The win gives Truex two wins in NASCAR’s premier races and the win earned him his first multi-win season on the Cup circuit.
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But by maintaining his top 10 run and staying towards the front close to the leaders, Truex Jr. and his team were able to get him to the front and lead the race all the way to checkered flag. They now seek a bigger fish.
Truex led the final 28 laps and held off Kevin Harvick’s powerhouse auto to win the Southern 500, closing the summer season with a second of Sprint Cup’s “crown jewel” races on Labor Day weekend. He started the summer by running away with the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, another of NASCAR’s so-called “crowned jewels”.
Truex stamped himself as a contender to be reckoned with when the Sprint Cup playoffs start in two weeks. “This is just the beginning for us, I think”.
“To lead the most miles of any NASCAR race ever, I mean, you just think about the names, the names that have been come and gone and paved the way for us drivers that none of those guys have done it before is unbelievable, and then to mention what you mentioned there, I’m just humbled”. The throwback tradition at Darlington has pushed the Southern 500 event even higher on the list of crown-jewel NASCAR events, and it is one that most likely everyone is already looking forward getting back to in 2017.
Harvick’s pit crew battled slow stops all night, losing over 15 positions throughout the night. “A big thank you to Toyota and TRD (Toyota Racing Development) and everybody that makes this thing happen – it’s just an awesome partnership, wonderful teammates over at Joe Gibbs Racing that we share information with”.
Truex pulled up to the inside wall to greet his crew, then taking off for some celebration donuts at the track “Too Tough To Tame”.
The Mayetta, NJ native only led 28 laps; in fact there were three other drivers who had more including runner-up Kevin Harvick who topped everyone with 214.
Harvick, despite his problems, eventually settled for second place.
“We’ve prepped all this year to try and make it to Homestead again and win the championship, so that’s definitely the goal”, crew chief Cole Pearn said. The pit crew, man, I can’t say it enough, what a job they did tonight. “They get paid a lot of money to do their jobs”. Sunday night but was extremely upset afterward about the mistakes made on pit road.
Last week’s victor at Michigan, Kyle Larson, finished third and Denny Hamlin was fourth. Joey Logano was fifth, followed by Matt Kenseth, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliott.
Martin Truex Jr. celebrating in Victory Lane. It was worth the wait.
The young driver, who earned his first Sprint Cup win last week at MI, led 45 laps and was out front with 38 laps to go. I feel like we let a few slip away, for sure.
Jimmie Johnson had troubles at a track where he has won three times.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): K. Harvick 5 times for 214 laps; B. Keselowski 2 times for 47 laps; K. Larson 1 time for 45 laps; M. Truex, Jr. His crew brought the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports machine behind the wall for a 33rd-place finish.
THEY SAID IT: “It’s kind of like an out of body experience”, Tony Stewart on the radio while watching his old, Home Depot-style paint scheme being driven by Carl Edwards in the Southern 500.
SMOKE WILL BE MISSED: Tony Stewart will leave Sprint Cup without a victory at Darlington after finished 35th on Sunday night when his engine overheated and he went behind the wall.
On Lap 203, Brian Scott was four laps down when Stewart attempted to pass him. “I wasn’t”, Scott said.
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There was anticipation and excitement all around the track on Sunday, giving hope that the day would be capped off with a great race – and that’s exactly what happened.
