Right when someone is running up front, someone else could make an ingenious pit stop to get a 4-tire change and beat the leader to grab the checkered flag. Such is the nature of racing. Moments away from the start-finish, tables could be turned; stories could be overwritten. We say something similar during Sunday’s South Point 400, where Martin Truex Jr. decided to go with crew chief James Small’s pit strategy. However, for him that backfired, and ultimately the #19 driver ended up with a 9th-place finish.

Now, his JGR teammate, Denny Hamlin, has revealed why an otherwise great strategy proved to be detrimental for the Joe Gibbs Racing speedster.

Denny Hamlin shed light on the heartbreaking reality of NASCAR pit strategies

When winning is the need of the hour and all the cars are almost similar in terms of specifications and components, it all comes down to strategies. As the yellow flag came out demarcating Stages 1 and 2, James Small made the call to leave Martin Truex Jr running on the track, rather than calling him into the pit lane. The result? Everyone else took advantage of their fresh tires and although Truex got to keep his first top 15 finish since Watkins Glen International in August, it wasn’t enough for him to advance into the Championship 4.

Initially, Truex wasn’t sure if that was the right call to make, as he seemed to be in a dilemma. Denny Hamlin admitted that while both of them were in the pit road, Truex maintained half a car length on both sides, giving himself the option to pull out on the racetrack or pull down to the pit lane. He said, “He was very wishy-washy.”

Denny, however, didn’t feel like it was a bad strategy. The other drivers who stayed out on the track with two fresh tires were able to capitalize on them, unlike Martin Truex Jr. So where did it go wrong for the 2017 Cup Series champion?

“The problem with staying out is you need to stay up front. Because you get swallowed up really fast on restarts. It just keeps getting worse. It probably seems like a great call if 3 or 4 others stay,” Hamlin said in his Actions Detrimental podcast, “Sometimes the right call is dependent on what the others do. Sometimes, it’s not your call.”

Truex must have found some solace after getting a top-10 finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Getting in on stage points is not a slim chance for the number 19 team solely because they’ve been the regular season points champion and they do have a bag full of bonus points. However, it’s safe to say that the best shot for them at the Championship title for them is to win.

Watch this story: NASCAR Fans Savagely Trash Denny Hamlin for Wrecking Himself at Sonoma

But can they win? Can they rebound from the slump they are in right now and grab the victory at Homestead Miami or even at Martinsville? Denny Hamlin surely remained hopeful.

Denny Hamlin is not ready to give up on his teammate

Trending

Exclusive: After Kyle Busch & Denny Hamlin’s Criticism of $5 Million NASCAR Decision, Crew Chief Admits to Feeling “Lost” at Talladega

April 27, 2024 09:08 AM EDT

Exclusive: Michael McDowell Reportedly the “Snitch” Who Got NASCAR Team Kicked Out at Talladega

April 26, 2024 07:44 PM EDT

“They Won’t Return Phone Calls “-Dale Jr’s Legendary Short Track Star Reveals NASCAR’s Dark Side Amid Diminishing Interest

April 26, 2024 12:56 PM EDT

“Everyone Left Me for Dead”: Shane van Gisbergen Unmasks Suffering From ‘Trust Issues’ in NASCAR

April 23, 2024 03:49 PM EDT

“Real Erik Died in the Hospital”- NASCAR’s Shady Involvement Sniffed after Injured LMC Star’s Shocking Next Gen Defense

April 27, 2024 07:36 PM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest NASCAR stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Martin Truex Jr now sits third on points just behind Hendrick Motorsports duo Kyle Larson and William Byron, with 4070 points. Moving on to Homestead-Miami Speedway, the 43-year-old Stafford native has a win previously with Furniture Row Motorsports at the 1.5-mile intermediate oval back in 2017. Moreover, he also has three top 3 finishes there, two of which are top 5s.

Good news for the MTJ fans, the Toyota pilot and three wins at Martinsville Speedway, besides 3 top-10s, 2 of which are top-5s. Hence, there are solid chances for Martin Truex Jr to grab a priceless win that could get him his chance at capturing his second Cup Series championship.

Teammate Denny Hamlin said, “I’ve been saying (it) on this podcast for weeks now, just think that the 19 team’s gonna flip a switch and are gonna be there. I still believe it, until they don’t make the next round I still believe it.”

However, he felt like the team lacked their usual luster. “The Mojo they had, they don’t have that,” he added.

Denny Hamlin Takes a Mean Jab At His Championship Drought As NASCAR Insider Hopes to “Eventually Get it Right”