NASCAR has proven to the world how harsh it can be on drivers. One of the prime examples this year is Martin Truex Jr After breaking through to the round of 16 at the top of the driver standings, the No. 19 driver of Joe Gibbs’s luck ran out.  With abysmal performances marring his playoff run so far, it is somewhat of a surprise that he got to find himself a seat in the round of 8. As he goes to Las Vegas for his first race of the third stage, the former champion will be hoping to avoid mistakes from the past.

Glaring out of that list is the gamble that he took outside the poker table, the last time he raced in the city. The Pennzoil 400 from last March will still carry fresh wounds as the driver takes his flight to Vegas again.

Why not gamble when in the entertainment capital of the world?

Truex Jr’s visit to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March resulted in a P7 finish. Had it not been for a risk that his crew chief James Small took, he could have possibly ended up winning the race. The driver’s Camry was cruising at P4 with 4 laps to go for the checkered flag on the fateful day when the die was cast. When the last caution of the afternoon was flagged, the No. 19 team decided to keep their car on the field instead of bringing it in for a tire change like most of the other leaders were doing.

Restarting from the bottom, Truex Jr stayed in contention for the lead before William Byron left him behind in the dust. Making things worse, those with fresher tires did the same and the Joe Gibbs racer was left licking his wounds at P7. Talking to the media post-race, he seemed to have no regrets. He said, as reported by racer.com, “But all in all, it was a good gamble and a strong day by our Bass Pro Camry and all of our guys. At the end, we just took a gamble. (…) We’re in Vegas, we might as well roll the dice and like everybody says. We come here to gamble. I was proud of James for that.”

Regardless of his neutrality over the decision at the time, Truex Jr cannot afford to take a similar bet this time around. Being shoved into a harsh corner every weekend, it is about time he bounces back into contention for the trophy. Going easy on poor performances isn’t going to serve his cause anymore. For, he was the championship favorite for many including Dale Jr, a few weeks back.

Watch Story: Martin Truex Jr Expresses Frustration Over Team’s Performance

The 2017 Cup Series champion should capitalize on his Las Vegas momentum

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How much worse could a bad streak from a former Cup Series champion get? Truex Jr hasn’t finished in the top 15 in any of the latest 7 races. This disastrous run marks his worst performance since his debut full-time season. Thankfully, his immaculate success in the regular season has given him a life jacket to float with so far. Regardless of the lost form, the No. 19 driver could still take a perfect shot at the Championship 4. The three upcoming races are at destinations where he has been at his best in the past. In Vegas, he has a staggering 9 top-10 finishes in his last 10 appearances.

Should he take advantage of this momentum and limit his mistakes, he could very well fire his way to the victory lane. Talking to the media, he expressed the same positivity. Thinking forward about the upcoming tracks, he said, “They’re more straightforward. I feel like you could control your own destiny there. So, looking forward to that.” He sure sounded glad that the second stage was behind him.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Toyotas have been the fastest cars in NASCAR this year. Combining that speed with Truex Jr’s mastery of Vegas, Homestead, and Martinsville, he could easily convert results that would catapult him to Phoenix. Let’s catch a glimpse at Vegas, of what the 2023 season holds for him further!

“That Team Is Off” – Big Blow for Martin Truex Jr as Joe Gibbs Gets Sad Playoff News From NASCAR Insider