Martin Truex Jr set an example for exemplary racing throughout the regular season. The #19 Joe Gibbs Racing driver could do no wrong with multiple wins and stupendous finishes. Unfortunately, when the playoffs began, the strongest championship contender suddenly couldn’t do anything right!

As NASCAR analysts and fans watched with bewilderment, Truex Jr landed in colossal disasters in the first two playoff races. Now, with the Joe Gibbs Racing driver at the brink of elimination, NASCAR insiders have revealed the only possible way he could survive at the Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend and move forward.

Racing experts identify regular championship advantage for Martin Truex Jr

The 2017 Cup Series champion, in his tenure, has almost perfected the art of gliding smoothly into the playoffs. This season he registered three wins in three different months at Dover, Sonoma, and New Hampshire. With nine Top 5 and fifteen Top 10 performances, there was hardly a race where Martin Truex Jr wasn’t busy collecting points.

Alas, even the mighty fall in the face of misfortune. The #19 Toyota Camry sustained one issue after another in both Darlington and Kansas racetracks. The ace driver failed to overcome mechanical and pit road issues and slid 7 points below the cut-off line for the next round.

Thankfully for his fans, racing journalists Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi saw a ray of light in Truex Jr’s growing playoff darkness. In an interview for The Athletic, Bianchi reminded the buffer Truex Jr still carried by winning the regular season championship.

Jordan Bianchi explained, “Considering he was many people’s pick to win the title, it would be a huge shocker to see Truex bounced out of the playoffs this early. But that’s the cruelty of this format where two poor finishes within a round can derail what otherwise was a terrific season. The good news for him is that by winning the regular season championship he earned 15 additional bonus points, which are now quite useful as he fights to stave off elimination.”

Watch This Story: $3.6 Billion Tire Company’s Blunder Cost Martin Truex Jr His Shot at Another Title

Despite this advantage, the seasoned analysts were cautious about Truex’s outcome.

NASCAR insiders advise Martin Truex Jr against winning the Bristol race

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Over the years, Martin Truex Jr has registered skillful finishes, regardless of the temperament of the racetrack. However, Bristol Motor Speedway would count itself as a rare exception. He couldn’t win a single time in 32 races driven in Bristol. Moreover, there were only two Top 5 and four Top 10 finishes on the racetrack in his entire career.

Nevertheless, if the #19 driver pushed past that sordid history, he could overcome his seven-point deficit and start afresh in the second round. But Gluck and Bianchi warned him against making reckless moves for a win. They believed stage points and a mid-level finish should be enough to cross the playoff mark once again.

Continuing in the interview, Bianchi said, “The deficit Truex has could realistically be overcome after the completion of Stage 1, meaning his best path forward Saturday is to be smart, avoid unnecessary risks and let the race unfold for the first two stages. Then depending on the situation, he can adjust his strategy accordingly in the third and final stage.”

Martin Truex Jr.s’ Protégé Lets Fans Imagination Run Wild Amid Joe Gibbs’ Heartbreak

And you never know, the ghost of regular season Truex could pay him a visit to fly past the checkered flag. Then, the second round would start with a good note for him.  This weekend couldn’t come soon enough for fans of Martin Truex Jr fans.