NASCAR: Five Drivers Most Likely To Disappoint In 2017

Jul 1, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (L) talks with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (R) during qualifying for the Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 6, 2016; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (78) during the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Martin Truex Jr.

After his 2015 and 2016 seasons there should be little reason to believe that Martin Truex Jr. will not win multiple races in 2017 and potentially make it back to the final-four in the Chase, a place he was at as recently as a couple of seasons ago.

The issue for Truex Jr. and his team is two-fold.

One, how is Truex and his team going to deal with high expectations? It’s one thing coming into a season where you had a win and overachieved in the eyes of many the season before. Now Truex is coming into a season being viewed as the guy who should be winning multiple races and contending for a title. Expectations can often times lead to disappointment.

The other issue at play here is the addition of Erik Jones to Furniture Row Racing. Nobody seems to think that adding a car to the mix is going to change anything since JGR is so closely associated with the project. NASCAR is filled with plenty of stories involving teams struggling when they add a car to their stable.

I’m not saying Truex flops in 2017, but I am saying there will be times he struggles and that he will not meet expectations, thus disappointing his excited fans.

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