The race at Watkins Glen International ended in chaos
Martin Truex Jr: “I’m outta here.”
On Sunday, NASCAR raced on the road course of Watkins Glen International. And, in late race restarts, it was full contact stock car racing.
With just 11 laps to go, Harrison Burton picked up a flat tire. He left debris on track and NASCAR threw the caution.
On a restart with 7 to go, Joey Logano tagged the bumper of Brad Keselowski. William Byron was collected and ended up parked on top of Keselowski. The caution again.
On the restart with 3 to go, Kyle Larson threw a block into turn two as they ran three wide. The field stacked up behind him. Josh Berry, Martin Truex Jr and Austin Cindric all found the outside wall. The caution was deployed yet again, sending the race into overtime.
In the Overtime restart, they finally made it a lap. However, it wasn’t from a lack of trying to crash as the entire field played bumper tag.
And, Martin Truex Jr is over it…
Watkins Glen Results: September 15, 2024 (NASCAR Cup Series)
Martin Truex Jr comments on crashing at the end of NASCAR races
“As always, you get to the cautions at the end and guys just drive right through ya,” Martin Truex Jr told NBC Sports after the race.
“A mistake on my part to pick the outside lane on the restart. You know, just got pushed 3-4 wide in the esses. Then, in the marbles. That was the first restart.”
“Then, the green-white-checkered, got pushed up the marbles again and run into from behind and wrecked.”
“Luckily we got some tires at the end and passed a few. We passed like six cars on the last restart.”
“It’s just crazy that all these races always come down to this. I don’t really understand how guys can call themselves, ‘The best drivers in the world.’ When they just drive through everyone on restarts at the end of these races.”
Truex Jr concluded, “It’s very frustrating. But, it is what it is these days. So, I’m outta here.”
Martin Truex Jr is retiring at the end of the 2024 season.
Watch video Highlights from Watkins Glen International
