{"id":11838,"date":"2017-08-06T19:28:28","date_gmt":"2017-08-07T00:28:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=11838"},"modified":"2017-08-06T19:28:28","modified_gmt":"2017-08-07T00:28:28","slug":"martin-truex-jr-takes-checkered-flag-at-watkins-glen-scores-fourth-season-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2017\/08\/06\/martin-truex-jr-takes-checkered-flag-at-watkins-glen-scores-fourth-season-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Martin Truex Jr. takes checkered flag at Watkins Glen; scores fourth season victory"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row\/Denver Mattress Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. \u2013 At a track where his father raced, and a track where he was a \u201cgarage rat\u201d as a child, Martin Truex Jr.<\/strong> won Sunday\u2019s I Love New York 355 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series<\/a> race by slowing down over the closing laps.<\/p>\n

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Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row\/Denver Mattress Toyota, crosses the finish line to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Truex let Brad Keselowski pass him for the lead on Lap 77 of 90. On instructions from crew chief Cole Pearn, Truex also let Ryan Blaney past his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota on Lap 83.<\/p>\n

All the while, Truex was saving fuel, with Pearn calculating that both Keselowski and Blaney would have to stop for a splash of gas. The strategy played out as expected, with Keselowski giving up the lead for a trip to pit road on Lap 87 and Blaney following a lap later.<\/p>\n

That left Truex to hold off a desperate charge from Matt Kenseth on the final lap, with Truex streaking across the finish line .414 seconds ahead of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Camry. Kenseth\u2019s teammate, Daniel Suarez, rolled home in third to register a career-best result.<\/p>\n

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Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row\/Denver Mattress Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a little bit lost for words at the moment, just because I\u2019ve been thinking about this one a long time \u2013 all weekend, all day,\u201d said Truex, who won for the fourth time this season and the 11th time in his career.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen, at the end there, just it\u2019s so hard there to let guys pass you for the lead. You\u2019ve just got to listen to your crew chief and, luckily for me, I\u2019ve got the best one in the business, and I just believe in him so much, and I just do what he says and it seems to work out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kenseth, who remains on the playoff bubble with four races left before the 16-driver field is set, was disappointed at coming so close to the victory\u2014one that would have guaranteed him a playoff spot.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row\/Denver Mattress Toyota, celebrates his fourth win by adding the winner’s sticker to his car in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI\u2019m second happiest,\u201d said Kenseth who was also saving fuel and gunned it on the last lap. \u201cMartin is the happiest. We really needed the win. Honestly, I don\u2019t even think about the playoffs. I more think about coming here for however many, 15, 17, 18 years, whatever it\u2019s been, and not really having a win or an opportunity to win and never even really been that great here.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt like we had a top-five car. Obviously, we had good fortune there at the end with our track position and our fuel mileage and all that to stay in it and have a shot at it, but man, when it\u2019s that close and you see him saving and you\u2019re saving and then you go after him there on that last lap, it\u2019s disappointing not to get it. Especially when I saw him miss Turn 6, I was like, \u2018Man, I\u2019m going to have a shot,\u2019 and he was so fast I still couldn\u2019t get to him getting into (Turn) 7.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row\/Denver Mattress Toyota, Sherry Pollex, and crew chief Cole Pearn celebrate in victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Polesitter Kyle Busch led all 20 laps of the race\u2019s first stage, but a snafu on pit road left his left front wheel loose, and Busch had to return under caution during the stage break to correct the problem. That left him deep in the field for the subsequent restart on Lap 25.<\/p>\n

Busch worked his way back into the top 10, but after restarting ninth on Lap 45, his No. 18 Toyota and Keselowski\u2019s No. 2 Ford collided in the bus stop chicane, sending both cars off course. Busch wasn\u2019t a contender for the victory after that, though he did rally to finish seventh.<\/p>\n

Notes:<\/strong> Truex expanded his series lead to 116 points over Kyle Busch, who moved past 23rd-place finisher Kyle Larson for second place. \u2026 Truex also increased his playoff point total to 34. Three-time winner Jimmie Johnson is second with 16. \u2026 Busch collected his ninth stage win to raise his playoff point total to 14. \u2026 The three winless drivers currently in playoff-eligible positions (Chase Elliott, Jamie McMurray and Kenseth) are seventh, eighth and ninth in the standings, respectively, all within an 11-point range.<\/p>\n

