NASCAR Cup Series: 5 playoff drivers who are in jeopardy
By Asher Fair
NASCAR playoff drivers in jeopardy: No. 2 – Martin Truex Jr.
Speaking of Martin Truex Jr., he too is at risk of missing the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, something he hasn’t done since 2014.
Despite the fact that he sits in sixth place in the point standings, he currently occupies the 16th and final playoff spot and could be at risk of losing it if a new winner emerges.
Truex sits 25 points behind Ryan Blaney for the other spot currently open behind the 14 winners. He could, of course, lock himself in by winning, and he could also do so by passing Blaney for that spot, even if a new winner emerges.
But making up a 25-point gap is a tall task for a driver who has zero career superspeedway wins. It’s an even taller task when you consider the fact that Blaney is a driver who owns three superspeedway wins since 2019 alone and won the Coke Zero Sugar 400 last year.
Interestingly, just like Blaney would clinch a playoff spot if Truex wins, since the next closest non-winner cannot possibly make up enough points to pass either driver, Truex would clinch a playoff spot if Blaney wins.
However, Truex will miss the playoffs and end up battling for 17th place in the championship standings, as opposed to a second title, if another new winner emerges and he finishes behind Blaney in points.
Both can’t miss the playoffs together, but neither one has clinched a spot.