Martin Truex Jr could have become the third Joe Gibbs Racing driver with at least one race win in the 2024 Cup Series season at Richmond. But as his teammate Denny Hamlin gave JGR their third victory in seven races, the spotlight fell on the #11 and #19 Toyotas tussling at the restart zone in overtime. Denny’s much-talked-about “Jumpman” advantage may have been the weekly headline within the NASCAR community. 

However, nearly a one-second pit stop differential before the final restart had already sealed the #11 driver’s controversial victory in Virginia and MTJ was certainly “frustrated” knowing the speed came by his former pit crew.

Martin Truex Jr’s former crew now fuels #11’s victories

Did Truex Jr miss out on a confirmed victory at Richmond? That can be deemed as debatable, but he indeed has missed out on podium finishes significant times this season. In his last five outings, MTJ’s worst placement has been a P10 at COTA. It is safe to say that amidst the shining stars of the JGR stable, Martin Truex Jr stands out with his own aura. 

However, the shift of highly skilled crew members from the #19 team to the #11 team has sparked questions. Especially, considering Denny’s advantage over MTJ in the pits, under the race’s last caution. 

Answering the media over a much talked about aspect, Truex Jr stated in a recent Twitter update by Bob Pockrass, “Yeah, I mean it hurts. It’s frustrating. (#19 team) been working their guts out trying to fix it, trying to get better. It’s not an overnight process so… Unfortunately, it cost us the race last weekend and hopefully, fingers crossed moving forward we can get past that, and do what we need to do. We’re gonna be in a position to win a lot more races but it’s tough when you give them away, they never come back…“

The dust has truly settled on Richmond as we head into Martinsville, but Denny’s crew chief had some interesting claims to lay over the ongoing discussions over race day rosters.

Crew Chief defends Hamlin’s restart

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With over a decade of experience in NASCAR’s highest echelons, Chris Gabehart has been the real X Factor for Denny Hamlin’s impressive, albeit unsuccessful championship advances since 2019.

In a recent discussion with SiriusXM’s NASCAR radio, Gabehart had disregarded all the outcry over a possible penalty for his driver after Richmond. Speaking on the shared flaws of “four veterans,” in the face of Denny’s ‘pressured’ restart, Gabehart had said, “They (#19, #22, #5) were all laying back trying to time a run, and that is also something that NASCAR says you cannot do.”

Nevertheless, with the Cook Out 400 peeking on the horizon on Sunday, #19 and #11 have made up, and either could land a victory for JGR in Martinsville.

Denny Hamlin’s Crew Chief Revolts Against Possible Penalty With a 9-Word Demand From NASCAR