Truex Pit Strategy: After a terrible pit strategy, Martin Truex Jr. and his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team showed surprising determination, which helped them finish in eighth place this time.
In stark contrast to their win of the 2023 regular season title, this is their best finish in any of the seven playoff races that have happened so far. Their best finish before this was a solid 17th place at Texas.
Early in Stage 2, when the rest of the race was at the stage break, Truex’s bad luck began when his crew boss, James Small, chose to keep him on the track and let him take the lead. At first, Truex held his spot, but it wasn’t long before the difference in tire quality became clear. He slowly fell behind the pack as competitors with new tires sped ahead.
These results made Truex angry, leading to heated radio talks with Small. When Truex yelled that Small’s car was “(expletive) terrible,” Small admitted that they had made a mistake with their strategy. In response, Truex said he didn’t want to do it and complained about how little they knew.
Truex had difficulty moving up the track for a big part of the race because he was stuck in the middle of the pack. He often lost ground during restarts, but he would carefully make up that ground in late laps.
Truex’s late return to the race was significant. He got back lost spots in the last 30 laps, which helped him finish ninth overall. Even so, he only has a two-point lead over his teammate Christopher Bell in the top four rankings with two races left in the semifinal playoff phase. Kyle Larson already has one of the highly sought-after spots in the Championship 4 thanks to his win on Sunday.
Truex thought about the race and said it was a tough fight. He admitted that they made a big mistake in strategy in Stage 2 that had a significant effect on their results. He talked a lot about how vital their late-race comeback was. A few well-timed restarts made it possible, and it helped them keep a good position and their playoff spot.
ALSO READ: Chase Elliott: Battling Fate on NASCAR’s Grand Stage
Our Reader’s Queries
Is Sherry Pollex still with Martin Truex?
Martin Truex Jr. and Sherry Pollex were in a relationship for over two decades before calling it quits in January 2023. However, their breakup occurred months before Pollex’s untimely passing, leaving many to question the reason behind their split. Despite their long-standing relationship, the couple decided to part ways, and the details surrounding their decision remain unknown.
Did Truex make the playoffs?
JGR had a tough day as Martin Truex Jr.’s pit-road penalty resulted in his elimination from contention. Additionally, Denny Hamlin’s third-place finish wasn’t enough to advance. Dale Jarrett and Nate Ryan discussed the challenges faced by the team.
Who does Ryan Truex drive for?
Joe Gibbs Racing has revealed its 2024 Xfinity Series lineup, which includes Ryan Truex. Truex, who secured his first major NASCAR win last season, will be driving the No. 19 Toyota GP Supra in a yet-to-be-disclosed number of races. This move shows that Truex is still a valuable asset to the team and that they have faith in his abilities to perform at a high level. Fans of Truex and Joe Gibbs Racing will undoubtedly be excited to see what the future holds for this talented driver.
Why is Truex starting in the back?
Martin Truex Jr. has been relegated to starting from the back of the pack for the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This is due to the fact that he failed pre-race inspection twice. The race is set to take place on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on NBCSN/NBC Sports app, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.