HMS Legend Steve Letarte Puts His Bets on Martin Truex Jr and Toyota to Dominate at the Tricky Triangle

As the community heads to Pocono Raceway this week, the excitement has gone through the roof. With just hours left for the race, former Hendrick Motorsports crew chief and probably the sport’s best analyst, Steve Letarte, is back again with a solid prediction, picking the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas over the HMS Chevrolets. Speaking on the Dirty Mo Dough podcast, giving the NASCAR nation his take, the veteran chief picked the New Hampshire winner, Martin Truex Jr, teasing us fans about another exhilarating race on Sunday.

Offering a brief preview, Letarte picked the 2017 champ over his teammate, Denny Hamlin, who is arguably the best in the field,  to ace the tricky turns of Pocono to come out victorious. While he has good news for JGR fans, things don’t look quite good for Kyle Busch, as Letarte placed the 2-time champ in the top 10 but not in the top 5.

Steve Letarte picks Martin Truex Jr to ace The Tricky Triangle, followed by Hamlin

For Chevy and HMS fans, this certainly isn’t good news. While the community is eagerly eyeing the action at the 2.5-mile triangle-shaped oval, NBC commentator and popular analyst, Steve Letarte places his bets on veteran Martin Truex Jr., closely followed by fellow veteran, Denny Hamlin. Well, how can you say no?

After all, Truex Jr has steamrolled his way into the playoffs, facing the NHMS, reclaiming his #1 spot from HMS driver, William Byron, and dominating the 253 laps of the 301-lap race last week. And Letarte feels like this isn’t the last time we are about to witness another glorious run from the 42-year-old.

“Drum roll please, here we go, the predictor says, let me guess, Toyota top. I would say Truex(Martin Truex Jr), Hamlin(Denny Hamlin) probably got to be in top 3 of the predictor, Kyle Larson is gonna be up there,” said the 44-year-old commentator. Letarte, who gave away his picks, then went on to reveal the rest.

While he placed the JGR Toyotas in the top 5, Letarte picked “Rowdy” Kyle Busch to be in the top 10 but outside the top 5 spots.

“I have Kyle Busch maybe 5th or 7th on the predictor although I think he’s gonna run a little better, I’d have Harvick(Kevin Harvick) right outside the top 5,” he said placing Stewart-Haas Racing‘s Kevin Harvick in the top 10. The veteran then concluded his take, saying, “Bell’s(Christopher Bell) high, yeah I feel pretty good, I feel like it’s going to Joe Gibbs Racing, Kyle Larson, William Byron- top 5, just outside top 5- Kyle Busch, Harvick, maybe Chastain(Ross Chastain). 

While Steve Letarte named his picks, things can go either side as Denny Hamlin has the most number of wins at the Tricky Triangle.

READ MORE: Chase Elliott Reveals Wild Secret About Denny Hamlin After He Was Disqualified From the Win Last Year

JGR driver, Denny Hamlin’s indomitable streak at Pocono

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Well, you don’t call him, “the best to never win a championship” for nothing. Despite coming within his grasp, the title has eluded veteran Denny Hamlin. Being in the sport for close to 18 years, the 42-year-old is still chasing his title despite having a stellar steak at Pocono, aced the 2.5 tricky triangles a whopping 6 times, and finished the race in the top 10, 21 times out of 33 starts here.

Though Letarte has MTJ as the victor, winning Sunday’s race. The unofficial numbers favor Hamlin at +500, followed by Truex Jr. at +600 whereas Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson are a +700 betting favorite to be in the top 5, followed by William Byron at +900.

While the odds look to favor the veterans, the odds also favor JGR’s young prospect, Christopher Bell with +1200 placing him in the mid-tier with 23XI Racing‘s road racing sensation, Tyler Reddick. With just hours left for the race, who do you think will ace The Tricky Triangle? Will Hamlin make it his 7th win or will Truex Jr continue his dominating run?

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