Martin Truex Jr. 'struggling' after taking a 'gamble' on tire strategy at Las Vegas

Things are not going well for Martin Truex Jr. at Las Vegas today. He went on a different tire strategy and it cost him a lot. Coming off of Stage 1, Truex Jr. stayed out and played it differently than his NASCAR peers. He wanted to come off the stops in the lead and with everyone else pitting, he was able to do that.

While he fired off with some speed, it was clear that his bad tires were going to cost him. A quick caution did not come at this point. Then, Martin Truex Jr. started to slow down. Then more. And more. Soon enough, Truex Jr. was fighting for his life in the top 15.

On his radio, Truex Jr. complained about the tire strategy.

“I’m struggling,” he said according to Dustin Albino. “That was probably too big of a gamble here this early.”

"I'm struggling. That was probably too big of a gamble here this early" Martin Truex Jr. says after dropping to fifth. #NASCAR

— Dustin Albino (@DustinAlbino) October 15, 2023

Martin Truex Jr. and his crew chief James Small joked with each other about the issue. While Truex slipped back in the field, he was lucky Carson Hocevar hit the wall soon after and gave him a window to get to pit road with the rest of the field.

Here is Truex and crew chief James Small joking with one another about the whiffed strategy.

It's a relationship unlike any other! 😂

📺: NBC | 📲: https://t.co/r61CT6jvrS pic.twitter.com/xcL6CRtGoA

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 15, 2023

There is a lot of racing left this afternoon. However, Martin Truex Jr. is going to have a heck of a time to get his car back to the front of the field.

Martin Truex Jr. thought he had ‘turned the page’

Before the Round of 8 race at Las Vegas, Truex was confident in his team. Without a single top-15 finish in the NASCAR Playoffs this year, he has work to do. Those regular-season bonus points can only take him so far. This is crunch time.

“I felt like the guys did a great job on having a good car to unload with,” Truex said, via Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports. “Felt really good throughout practice and the first round of qualifying. Knew we could get a little better. I did a little better and they made the car a little better and we came real close there. Just had to crack the throttle a little bit in [Turns] 3 and 4, I got a little tight. Besides from that, it was a really good lap and it’s hanging in there right now so, should be a good starting spot, and excited for tomorrow.”

As far as his crew is concerned, he’s not worried about it. At least he wasn’t before the race today.

“No. I mean we’re in a good spot to start this round so all that, this last six races are done and over with and we’ve turned the page. So, started this weekend off good, we had a great day today in practice and qualifying and that’s all you need to get things going.”

Martin Truex Jr. has work to do. Right now, he’s at least in the top 15 and looking to have his best race of the playoffs.