This year’s regular season champion Martin Truex Jr. getting knocked out in the first round of the playoffs is a big storyline in the making. With an 18th-place finish in Darlington and a DNF in Kansas, Truex currently sits below the cutline with everything coming down to Bristol. And if his teammate Denny Hamlin is to be believed, it could go either way.
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Hamlin touched on the nature of the sport as he shared his thoughts on his teammate’s fate. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver also claimed that this nature of NASCAR gets amplified in a format such as the playoffs, which might just ruin Truex’s stellar campaign in which he has won 3 times.
Denny Hamlin on the uncertain nature of NASCAR
During a recent episode of his podcast show, Hamlin emphasized the uncertain nature of the sport as he made a point about his teammate. “It never goes how you think it is,” Hamlin said.
“I asked on this episode a few weeks ago, when it comes to the Cup class, who in the top 8 is not going to make it? ZERO said Martin Truex (Jr.)”
Hamlin claimed that while Truex can go out at Bristol, run really well, and put himself above the cut line, but still, “you just never know.” He explained, “It never goes as planned because this is such a small sample size of playoff, these three race cutoffs, that you just never know.”
“It just takes two bad weeks and BAM! You’re out.”
Truex was hopeful of a good result in Kansas after an 18th place finish in Darlington
Heading into Kansas after an underwhelming 18th-place finish in the playoff opener at Darlington, Martin Truex Jr. was equal measures self-critical and hopeful about the race ahead of him in Kansas. “I didn’t do a good job last weekend,” he said. As for the race in Kansas, the #19 driver claimed he feels “great” about it, that they’re in “a great spot”, and all they needed to do was just go out and execute.
Of course, we know now how his day in Kansas went. Truex’s race ended pretty early because of an issue with his tire.
So now, all will be decided in Bristol for Truex Jr. Could we be on the verge of losing a regular season champion in the very first round of playoffs? Or could Truex bounce back in Bristol?
Perhaps the answer lies in Denny Hamlin’s words – “You just never know.”
