Martin Truex Jr. found himself at the center of a dramatic incident during lap 89 of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race in Las Vegas. The collision involved two playoff contenders, Chase Elliott and Tyler Reddick, who were both unexpectedly knocked out of contention. The crash left many questioning what really happened, and Truex himself seemed uncertain.
As the cars charged off turn four, Truex was running tightly on the inside of Chase Elliott, while Tyler Reddick followed closely behind. In a split second, Elliott slipped up the track, bumping into Truex’s car and sending both into Reddick. What followed was a chaotic scene as Reddick’s car, driven by 23XI Racing, flipped multiple times, collecting Brad Keselowski in the process. The wreck sent shockwaves through the competition, and Truex later admitted he wasn’t entirely sure what caused the mishap.
In an interview after the race, Truex tried to piece together what went wrong. “I was on the bottom coming off turn four,” Truex explained. “I thought we were two wide, my spotter said leave a lane, and all of a sudden, the 9 [Elliott] lifted. I didn’t even know we were three wide until it was too late.” The veteran driver was left speculating whether Elliott’s sudden lift triggered the accident. Despite Elliott and Reddick’s frustration over the incident, Truex was adamant that his spotter assured him there was nothing wrong from his end.
Though Truex managed to walk away with a respectable sixth-place finish, the same could not be said for Elliott and Reddick, who placed 33rd and 35th, respectively. The crash was particularly damaging for their playoff hopes. Elliott now sits 53 points below the cut-off, while Reddick is 30 points behind, with just two races left in the Round of 8. The pressure is mounting for both drivers as they scramble to make up ground before the next elimination.
In the broader picture, Truex’s Las Vegas run was a continuation of a difficult season for the 44-year-old veteran. Truex, who announced his retirement in June, has struggled to secure a win this season and was eliminated from playoff contention in the opening round. Despite his long and successful career, which includes 34 Cup Series victories and a championship in 2017, Truex is still looking for a breakthrough in what will be his final full-time season.
Truex’s decision to retire came down to a desire for a more balanced life. At a press conference earlier this year, he reflected on the relentless pace of racing, noting that he’s missed significant family events and that the constant travel has left little time for anything else. As he prepares to step away from the track, Truex is ready to slow down and focus on life beyond NASCAR. With only a few races left in his storied career, Truex will be looking to make the most of his final moments on the track, even if a victory remains elusive.
Martin Truex Jr. raises eyebrows on Chase Elliott’s involvement in the Las Vegas playoff wreck
