NASCAR: For the first time this season, Martin Truex Jr. is the underdog

By Asher Fair | Nov 15, 2017

AVONDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 10: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Engergy NASCAR Cup Series Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 10, 2017 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) /

In the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami and for the first time in the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series, Martin Truex Jr. is the underdog.

Martin Truex Jr., 37, who has been a full-time driver in the NASCAR Cup Series for 12 seasons, has doubled his career win total so far this season, going from seven to 14 wins. He has been the top driver in the standings and in most measures for the overwhelming majority of the 2017 season, as he has dominated in the new stage racing format. He has the most wins, points, stage points and playoff points by far, and that has been the case for a while.

But in the Ford EcoBoost 400, which is the Championship 4 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida this Sunday that is set to determine who the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion will be, Truex Jr. will be the underdog for the first time this season.

Truex Jr. qualified for the Championship 4 based on his point total, as he did not win any of the three races in the Round of 8. However, he did have three wins in the six playoff races prior to the Round of 8. He is on a streak of four consecutive podium finishes, including a win at Kansas to end the Round of 12, and he has finished lower than 5th place just once in the nine playoff races so far this season.

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But again, while many people consider him the favorite, and the overwhelming favorite at that, Truex Jr. is the underdog on Sunday. Of the four Championship 4 drivers, Truex Jr. is the only one without a career Cup Series championship to his name already. Brad Keselowski won the title in 2012, Kevin Harvick won it in 2014 and Kyle Busch won it in 2015.

Truex Jr. was in the Championship 4 in 2015, but he finished in 4th place of the four Championship 4 drivers, which is actually his only career top 10 finish in the standings in his 11 career full-time Cup Series seasons prior to 2017.

Truex Jr.’s recent track history at Homestead-Miami Speedway isn’t great, either. In fact, his last three results at the track of 17th place in 2014, 12th in 2015 and 36th last season are his worst three results at the track in his career as a full-time Cup Series driver.

So while the track is a 1.5-mile oval and Truex Jr., has won six of the 10 races on 1.5-mile ovals so far this season, his recent history there is not great whatsoever. Plus, Homestead-Miami Speedway isn’t a typical 1.5-mile tri-oval like most of the 1.5-mile ovals that Truex Jr. has been dominant at are.

And of course, being the only Championship 4 driver without a career championship to his name already, Truex Jr. will be dealing with more pressure than the other three Championship 4 drivers will be dealing with on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Next: NASCAR Playoffs: Pros and Cons

Will Martin Truex Jr. be able to beat the three former NASCAR Cup Series champions he is racing against and win the 2017 championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida, a track he has not had recent success at, this Sunday, November 19th? Find out by tuning in to NBC to watch the Ford EcoBoost 400 live on that date at 3:00 PM ET.