Martin Truex Jr’s title aspirations came crashing down as the veteran, along with his teammate Denny Hamlin, had to bow out miserably in the playoff finisher at Martinsville. Entering Sunday’s race, both Joe Gibbs Racing veterans’ situation was dire. It was a make-it-or-break-it scenario, requiring the drivers to win in order to advance further into the final race in Phoenix.

Unfortunately for them, it was the end of the line as both Truex Jr and Hamlin got eliminated in the final playoff race. After an abysmal performance in Miami last week that got the duo in a precarious situation in the first place, JGR’s misery continued as the team’s senior-most drivers made their exit, leaving the #20 as the only Toyota in the final 4.

Reflecting on the disappointing end, Truex Jr spoke his mind, mentioning how a pit-lane incident got the #19 further back while he detailed his team’s ill fate.

Martin Truex Jr painfully reflects on the Martinsville disappointment that squashed his title aspirations

Entering the playoff finisher, the JGR veteran needed to overcome a 17-point deficit to advance further into the final race in Phoenix. The scene was in similar lines to Denny Hamlin who also entered the race on a 17-point deficit. Martin Truex Jr did his best, winning the pole and getting himself a head start.

Unfortunately, that just wasn’t enough as a pit-lane incident got the driver on the backfoot. Despite leading the first 45 laps of the race, a pit road speeding ticket on the 219th lap of the race got the #19 driver in a rut as he went from being in the 2nd spot going all the way down to the 22nd.

Reflecting on the disappointing performance, the 42-year-old said, “We gave it a hell of an effort I feel like we had a really strong car, I don’t think we could beat the #12. He was really really strong but we were definitely close, something to work on for next time but just really disappointed you know.”

He further added, relaying his obvious dismay, saying, “I thought I was well under the speed leaving that box and you know clearly we’re speeding so obviously we had something to look out there, it was devastating yeah that’s racing.” 

From being the regular season champion to having the most miserable of playoffs, the last two months have been a downward spiral for Truex Jr and the #19 team. He further talked about “problem after problem” that he has had to endure.

“Execution hasn’t been solid”: Truex Jr gets brutally honest as his title hopes go down in flames

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Martin Truex Jr’s downfall this season is one that would make any racing fan tear up. The regular season champion had a spectacular run, clinching 3 poles and 3 wins on his way to the playoffs. Unlike last season, when he couldn’t enter the playoffs for the first time since 2014, the veteran’s initial run this year made him the favorite to win the title.

WATCH THIS STORY: The unfortunate gamble: Martin Truex Jr’s NASCAR Cup playoff upset 

However once the action reached the playoff stages, the #19 JGR car’s weakness was apparent. While a series of bad luck and misfortune did the driver dirty including some tire cuts and engine failures, the team’s inconsistent pit crew and the driver’s inability to finish races slowly started eating away the momentum.

And by the time the playoff action reached its zenith at Martinsville, Truex Jr was below the cutline. Thus putting the driver in a do-or-die situation. Speaking on the post-race interview, he reflected on the #19’s ill fate. He said, “We’ve been fast at times, but execution hasn’t been solid, hasn’t been consistent. We’ve had some bad luck. We’ve had a little bit of everything.”

“Like I said, some years it feels like it’s your year, some years it feels like it’s not. I just feel we couldn’t do anything right. If it was ever a 50/50 call, it always went against us. A blown engine, a flat tire, you name it—problem after problem. Just kept setting us back, and we couldn’t get no momentum. I think we did a great job today. It was a tiny little error, 0.2mph can ruin your whole year, unfortunately,” said the veteran as he painfully admitted his mistake.

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