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After the rainbow, comes the rainbow’ is perhaps a familiar adage to sugarcoat the fact that good things await on the horizon after things have gone awry. On account of this, Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Martin Truex Jr. assuredly stands as a testament to that. After missing out on the playoffs last year, for the first time in his Cup Series career, the veteran proved that he still has that unsatisfied hunger left in him.

However, the rainbow that awaited the driver was a transient one. The rain, instead of ceasing, has now started pouring on the Cup Series driver. With the narrative shifting two weeks into the playoffs, Martin Truex Jr. has found himself in a precarious state as playoff rookie Bubba Wallace. While it is too early to decide the fate of Truex Jr., the driver believes that a curve ball awaits him for the third and final elimination race at Bristol.

Painful revelation by Martin Truex Jr., ahead of the elimination race

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A perennial playoff qualifier, the No. 19 Toyota failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in his career. However, the driver did not get cowed down, as Truex Jr. can boldly claim that it is a part of the past, a so-called distant memory. The No. 19 Toyota driver has been absolutely invincible in the 2023 regular season. Clinching numerous titles, including the regular season championship. Yet the success was short-lived for Truex Jr., as he failed to translate the same success story into the playoffs.

Instead of scoring another victory, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver seems to get entrenched further away from the championship after two fateful outings at Darlington and at Kansas. As a result, the former Cup Series champion found himself in the same spot as 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace, below the elimination line.

Although it is too early to comment on the fate of the driver, given the fact that no regular-season champion has missed out on the Round of 12, However, the probability of that materializing seems to be a reality now, especially after his thoughts on racing in Bristol, the elimination race.

In an interview, the JGR driver exclaimed about racing in Bristol, Bristol hasn’t been my favorite place, but we’ve had some good runs there, too. I think we’ve been competitive there over the years. It’s a place that’s tight and things happen fast there, so you have to be on your toes.”

“Always really excited to be a part of how great the crowd is there, and the fans love that place. Bass Pro Shops is the sponsor there again and they do a lot of cool stuff for the fans. Hoping we can have a strong run there for them and get to the next round of the playoffs. We’ll see how it plays out.”

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Bubba Wallace’s fate hangs by a thread ahead of Bristol

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The race at Bristol will indeed be a tough nut to crack for Martin Truex Jr., owing to his past results on the track. In 32 starts, the driver has clinched only four top 10s, which were recorded back in 2021.

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Nonetheless, the other driver who seemed to share a similar fate is Bubba Wallace. After outmaneuvering Chase Elliott, Wallace entered the postseason for the first time in his career. However, it seems that his success was short-lived after suffering tire damage in Kansas.

After conquering Kansas last year, Wallace finished second at the end of stage 1, but with a flat rear tire and a broken toe link, Wallace had to bid farewell to the race while his teammate took the chequered flag.

Read More: “I Don’t Know”: Dale Earnhardt Jr Shrouded in Anxiety as Yearly Traditions Inch Closer

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With that being said, Bristol would be a pivotal race for these two drivers. With dimly lit hope, it is to be seen if both of these drivers are able to change the tide or bite the dust.