The fight for a spot in the playoffs is in full swing, with only seven races remaining for the conclusion of the 2023 regular season. While the No.1 spot on NASCAR’s Cup Series standings may remain unchanged for the most part, the action below has and will be quite intriguing. Accumulating three wins this season, Kyle Busch saw himself catapult from the lower ranks to the 3rd position, tailing Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr by 15 points.

With Busch steadily closing the gap on the leaderboards, the race for the regular-season championship title has intensified. Speaking on the developments at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Martin Truex Jr accidentally let slip his plan.

What does Martin Truex Jr have on his mind?

It’s just a matter of time before the regular-season championship comes to an end and a new regular-season champion is announced. William Byron has a strong lead with a total of 628 points, followed by Truex Jr and Kyle Busch. Having already cemented their spots in the playoffs, the top 3 drivers are now eyeing the regular season title, but for a different reason altogether. 

Talking to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, ahead of the New Hampshire race, Martin Truex Jr blurted out his strategy, saying, “It’s a big deal for all of us; 15 points is a lot of bonus points, so that’s really what we’re all after.” 

For context, winning the regular-season championship title will not only warrant a massive trophy but will also award the champion 15 bonus points, which is equivalent to winning three races. This bonus will then be added to the playoff points, providing the regular-season champ an edge over others in the Cup Series championship. This wouldn’t be the first time the JGR star has used a similar strategy. During the 2017 season, Martin Truex Jr had four wins prior to the playoff races which saw him bag the regular-season championship. Assisted by the 15-point bonus, Truex Jr then went on grab his first-ever Cup Series championship title.

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While Truex Jr has his eyes set on the bonus points, championship rivals William Byron and Kyle Busch too have similar thoughts.

All eyes on the regular-season prize

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As the JGR #19 star revealed his plans, the other top contenders too had similar strategies. During the pre-race presser ahead of the rescheduled Crayon 301 event, Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron said, “Obviously it’s a big deal. We just have to control it with the way we perform. Certainly those bonus points are really important.” 

In agreement with the bonus point strategy of his rivals, Kyle Busch added, “I was looking at [points] about race two or three. I think you always try to keep a pulse on it.”

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Slated to start the Crayon 301 from the second spot on the grid, can Martin Truex Jr claim the New Hampshire title?