Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney barely got their seats warm in Darlington before their evenings were ruined. The duo was involved in a wreck within the first couple laps of the Southern 500, ending their shot at winning the prestigious event.

Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney barely got their seats warm in Darlington before their evenings were ruined. The duo was involved in a wreck within the first couple laps of the Southern 500, ending their shot at winning the prestigious event.

Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney barely got their seats warm in Darlington before their evenings were ruined. The duo was involved in a wreck within the first couple laps of the Southern 500, ending their shot at winning the prestigious event.

On the latest episode of The Teardown, featuring Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic, the duo tried to make sense of the accident. Gluck explained why a majority of NASCAR fans wouldn’t have bet on Truex Jr. and Blaney being the first two wheelmen to get knocked out of the race.

I don’t think that people would have wagered on Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney being eliminated on lap two of this race,” Gluck stated. “The Southern 500, it’s the kind of race where the veterans go, ‘Hey, man, 500 miles, this is gonna be a four-hour race. You don’t need to try to be a hero on lap one,’ and the most senior driver, the most veteran driver in the series, makes a mistake on the first lap, or the second lap, I guess, third lap, whatever, and he’s done.

“Puts himself in playoff Jeopardy. Again, only makes it by six points, and takes out Blaney as well. … That wreck did cost Ryan Blaney two spots in the standings, which was worth two playoff points to him.”

The wreck did more than simply put a damper on Truex Jr. and Blaney’s momentum entering the playoffs. Blaney was hurt a bit after hitting the wall, and there’s been talk about a wrist or hand injury affecting him following Darlington.

“Hopefully Blaney’s wrists or hand is alright. … You don’t want any sort of, even a sprain or something, but if there’s any sort of problem with that, you know, it’s one thing to go to Atlanta next week, but then you go to Watkins-Glen,” Gluck added. “That would not be good for a wrist or hand injury.”

Prior to the wreck at Darlington, Blaney was enjoying a tremendous summer. With the injury, the reigning Cup Series champion has another hurdle he might have to climb over as he looks to defend his title.

Meanwhile, Truex Jr. still hasn’t been back to Victory Lane in 2024, and time is running out during his final full-time season. Now if he’s to win, it would mean even more since it’s the playoffs, but he’s not made it easy on himself this season.

Time will tell if there are any lingering effects from the wreck for Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney. The two former Cup Series champions are entering Atlanta in a bind, and both could use a good run on Sunday.