Dale Earnhardt Jr. predicts Martin Truex Jr.’s Round-16 elimination
Dale Earnhardt Jr. expects two former NASCAR Cup champions to get eliminated from the 2024 playoff Round of 16.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. (Via IMAGO)
The 2024 NASCAR Cup season has been a year of disappointments for Martin Truex Jr., who came into the season with the hopes of winning the title. Him later announcing it will be his retirement season put more pressure on his shoulders, with fans expecting more from the veteran on his final season.
He is currently 14 points away from the playoff Round-16 cut-off line and considering his current form, he might fail to make it to the next-round. Martin Truex Jr. hasn’t won a since race the start of the season and has scored just two top 10 finishes since July. NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. sees R-16 the maximum he could secure in 2024.
Junior made the predictions via his podcast and names four-five drivers who are going out. His first and obvious pick is Harrison Burton and then he chose Truex Jr., two drivers with the most point gap to the base line. Then he chose Chase Briscoe, claiming Denny Hamlin will get the better of him at Bristol and for the final slot he sees a fight between Ty Gibbs and Brad Keselowski.
Harrison Burton will have a hard time going in and making up 20 points. I honestly don’t think [Martin] Truex gets it done. Minus 14, that’s a bit of a tall order. I believe Chase Briscoe will struggle to not get kicked out by a Denny Hamlin. Can Denny go in there and make the six points up on Chase Briscoe? Yes. And then I think it’s a bit of a toss-up between Ty Gibbs and Brad Keselowski.Dale Earnhardt Jr. said via Happy Hour podcast.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. explains the close fight between Ty Gibbs and Brad Keselowski
Just like Martin Truex Jr. youngster Ty Gibbs is another driver who made it into the playoff on points but is now struggling. He is barely out of the elimination mark alongside 2012 Cup champion Brad Keselowski. There is a huge possibility that only one of them will get it to the next round.
While giving his verdict on the same, Dale Jr. pointed out that the ones who will maximize his point finish at Bristol will make it to the next-round. Gibbs has more to lose and Keselowski will only make it if the No:54 Camry driver messes up in the first two stages.
I don’t think Brad beats Denny, but Brad could possibly outpoint Ty Gibbs. Ty’s gonna have to struggle. It’ll be important Ty does not do well in Stage 1 and 2. to give Brad that shot.Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.
It will be interesting to see how the last race of the playoff will playout for the two drives, who are at the very opposite ends of their career. It will all come down to having a perfect weekend on the track as well off of it.
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Justin P Joy
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