Martin Truex Jr.’s disappointing performance at the end of the regular season has continued into the Cup Series playoffs. The playoff opener at Atlanta was particularly tough for Truex, who was caught in a significant wreck on Lap 205. He finished the race in 35th place, eight laps behind the leader. Given that he entered the playoffs with just three playoff points, this result severely impacts his chances. As he heads into the upcoming race at Watkins Glen, Truex finds himself 19 points below the cutline. His hopes for a successful end to his career now hang by a thread.
Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic discussed Truex’s current predicament on Sunday’s “The Teardown” podcast, highlighting how the driver and his team are struggling at a critical juncture. Bianchi noted, “This is not at all a driver and team that I have any confidence in. They haven’t been able to score stage points, they have no momentum, they’re not running well, and they haven’t had a lot of speed in their racecars. They’re going in the wrong direction at the wrong time, and it’s been that way for a while.”
The statistics paint a troubling picture for Truex, reflecting a dramatic downturn in performance that is unlike what fans have come to expect from him during his time with Joe Gibbs Racing. Truex has not secured a win this season, with only one top-10 finish since the race at Nashville in late June. His last top-five finish was back in early May at Kansas. Over the past 13 races, he has finished 24th or worse in 10 of them, including a streak of six consecutive races outside the top 20.
As the playoffs progress, Bianchi remains skeptical about Truex’s ability to turn things around. He commented, “This year started with so much promise, with Martin Truex Jr. appearing to be a strong contender for the championship. But now, the question is whether he’ll even make it out of Round 1. Will he manage to win a race in his final year?” Bianchi emphasized the stark difference in this year’s playoffs for Truex compared to previous seasons. In the past, Truex entered the playoffs with a significant number of playoff points, providing him with a cushion to handle any setbacks.
Last year’s playoffs are a good example of this. Despite a poor performance in Round 1, Truex advanced because of his substantial playoff points. This year, however, Truex lacks that safety net. As he approaches races at Watkins Glen and Bristol, Bianchi suggests that Truex might need to adopt a “must-win” mentality to advance.
Jeff Gluck, also from The Athletic, shares concerns about Truex but believes there is still a possibility for him to advance to the Round of 12 without winning either of the upcoming races. Gluck argues that Truex can potentially advance by delivering a strong performance, though he will need to put together his best run in several months to do so. Gluck said, “I wouldn’t panic yet and say, ‘We have to go win at Watkins Glen or Bristol.’ I think he can be just fine. Nineteen points is not an insurmountable deficit.”
Overall, Truex’s playoff hopes are precarious. The upcoming races will be critical for him as he strives to overcome the deficit and gain the momentum needed to progress further in the playoffs. The pressure is on Truex and his team to significantly improve their performance if they wish to stay in contention for the championship.
NASCAR insiders express concern for Martin Truex Jr.: ‘Going in the wrong direction at the wrong time’
