“God Help You, Chase”: NASCAR Followers Warn Martin Truex Jr’s Successor of a Problematic Future With Joe Gibbs’ Insider

Martin Truex Jr and his present crew chief, James Small share an fascinating relationship. After all of the duo have recognized one another since their days at Furnishings Row Motorsports, when the previous received the now-defunct race workforce its solely championship in 2017.

However within the background of MTJ’s full-time absence post-2024, Small could return to information a brand new face behind the wheel of Joe Gibbs #19 Toyota Camry XSE. And should you paid consideration to Christopher Bell’s comedic “announcement” at New Hampshire, you’d know that the brand new face is assumably Chase Briscoe. Nevertheless, the followers are throwing out some regarding claims earlier than a possible union involving James Small and JGR’s new #19 workforce unfolds.

JGR hints at a return inside Martin Truex Jr’s #19 crew

The Aussie V8 Supercars import stepped in as MTJ’s former championship-winning crew chief, Cole Pearn’s successor in 2020. And ever since he has been topic to fixed scrutiny from the general public. A lot of the explanation will be attributed to the #19 crew’s steady pit lane mess-ups, evident all through the final 4 years, however extra so, in what has been laid out as Truex Jr’s ‘farewell tour’ season.

As has been the pattern to date this season, the #19 began the USA Right this moment 301 inside the highest 10, albeit a rain-canceled qualifying left the rolling grid positions up for anybody’s guess at New Hampshire. MTJ completed inside the highest 10 within the first two phases, however then a problematic pit cease left him susceptible in the midst of the pack at first of Stage 3. About 20 laps after the inexperienced fell, the #19 crashed into the outer wall following contact with Brad Keselowski. A number of laps later NASCAR referred to as a cease to all on-track motion, and what occurred subsequent was a two-hour rain delay.

As soon as the inexperienced fell once more with 82 laps left to race, MTJ fought again to a commendable P9 spot on Goodyear’s Moist Climate Tires. That was not ok for Truex followers on-line who had been nonetheless furious at one more contentious ‘James Small call’ following the incident with the #6 which introduced out the seventh warning of the race. However these frustrations from the fan are considerably comprehensible, contemplating that even Truex admitted to the media post-Loudon that “it has been a rough four weeks.“ His disappointments started with tire issues and a P34 at Gateway early in June, his first finish below the top 30 this season. 

Then came that notorious fuel imbalance at Sonoma, which led to MTJ falling out of contention for his first potential race win of the season. Falling only a lap short, when Small was asked what caused the #19 team’s unfortunate fuel-management fallout after the race, he told Frontretch that he had “no idea” in regards to the possible causes.  Nevertheless, under no circumstances can that negate James Small’s intensive experience.

After stints as an engineer at Richard Childress Racing and Lead Engineer at Furnishings Row Motorsports, Small assumed the identical function at Joe Gibbs Racing when Truex joined the group in 2019. Moreover, as a crew chief/driver pairing beginning in 2020, Small and MTJ garnered 8 race wins and even the 2023 Common Season Championship after the previous’s promotion inside the ranks of JGR.

Regardless, with a brand new driver set to enter the folds one other time, and most speculating it to be Chase Briscoe, JGR has decided Thursday afternoon, the twenty sixth, to be the official reveal date. Furthermore, Bob Pockrass of FOX knowledgeable followers on Twitter that Joe Gibbs himself, the #19 crew chief, James Small, and JGR’s latest NASCAR Cup Collection driver can be current for the assertion, “which indicates that James Small will remain as the crew chief of the No. 19 team in 2025.” However it looks like the followers are usually not fully aligned with that concept.

Followers divided on James Small as crew chief for JGR’s new #19 driver

Though Cole Pearn accompanied Martin Truex Jr to the #19 automotive from Furnishings Row following its shutdown in 2018, it’s unlikely that Briscoe’s present crew chief at Stewart-Haas, Richard Boswell will discover a place at JGR with somebody as skilled as James Small already within the fray. Add to that the intensive information and resumes of all personnel at present working inside Coach Gibbs’ race store, and most wouldn’t be capable to deduce any higher options to information Briscoe if he’s certainly the “mystery driver” for JGR.

However the saga of James Small has confirmed to be barely that straightforward. Owing to the unpredictable nature of Small’s groups, one fan noticed that “James Small and optimism do not go in the same sentence,” when making their views recognized about the entire scenario on the NASCAR subreddit. On a thread that caught hundreds of eyes, linking to the Twitter replace by Pockrass, many others voiced their displeasure over this 2025 pairing ready within the works, because the 2024 season awaits its subsequent check in Nashville subsequent weekend.

A sure reply issued a hilariously ominous replace that learn, “God help you, Chase. GOD. HELP. YOU.” That may be termed an overstatement, one more fan lent a good clarification to that sentiment rudely commenting: “Hope Chase is ready for a pit crew that still can’t figure out how to put wheels on a car.” 

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A number of others held way more relaxed and balanced views like this one who wrote, “This will show that either James isn’t that bad or that Truex is really that good. I think Briscoe is serviceable but I don’t know that he can carry a team like Truex, yet.” One Reddit person made fairly an knowledgeable remark, stating, “Small strikes me as a great car chief but mediocre crew chief.”

It is not uncommon data within the storage that “Small builds some of the best cars in the garage,” as emphasised by one diehard in between all of the discussions. Additionally they noticed how “he has a notable weakness with strategy,” which isn’t fully false, primarily based on Martin Truex Jr’s common outings since his final race win at New Hampshire, 36 races in the past within the earlier season. 

As for the Briscoe/Small pairing? That’s solely hypothesis nonetheless until any official confirmations come forth on Tuesday. Regardless, many agree it’s silly to make any predictions for 2 entities who already know what it’s prefer to win in NASCAR’s premier tier till they’re formally up and performing for the #19 workforce,