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Former NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. will get a chance to win a second title.
Truex clinched a spot in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs after Chris Buescher failed to get any stage points. The top 10 finishers in each stage earn points. Truex leads Buescher in the points standings by 36 points, and only a win would vault Buescher ahead of Truex.
And at that point, Buescher is in anyway. Truex clears Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain as long as either doesn’t win.
That was about the only good news Truex had Sunday at the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington. Truex exited the race with an early crash.
Truex was involved in a wreck with Ryan Blaney on the third lap of the Darlington NASCAR race. Both drivers were out of the race after the wreck. Truex entered the day 58 points ahead of 17th place in the standings. The top 16 make the playoffs.
Truex finished 36th.
Truex said in a race interview that the accident was “clearly my fault.” His Joe Gibbs Toyota slipped while racing William Byron. He then got on the brakes and ran into Ryan Blaney. Both hit the wall and had significant damage.
Truex, the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion, announced in June that he was retiring after the 2024 season. Truex has won 34 career wins.
Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on the X platform @Kreager.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR playoffs: Martin Truex Jr. clinches spot in playoffs
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