Media Center Interviews:<\/h3>\n

Martin Truex Jr. – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/WGI_MENCS_TruexJr_080617.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Crew chief Cole Pearn and team general manager Joe Garone – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/WGI_MENCS_Pearn_Garone_080617.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Matt Kenseth and Daniel Suarez – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/WGI_MENCS_Kenseth_Suarez_080617.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race Results<\/strong><\/p>\n

I LOVE NEW YORK 355 at The Glen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Watkins Glen International<\/strong><\/p>\n

Watkins Glen, New York<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday, August 6, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. (3) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 90.<\/li>\n
  2. (15) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 90.<\/li>\n
  3. (5) Daniel Suarez #, Toyota, 90.<\/li>\n
  4. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 90.<\/li>\n
  5. (12) Clint Bowyer, Ford, 90.<\/li>\n
  6. (18) Kurt Busch, Ford, 90.<\/li>\n
  7. (1) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 90.<\/li>\n
  8. (16) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 90.<\/li>\n
  9. (7) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 90.<\/li>\n
  10. (6) Erik Jones #, Toyota, 90.<\/li>\n
  11. (17) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, 90.<\/li>\n
  12. (14) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 90.<\/li>\n
  13. (4) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 90.<\/li>\n
  14. (9) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 90.<\/li>\n
  15. (8) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 90.<\/li>\n
  16. (19) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 90.<\/li>\n
  17. (20) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 90.<\/li>\n
  18. (21) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 90.<\/li>\n
  19. (24) Ty Dillon #, Chevrolet, 90.<\/li>\n
  20. (22) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 90.<\/li>\n
  21. (29) Aric Almirola, Ford, 90.<\/li>\n
  22. (25) Danica Patrick, Ford, 90.<\/li>\n
  23. (2) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 90.<\/li>\n
  24. (13) Joey Logano, Ford, 90.<\/li>\n
  25. (23) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 90.<\/li>\n
  26. (27) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 90.<\/li>\n
  27. (31) David Ragan, Ford, 90.<\/li>\n
  28. (37) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 90.<\/li>\n
  29. (10) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 90.<\/li>\n
  30. (35) Boris Said, Chevrolet, 89.<\/li>\n
  31. (34) Gary Klutt, Chevrolet, 89.<\/li>\n
  32. (33) * Brett Moffitt(i), Toyota, 89.<\/li>\n
  33. (36) Corey LaJoie #, Toyota, 89.<\/li>\n
  34. (26) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, 81.<\/li>\n
  35. (30) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 80.<\/li>\n
  36. (32) Landon Cassill, Ford, 78.<\/li>\n
  37. (28) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, Engine, 22.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Average Speed of Race Winner:  104.132 mph.<\/p>\n

    Time of Race:  02 Hrs, 07 Mins, 03 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.414 Seconds.<\/p>\n

    Caution Flags:  3 for 8 laps.<\/p>\n

    Lead Changes:  9 among 6 drivers.<\/p>\n

    Lap Leaders:   Kyle Busch 1-21; C. Elliott 22-30; D. Suarez # 31-44; M. Truex Jr. 45-52; R. Blaney 53; B. Keselowski 54-63; M. Truex Jr. 64-76; B. Keselowski 77-86; R. Blaney 87; M. Truex Jr. 88-90.<\/p>\n

    Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  M. Truex Jr. 3 times for 24 laps; Kyle Busch 1 time for 21 laps; B. Keselowski 2 times for 20 laps; D. Suarez # 1 time for 14 laps; C. Elliott 1 time for 9 laps; R. Blaney 2 times for 2 laps.<\/p>\n

    Stage #1 Top Ten: 18,78,24,42,2,1,22,47,5,17<\/p>\n

    Stage #2 Top Ten: 19,78,20,21,77,11,2,41,18,47<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"\"

    Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota, poses for a photo after winning the pole award during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"\"

    Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota, leads during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"\"

    Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 STANLEY Toyota, drives during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"\"

    Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota, drives during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"\"

    Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"\"

    Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Chris Trotman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"\"

    Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Beer Ford, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row\/Denver Mattress Toyota, lead a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"\"

    Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row\/Denver Mattress Toyota, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. \u2013 At a track where his father raced, and a track where he was a \u201cgarage rat\u201d as a child, Martin Truex Jr. won Sunday\u2019s I Love New York 355 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race by slowing down over the closing laps. Truex let […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11844,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[244,16,472],"class_list":["post-11838","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-martin-truex-jr","tag-nascar","tag-watkins-glen-international"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/MENCS_WGI_VL_080617-e1502065120165.jpg?fit=640%2C426","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-34W","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11838","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11838"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11838\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11857,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11838\/revisions\/11857"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11838"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11838"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}