Martin Truex Jr. is furious with Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace after an emotional defeat in the race. Truex Jr. arrived at Richmond with high hopes of securing his first win of 2024, as the track has always been his favorite place to compete. Despite leading for over 200 laps, it was his JGR teammate, the local driver, who ended up clinching the victory on Sunday.
Truex Jr. was about to secure his fourth win at the track with just one and a half laps remaining before the checkered flag. Unfortunately, NASCAR had to intervene and wave the yellow flag after Wallace spun out. As a result, Truex Jr. lost the lead to Hamlin during the pit stops, and Hamlin ended up winning the race thanks to his aggressive defense during the overtime.
After the race, Truex Jr. was furious with Wallace for the incident. He indirectly criticized him for what he deemed a foolish move. Truex Jr. firmly believed that his Toyota teammate cost him a convincing victory on Sunday, which could have given him the necessary boost in the championship hunt.
Fortunately for Wallace, the No:23 team had an issue during the pit stop. Otherwise, he would have been among the top five battling for positions in the final laps. Truex Jr. retaliated against both Hamlin and Larson by making contact with them after the race during the cool-down lap, and would have done the same with Michael Jordan’s driver.
The incident caused by Wallace’s caution presented 23XI Racing team owner Denny Hamlin with the perfect opportunity to secure an impressive victory. However, it was not an easy task, as Hamlin had to rely on his teammate Truex Jr., much to the displeasure of the former champion. Truex Jr. criticized Hamlin for his actions and reminded him that teammates should not compete in that way.
The TRD driver is currently frustrated and has resorted to retaliating in a similar manner. However, he can easily leave the drama behind and focus on the upcoming weekend. With 19 more races remaining in the regular season, Truex Jr. still has plenty of opportunities to secure wins and ensure a spot in the playoffs.
