Could Martin Truex Jr Join Teammate Denny Hamlin and Hendrick Motorsports Legend Jeff Gordon in an Elite List?

With the 2023 season officially underway, Martin Truex Jr drew first blood. This was when he won the Clash at the Los Angeles Coliseum last weekend. Now, the #19 driver will aim to carry that momentum forward into this weekend’s Daytona 500. If he does somehow beat the odds and win the race, he could potentially join an elite club. Truex Jr has the chance to be one of six drivers to win the Clash and the Daytona 500 in the same year.

The first one to achieve it was Bobby Allison in the 1982 season. Five years later, Bill Elliott clinched victory at the Clash and the Daytona 500. He was followed by Dale Jarrett in 1996 and 2000, Jeff Gordon in 1997, and Denny Hamlin in 2016. Honestly speaking, it is difficult to win two races on the trot, but not impossible. Admittedly, Truex Jr has never won the Daytona 500, but better late than never.

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Can Martin Truex Jr win his first ever Daytona 500?

Given that the Joe Gibbs Racing team has frequently won this iconic race, Truex Jr is definitely capable of winning. However, he has just been incredibly unlucky to miss out every time. The closest he ever came was a second place in 2016, when he raced for Furniture Row Racing. Incidentally, that was the same race that Hamlin won, and the JGR driver also triumphed at the Clash race.

Of course, there is no way of knowing who will win the race. After all, qualifying has yet to take place, and that could play a major factor in contributing to a potential win. If Martin Truex Jr can bag pole position or qualify high up the order, the battle is half won, and his job is a lot easier. Only time will tell once qualifying is wrapped up in a neat little bow, and the grid positions are decided.

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