Ryan Truex took over driving duties for Denny Hamlin during NASCAR’s Mexico race weekend, aiming to replicate the success his brother Martin Truex Jr. achieved in the Xfinity Series at the same track two decades ago. Starting from 36th position, Ryan worked his way up the field to finish 23rd, falling short of a top-20 finish that would have better reflected the family name.
Challenges and Progress in Difficult Race Conditions
Truex noticed his car performed better as the rain intensified, allowing him to make gains on wet-weather tires. He explained that even after switching back to slicks, the car remained competitive. A small mistake caused him to spin out after hitting a puddle, though he did not feel isolated in his struggles during that race.
“Just made a small mistake and got my right rear end in a puddle and immediately spun out. I don’t think I was the only one that spun out on his own today, so I don’t feel terrible about it.” —Ryan Truex
Further into the race, Truex faced tough restarts where other drivers pushed aggressively, leading to a crash that effectively ended his race. He acknowledged the challenge of competing without weekly experience and recognized that some competitors took advantage of his temporary presence.
“Which, I mean, it’s to be expected. I don’t race every week. They don’t know me. They know I’m not gonna be here next week. I definitely got taken advantage of a lot, but I’m happy with the progress I made through the weekend.” —Ryan Truex
Adjustments and Reflections on Performance
Truex avoided being caught in a massive 13-car pileup that marked the event and even demonstrated moments of speed, breaking into the top 15 at one stage. He believed that with more laps under his belt, he could have converted his pace into a stronger finish. Truex also wished the race had stayed wetter, as his car handled well in those conditions.
Reflecting on qualifying struggles, he noted that starting near the back made it difficult to gain momentum early, and with additional practice time, he could have better understood his car’s balance. Nonetheless, he appreciated the chance to compete and felt more comfortable on race day compared to the initial qualifying session.
Denny Hamlin’s Anticipated Return at Pocono
Denny Hamlin is set to return behind the wheel of the No. 11 car for the next race weekend at Pocono Raceway. Hamlin boasts seven career wins at this venue, including a victory during the Next Gen car era in 2023. This race offers a vital opportunity for Hamlin and his team to regain ground in the overall standings after missing the Mexico event.
