NASCAR explains why Martin Truex Jr.’s crew was refused the opportunity to fix their car under DVP after Kansas crash

Martin Truex Jr.

Martin Truex Jr. (Via IMAGO)

A curveball was thrown during the recent NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway. Martin Truex Jr., the regular season champion, encountered a major setback just four laps into the race. A punctured tire sent the Joe Gibbs Racing driver crashing into the wall, leaving fans and fellow drivers stunned.

Truex, starting from third place, appeared poised for a strong performance. However, Lady Luck had other plans, as a blown right rear tire led to a collision with the Turn 3 wall. The impact was devastating, breaking his right front suspension and forcing him into an early retirement from the race. This abrupt exit left him with only 20 points in the first round of the playoffs, casting a shadow over his championship aspirations.

NASCAR fans were left puzzled when Truex’s car was towed to the garage instead of making a pit stop, effectively ending his day. However, Elton Sawyer, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition, provided insights into this seemingly controversial decision. He explained that it all revolved around NASCAR’s Damaged Vehicle Policy (DVP), instituted several years ago.

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Elton Sawyer, Senior Vice President of Competition, joined @SiriusXMNASCAR to discuss the circumstances around the No. 19 car at Kansas. pic.twitter.com/Am4VvLBcz4
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 12, 2023

Speaking on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio, “If our fans will remember a few years ago, maybe five or six, I believe, we put in the DVP policy, which is Damaged Vehicle Policy,” Sawyer clarified. Sawyer explained that contact with another car or the wall requires returning to the pit road under a seven-minute clock. “You have seven minutes to fix your car. Get back on the track. Meet minimum speed. Then, the clock clears,” he added.

Discover: WATCH: “Regular Season champ curse”- Fans gutted as Martin Truex Jr. crahes out of Kansas Playoffs race

Elton Sawyer concedes Martin Truex Jr.’s challenging predicament with empathy

Martin Truex Jr. (1) — Martin Truex Jr. at sonoma (Credits: @DennyDelivers/Twitter)

Sawyer emphasized, “If you’re not able to drive it back, then you’re done. How we arrived at that, more times than not, when you can’t drive it back, you’ve got a serious mechanical issue.” In Truex’s case, it was evident that his right front suspension was severely damaged, leaving the officials with no choice but to tow the car to the garage.

While the decision left Truex and his team frustrated, especially given the early stage of the race, Sawyer acknowledged their understanding of the rule. “Just in the heat of the moment, Lap 3. Obviously, they went into the Playoffs with a regular season championship, and accumulated quite a few points,” Sawyer noted. The VP noted their struggles in the first two races, leaving Bristol uncertain. He added, “So totally understand the frustration on their side, and they clearly understand the DVP rule.”

2023 marks the first time in NASCAR HISTORY that no driver has scored AT LEAST 17 top 10s in the first 28 races of the season.

Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr each have scored a series leading 15 top 10s thru 28 races. pic.twitter.com/Jr80CYnA4v
— Trey Ryan (@TreyRyan99) September 13, 2023

Truex’s championship journey now faces a precarious path as he heads into the next race at Bristol, needing a stellar performance to keep his title hopes alive. Sawyer ruefully noted that Martin Truex Jr., the regular season champion, faces a bitter reality as he finds himself below the cut-line for the Round of 12. To prolong his remarkable season, he must deliver a stellar performance at Bristol or face an unexpectedly premature exit.