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

The 2023 NASCAR Cup playoffs have dealt a crushing blow to the reigning Regular Season Champion, Martin Truex Jr. With back-to-back races that can only be described as heartbreaking, Truex now finds himself teetering on the edge of playoff elimination. What was once a comfortable 36-point cushion has dwindled to a seven-point deficit from the playoff cutoff line, leaving fans wondering if his hopes of advancing to the Round of 12 are slipping away.

The rollercoaster of emotions for Truex began at Kansas Speedway, where his day took an unexpected and devastating turn as early as lap four of the race. Despite starting from a promising third-place qualifying position, Truex’s aspirations were dashed when a blown right rear tire sent his No. 19 Camry careening into a brutal collision with the Turn 3 wall. This impact broke his right front suspension, and he had to retire from the race.

The incident left Truex frustrated and profoundly disappointed, as he had harbored high hopes for a standout performance. He confessed to sensing that something was awry with the car right from the start of the race, struggling with difficulties in turning and experiencing tightness in the corners. Nevertheless, Truex’s unwavering optimism and faith in his team’s capabilities shone through in his post-race remarks.

Yet, beneath his hopeful facade, the anguish of missing out on a potential race win was palpable. Truex’s words resonated with the heartache of a former champion who believed victory was within reach, lamenting, “We had an awesome car today. I really felt we could go out and win this race, and for that to happen, it just sucks.” 

Discover: Martin Truex Jr. laments his bad luck after Kansas crash, says it was ‘a real punch in the gut’

Fans flood in with the ‘playoffs implication’ replies

As footage of this incident spread across the internet, fans poured out their sympathy and sorrow for Truex’s back-to-back disappointments. The comments section was flooded with discussions about the far-reaching implications for his playoff journey. However, one astute fan drew a striking parallel to the 2020 misfortune of Kevin Harvick during the Round of 8.

In the latter stages of the 2020 NASCAR season, Kevin Harvick displayed remarkable prowess, securing the regular-season championship with an impressive seven victories. Yet, his playoff aspirations were cruelly dashed when he finished a dismal 17th at Martinsville, eliminating his chances of advancing to the Championship 4. This underscored the importance of playoff performance, as Harvick’s untimely setback at Martinsville ultimately cost him a shot at the coveted championship title.

As the NASCAR Cup playoffs progress, all eyes will be on Martin Truex Jr. as he heads to Bristol Motor Speedway, a track where he faces historical challenges but now must deliver a solid run to keep his championship aspirations alive. Based on the reactions on X, it is no doubt that majority of the crowd will be cheering him on for a better result. 

In case you missed it:

• WATCH: “X-Men flying over”- Fans awed as the B2 Bomber does the ceremonial flyover at Kansas Cup race days after it went over the Arrowhead Stadium for Chiefs’ kickoff game
• Denny Hamlin admits he isn’t enjoying Tyler Reddicks’ Kansas win, says ‘it stings more’

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