The 2024 NASCAR season has been a challenging journey for Joe Gibbs Racing veterans Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin. Earlier this year, Truex announced his retirement, aiming to close out his Cup career on a high note. However, his season was far from ideal. After an underwhelming regular season without a win, he barely secured a spot in the playoffs. Unfortunately, he was eliminated in the first round, ending his championship hopes. Now, with only a few races left in the season, the 2017 Cup Series champion finally earned his first pole position of the year at Martinsville—a hopeful sign that he might close his Cup career with a win at NASCAR’s shortest track.
While Truex sees a chance at redemption, Hamlin’s weekend at Martinsville started poorly. Entering the race in a must-win situation, he encountered major setbacks during practice. His car was performing strongly until a piece of rubber jammed the throttle, causing it to spin into the wall and sustain severe damage. Unable to qualify, Hamlin now starts from the back of the field in 37th, sitting 18 points below the playoff cutline and on the brink of elimination. Martinsville is a strong track for him, where he has achieved five career wins, making his situation especially frustrating.
In a press conference, Truex sympathized with Hamlin, recalling a similar throttle issue he experienced at Martinsville in 2010. Reflecting on Hamlin’s bad luck, Truex was surprised that the team chose not to use a backup car. Truex said, “I had my throttle stick here one year. I can’t believe that happened to him today, especially with his season on the line.” Still, Truex remained hopeful for Hamlin, confident that his teammate could recover, even from the back of the field, if the car performs well.
Hamlin and his team are determined to race the same car, believing it gives him the best shot. Crew chief Chris Gabehart explained that they’re doing everything possible to repair it, saying, “Most of the rear clip looks fine. We’re just replacing some body panels and a bumper. The car fired off fast, so we’re doing our best to get it back in shape.” Truex, however, voiced some concerns, noting the risks of using a damaged car but hoping they manage to restore it to its peak condition.
As the race approaches, Hamlin’s path forward is uncertain. If the repairs hold up, he could still have a shot at victory. Will Hamlin’s perseverance pay off? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
