkins Glen give him some hope. In his last six starts there, he’s earned finishes of 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 23rd, and most recently, 6th. Bristol has also been kind to him, with a runner-up finish in his last race there. So while the road ahead is tough, Truex’s story may not be over just yet.
The big question now is whether Truex can turn things around in time to keep his championship hopes alive. With his Hall of Fame career nearing its end, fans are left wondering: Will Martin Truex Jr. secure a second title before he walks away from the sport for good? The answer will unfold in the coming weeks as he takes on the next challenges in the NASCAR playoffs.
What do you think? Could MTJ stage a dramatic comeback, or is his time in the Cup Series drawing to a close without another championship to his name? Let us know in the comments below!
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