Martin Truex Jr.’s final season in the NASCAR Cup Series has been far from the victory lap many expected. With no wins so far and sitting at the bottom of the playoff standings, his farewell tour is starting to feel more like a slow, painful decline. After confirming that 2024 would be his last year in NASCAR, fans thought this veteran driver would end his career on a high. However, former NASCAR star Kevin Harvick believes that Truex’s retirement might happen even sooner than expected.
Truex Jr. currently faces an uphill battle, and if things continue as they are, he’s likely to exit the playoffs in the first round of 16. Harvick has noticed Truex’s growing frustration, hinting that he might already be mentally checked out of the competition. The wear and tear of the demanding NASCAR schedule seem to have taken their toll on the Joe Gibbs Racing driver.
Truex had a glimmer of hope during the race at Watkins Glen, where he won the first stage. Yet, despite that brief success, Harvick suggests that Truex’s attitude signals he’s ready to step away from racing for good. During an episode of Harvick’s “Happy Hour” show, Harvick said, “I think Martin is done with it…he’s frustrated with the style of racing that comes with this particular car.” Harvick referred to NASCAR’s current cars and how they’ve changed the racing dynamic in recent years. Truex, with poor finishes in recent races, now finds himself in 15th place with a -14 points deficit, needing to secure a victory in the upcoming races at Bristol or Kansas to stay in playoff contention.
While Harvick’s comments may seem harsh, the numbers back him up. Truex’s playoff hopes have been dashed by disappointing results in key races, and the next race at Bristol presents a serious challenge. Truex doesn’t have a strong track record there, further dimming his chances of a comeback.
A significant part of Truex’s struggles stems from the introduction of the NextGen cars in 2022. Since their debut, Truex has been on a 54-race winless streak, a slump that started during the Cup Series’ use of the previous Gen-6 cars. The shift in car design has been a difficult adjustment for Truex, and Harvick believes this new style of racing simply doesn’t suit him anymore. The veteran driver is no longer finding his rhythm in the new system, and it seems to be draining his motivation.
Harvick isn’t the only one feeling the pressure of the playoffs—another Joe Gibbs Racing driver, Denny Hamlin, is also fighting for survival as the elimination rounds approach.
Denny Hamlin, like Truex, is on the edge of elimination after the first two playoff races. He’s hovering near the cutoff line with a -6 points deficit, placing him in a precarious position. He needs to find a way to stay in the championship hunt, but simply earning points may not be enough. Harvick believes that Hamlin must aim for a win rather than trying to inch his way up the standings through points.
Harvick admitted that he underestimated the difficulty of the first round of the playoffs, especially after the unexpected outcomes at Atlanta and Watkins Glen. He suggested that these races could knock out major championship contenders, including Hamlin, if they don’t secure a decisive win. Fortunately for Hamlin, his next challenge is at Bristol, a track where he has historically excelled.
Bristol Motor Speedway has been kind to Hamlin over the years. He has four wins there, with his first two victories coming in 2012 and 2019. More recently, he won back-to-back races at Bristol in 2023 and 2024, making him a serious contender to take another win at the track. If Hamlin manages to clinch victory at Bristol, it will not only keep him in the playoff race but also put him in the rare company of drivers who have won three consecutive races at the track. Only four drivers have achieved this feat in Bristol’s 60-year history: Kurt Busch, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, and Fred Lorenzen.
A win at Bristol would do more than just keep Hamlin’s championship hopes alive—it could secure his place in NASCAR history. Despite his numerous accomplishments, Hamlin has never won a Cup Series championship, a fact that weighs heavily on his legacy. Bristol may be his last, best chance to make a run for the title.
### What’s Next for Truex Jr. and Hamlin?
As both drivers face the next crucial races, Truex and Hamlin are at very different stages of their careers. For Truex, this season has turned into a struggle to hang on, while Hamlin is fighting to stay relevant in the championship race. The next few races will be critical in deciding their fates.
Truex Jr.’s retirement seems all but inevitable, with Harvick predicting he might bow out earlier than planned. Meanwhile, Hamlin’s hopes rest on a strong performance at Bristol. Only time will tell if Hamlin can pull off the win and keep his championship dreams alive, or if both he and Truex will find themselves exiting the season earlier than anyone expected.
Kevin Harvick Unleashes Shocking 6-Word Revelation About Martin Truex Jr.’s Last NASCAR Showdown.
