Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has suffered a setback in the NASCAR playoffs, losing its competitive edge with only two of its four cars advancing past the first round. Both Martin Truex Jr. and Ty Gibbs were eliminated after struggling to make up for their inconsistent regular seasons, with their exit from the title race sealed during last Sunday’s race in Bristol. Ty Gibbs’ lack of experience showed, making it hard for him to find an advantage against more seasoned drivers. But in Truex Jr.’s case, the veteran driver of the #19 car played a key role in his own downfall.
It’s widely known that the #19 Toyota has been one of the fastest cars on the track this season. Despite this, instead of competing for wins, Truex Jr. has often found himself struggling due to mistakes and avoidable errors. His misfortune at Bristol was a perfect example of this. A costly pit-road penalty during the final stage sent him back in the running order, ultimately hurting his chances. While some drivers blamed the track conditions, particularly the lack of tire wear and passing opportunities, Kevin Harvick wasn’t buying those excuses. According to Harvick, Truex Jr.’s lack of commitment has been the real factor holding back the #19 team.
Harvick’s comments following Truex Jr.’s playoff elimination were blunt and direct. For years, Truex Jr. has been uncertain about his future in NASCAR’s Cup Series, often hinting at retirement but delaying any final decision. That uncertainty ended recently when it was announced that Truex Jr., now 44, would retire at the end of the 2024 season. However, Harvick believes this indecision has already cost JGR, citing Truex Jr.’s lack of full commitment as detrimental to the #19 team’s success.
Harvick expressed his views candidly on the 59th episode of his podcast, *Happy Hour*, where he discussed how Truex Jr.’s half-hearted approach affected the team. “I think James [the crew chief] is frustrated with that one foot in, one foot out commitment that Martin has,” Harvick said. “Do I retire, do I not retire? I’ll come back; it’s gone the exact same way the last two years. You cannot race this car with one foot in, one foot out commitment. Because there’s a workload that is required to go with this car on a week-to-week basis.”
Truex Jr.’s playoff hopes essentially collapsed during the final pit stop on lap 333 when he was caught speeding on pit road. Just 0.09 mph over the limit proved to be the difference, as Truex Jr. was shuffled back to 26th position, a devastating blow to his chances. Even more surprising was that, despite the race going caution-free, Truex Jr. couldn’t make any significant progress. This lack of improvement caught Harvick off guard, considering the #19 car had been running in second place before the penalty.
“Martin was running second; he made a mistake on pit road; that happens,” Harvick remarked. “But you can’t tell me that a second-place car couldn’t pass one car after the pit stops. You have to feel for those guys, and I think some of James’ frustrations, from the crew chief side, is, ‘Was my driver fully engaged to go what I needed to do?’ Martin kind of said it last week: ‘I’m frustrated, don’t really like what I do, and I’m happy it’s almost over.’”
Despite the issues surrounding Truex Jr. and the #19 team, there’s a silver lining for JGR. Chase Briscoe, driving the #14 car for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), has been performing well in the playoffs, defying expectations. At the start of the playoffs, Harvick predicted that Briscoe wouldn’t make much of an impact. However, Briscoe has risen to the challenge, delivering solid performances that have kept his team in the running.
Briscoe’s playoff journey hasn’t been without its challenges. After crashing into Kyle Larson at Atlanta, the #14 team faced a tough situation. But they bounced back impressively with a sixth-place finish at Watkins Glen and followed that up with an eighth-place result at Bristol. These strong showings were enough to see Briscoe advance to the next round of the playoffs.
Now, imagine if Briscoe had the same car speed as Truex Jr.’s #19—he could easily become a serious contender. But as Briscoe has demonstrated, success in NASCAR isn’t just about having a fast car; it’s also about perseverance and determination. His gritty performances could even echo his 2022 playoff run, where he made it to the Round of 8.
After his solid performance at Bristol, Briscoe reflected on his growing confidence. “Hopefully, people will start taking us seriously,” he said. “I truthfully feel like we can battle for the championship, so hopefully tonight proved that.” While reaching the Championship 4 may still be a long shot for Briscoe and the #14 team, the shift in dynamics this season means nothing can be ruled out.
In hindsight, JGR’s decision to name Briscoe as Truex Jr.’s replacement is beginning to look like a smart move. While Briscoe’s journey isn’t without its challenges, his commitment and fighting spirit offer hope that he might carry on the legacy Truex Jr. is leaving behind.
Kevin Harvick Slams Martin Truex Jr.’s ‘Commitment Issues,’ Frustrating Joe Gibbs Team and Causing Serious Controversies During a Noisy Playoff Struggle
