'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUG/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAf/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAy9AT/8QAIRAAAQIGAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDAAQFBhIiBxETYqL/2gAIAQEAAT8At1qZuKaMnR7fdntAlx+ZqOKAetjiT3C+Hq+pRPnpDfpkvX5j/8QAFREBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQD/2gAIAQIBAT8AW//EABQRAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/2gAIAQMBAT8Af//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
As per the latest developments, Toyota Racing Development has come forward to take full accountability for Martin Truex Jr.'s issues at Richmond. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver blew his engine on Sunday at Richmond Raceway in the Cook Out 400, making it the fifth such incident for Toyota this season.
Tyler Gibbs, the general manager of TRD, revealed that they are doing their best to resolve the problems this season. Compared to 2023, where they had only one reliability issue, 2024 has seen five in 24 races already.
Gibbs, in his recent interview with RACER, said that the team at TRD discovered a concern with the engine's valve springs. He suspects that the quality of the valve springs might have been the root cause of such unreliability.
"We sent a TRD ‘fire team’ from our Costa Mesa (Calif.) engine shop to make tuning updates to all our engines heading to Michigan this weekend,” Gibbs said. “We are confident that this remediation step will give us the durability margin we need. Our team partners, including our drivers, remain tremendously supportive."
"Our goal and expectation each year is perfect engine reliability. We had only one failure in 2023. TRD takes full accountability for the issues we have had this year, and we have fallen far short of what is acceptable. We will not rest until we regain our form. And rest assured, we will.”
Before Truex Jr. retired with his #19 Toyota, Christopher Bell had a similar issue at St. Louis on June 2. He only raced for 80 laps before he blew up his #20 Camry engine. On June 9, a week later, Denny Hamlin blew his engine just after two laps at Sonoma Raceway.
Ty Gibbs suffered two engine issues in July. First on July 14 at Pocono Raceway, followed by July 21, a week later at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Toyota cannot afford any more reliability issues from here on
As of now, six Toyota drivers are in the playoffs this season. While Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Tyler Reddick secured their position by winning races, Martin Truex Jr., Ty Gibbs, and Bubba Wallace are above the cutline in terms of points.
This puts Toyota in a very serious position, as they cannot afford any more engine reliability issues with the playoff starting after three races. It will not only jeopardize the drivers' chances to take the NASCAR championship but also hamper their reputation as a manufacturer.
However, the Japanese heavyweights admitted that the drivers remained helpful and supportive to the team and TRD despite the issues.
