Each week, Cup Series drivers navigate the track amidst the roar of 40-odd engines, fighting it out for positions at mind-boggling speeds. In the rush, communication between the driver and the crew chief can make or break a race, and sometimes, it can get heated.

Martin Truex Jr and his crew chief James Small had one such moment during the Cup race at the Dover Motor Speedway when Small told Truex Jr to “Shut the f**k up” over the radio.

Truex Jr’s crew chief makes a 7-word admission to clarify his remark

The comment, which was caught on the radio, caused a stir among fans and media alike. During the post-race press conference, Small was asked about the incident and he flat out offered a seven-word admission to clarify his remark.

The #19 crew chief for Joe Gibbs Racing went on to explain, “He was killing me through the middle there.” He said that Truex Jr misunderstood the situation during the second stage. Small believed that they were gaining time, but Truex Jr may have thought they were losing time. He also stated that they had a plan, which they stuck to and it ultimately led to a fourth-place finish in that stage.

Small later clarified that his outburst wasn’t personal but a part of the usual intense communication between the driver and the crew chief during a race. He said, “It’s normal you know. I’m fairly emotional […] but he was killing me through the middle there, because you know, it’s hard. He can’t see what’s happening in the race as well with the other cars and the lap times and everything, and I think he thought that in that second stage there where we ran longer and all that, that we actually lost a lot of time.

“But we gained time and you could see where it was going to go and obviously we came from the back after our issue on the pit road and all the way to fourth in that stage so we had a plan and stuck to it and I already apologized to him for getting on his a**.”

Truex Jr acknowledged that the crew chief’s job is tough and appreciated Small’s efforts to keep the team focused during the race. Their heated exchange did not escalate and, in fact, helped him keep his focus and drive to the win. The incident is a reminder that communication in high-pressure situations can be intense, but it is essential to keeping true to the strategy, and it is what helped Truex Jr end the drought.

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Martin Truex Jr ends 54-race winless streak with victory in Dover

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After a winless 2022 season, Martin Truex Jr ended his 54-race winless streak in the Cup Series. He held off Ross Chastain in the closing laps of the race to earn his fourth career victory at the track.

Truex Jr’s win comes after missing the NASCAR Playoffs in 2022 for the first time in eight years. The win is a much-needed boost for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver and his team, who have been struggling to find success for a long time. Interestingly, this was Truex Jr’s third victory in a Monday race in Dover.

The win also completed a family weekend sweep, as Truex Jr’s brother, Ryan, took the checkered in the Xfinity race on Saturday.

Martin Truex Jr’s win is a significant moment for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver and the #19 team, and they will use it as motivation for the rest of the season.

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