Martin Truex Jr. should be feeling secure as he heads to Darlington Raceway for the Cup Series’ regular-season finale.
The 2017 series champion has a 58-point lead in the playoff standings, which is likely enough since the most any driver can gain is about 60 points. Thirteen of the 16 playoff spots are already secured, with Harrison Burton surprisingly claiming the latest spot at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night.
Truex is well-positioned for one of the remaining three spots, leaving NASCAR with two open spots at the “Track Too Tough to Tame.”
This sets up an interesting race next weekend, with Ty Gibbs, Chris Buescher, Bubba Wallace, and Ross Chastain competing for one spot based on points. Additionally, nearly two dozen other drivers, including two-time series champion Kyle Busch, will need a win on Sunday to make the playoffs.
Busch had a chance to secure his spot at Daytona, where he hasn’t won since 2008. However, Burton passed him on the final lap during overtime to earn his first win in 98 career starts.
This victory was a significant moment for Burton, who had been fired earlier this season and will be replaced by Josh Berry in the No. 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing in 2025.
“I’ve struggled to put it into words,” said Burton, whose father, Jeff, called the race for NBC Sports. “To me, just the circumstances, obviously the way the last three years have gone, has not been the way I wanted to represent myself, the way I wanted to represent this team.
“Then to have the kind of walls closing in, there’s a different end to my time to get to drive this historic car. To find a way to win while those walls are kind of closing in, to me, is really, really special. It almost makes the last three years worth it.”
Busch got close to Burton’s bumper as they approached the finish line but couldn’t pass him. Now, Busch will head to Darlington needing a win to keep his streak of making the playoffs for 12 consecutive years alive.
