It goes without saying how a minuscule mistake could turn out to be disastrous going into the playoffs. While the stakes couldn’t get higher, Joe Gibbs Racing faced an unfortunate situation during the race at Darlington. In fact, the incident turned out to be beneficial for Denny Hamlin and not so much for Martin Truex Jr.

Three of JGR’s four drivers made it to the final 16 in the 2023 campaign. While that was a major boost, there have been some concerns regarding how the team has gone about their business.

Denny Hamlin received a major boost to his championship ambitions during the race at Darlington

Going into the playoffs, only four drivers had 20 or more playoff points to their names. This included joint leaders Martin Truex Jr. (36 points) and Denny Hamlin (25 points). While both drivers have been very impressive, Hamlin has been quite keen on making this good run count this campaign.

After 19 years of racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, the 42-year-old has yet to have a championship title to his name. While that’s unfortunate, Hamlin looks more hungry than ever in the 2023 season. Having said that, his biggest hurdle lies within his team, i.e., Martin Truex Jr.’s amazing run this year.

It is no secret that Denny Hamlin would be wishing well for Truex Jr., but in the end, every racer is a competitor now. In the first playoff race at Darlington, the Florida-born driver received a major boost after the 2017 Cup Series champion faced an unexpected hurdle on the track.

Throughout this season, Joe Gibbs and his team have struggled with their pit problems. One such issue was witnessed on Sunday when the No. 19 team let down the New Jersey-born driver. A loose wheel resulted in an extra pit stop for the 43-year-old.

What was more frustrating was that it cost him two laps. This act only adds more misery to JGR’s on-track woes. Earlier in the race, Christopher Bell faced a similar issue with his pit crew. Such uncalled-for problems could cost Joe Gibbs and his team big time in the playoffs.

READ MORE – 4-Time Winner Denny Hamlin Ready To Create History at Darlington Against Unfavorable Odds

Naturally, Martin Truex Jr. was left frustrated with this incident as he sighed, “F***ing wonderful”. In fact, it was not just him; even the fans vented their anger on social media.

Joe Gibbs’ team’s silly mistake at Darlington leaves the fans frustrated

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Undoubtedly, Martin Truex Jr. has looked phenomenal this season. While his aggressive and smart racing has earned him a lot of plaudits, he stands a great chance of doubling his championship tally. However, mistakes like the one at Darlington could cost him dearly.

Joe Gibbs’ team failed to fit a wheel properly, which has to be a basic requirement. Naturally, this angered the fans as they vented out their frustration on Twitter.

“I was angry about the loose wheel until I saw this. However, do better guys. Let’s go! I guess that it could’ve been worse, though. He could’ve had a screw loose. Now, that would be a tough condition to work with.”

“Come on!: Gotta do better! Go Truex!”

WATCH THIS STORY: Denny Hamlin swears loyalty away from Joe Gibbs during contract discussions.

“Oh look. Pit crew saved its mistakes for playoffs again. Just like the two playoff runs after he won championship. Truex has to be tired of this crap!”

“That’s what’s been fun about tonight is seeing who makes the mistakes to start the playoffs. It’s gonna be an unforgiving night since there aren’t cautions to get laps back or to regroup and make up lost spots.”

“Regular season advantage wiped with one move if it ended like this.”

Truex Jr had a stellar advantage compared to others going into the playoffs. Such mishaps aren’t going to serve his purpose one bit. Hopefully, Joe Gibbs will take some strict actions to ensure a smoother experience next time around.