Martin Truex Jr.'s final playoff run comes to an end at Bristol

NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Martin Truex Jr.'s final NASCAR playoff run comes to an end at Bristol

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Sep 21, 2024 10:38 PM ET

In his final full-time NASCAR Cup Series season, Martin Truex Jr. will not win his second championship.

The 2017 champion was eliminated from the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs on Saturday at Bristol. After entering the Round of 16 elimination race 14 points below the cut line, a fourth-place qualifying effort and a strong run had Truex Jr. in line to potentially advance to the Round of 12.

After earning 16 stage points in Stages 1 and 2, however, a speeding penalty derailed Truex Jr.'s day, relegating him to the back of the pack.

PENALTY: The No. 19 car was too fast on pit road and will restart at the tail of the field. #NASCARPlayoffs
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 22, 2024

Being mired in traffic proved extremely detrimental to Truex's playoff hopes, with race leader Kyle Larson eventually putting Truex a lap down.

.@MartinTruex_Jr's odds of advancing are dwindling. @KyleLarsonRacin puts the No. 19 car a lap down. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/pLZhBeWnkz
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 22, 2024

Truex's 24th-place finish at Bristol continues an abysmal stretch for Truex and the No. 19 team that rivals their postseason meltdown from a season ago. Over the last eight races, Truex's best finish is a paltry 20th at Watkins Glen, with Pocono on July 14 being the team's last top-10 finish.

Truex hasn't finished inside the top 10 in consecutive races since Dover and Kansas on April 28 and May 5, respectively.

The future Hall of Famer still has seven more chances to win a race with his team and end his full-time driving career on a high note, but he won't be able to make a run at a second Cup Series title.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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