During the final race of his full-time NASCAR career at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 1, Martin Truex Jr. took a hit to his playoff chances when his No. 19 Toyota crashed on the third lap of the Cook Out Southern 500.

Fortunately, his career will end as part of the Cup Series playoffs, into which he barely squeezed as the 16th seed after Chase Briscoe, the driver slated to take Truex’s place with Joe Gibbs Racing next season, took the checkered flag.