{"id":14185,"date":"2017-11-19T20:11:11","date_gmt":"2017-11-20T02:11:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=14185"},"modified":"2017-11-19T21:10:00","modified_gmt":"2017-11-20T03:10:00","slug":"martin-truex-jr-holds-off-kyle-busch-for-monster-energy-nascar-cup-series-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2017\/11\/19\/martin-truex-jr-holds-off-kyle-busch-for-monster-energy-nascar-cup-series-title\/","title":{"rendered":"Martin Truex Jr. holds off Kyle Busch for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series title"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops\/Tracker Boats Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

HOMESTEAD, Fla. \u2013 At the end of a riveting, breathtaking battle that had fans in the grandstands on their feet long after the checkered flag, Martin Truex Jr.<\/strong> held off Kyle Busch<\/strong> by .681 seconds at Homestead-Miami Speedway to win Sunday\u2019s Ford Eco-Boost 400 and his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series<\/a> title.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops\/Tracker Boats Toyota, crosses the finish line to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

In Dale Earnhardt Jr.\u2019s last race in the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Truex\u2014one of Earnhardt\u2019s closest friends\u2014kept Busch behind him during a 34-lap green-flag run to the finish.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just overwhelming,\u201d a tearful Truex said in Victory Lane. \u201cTo think about all the rough days and bad days, the days that we couldn\u2019t run 20th, to be here\u2014I never thought this day would come, and to be here is so unbelievable.\u201d<\/p>\n

The victory was a timely gift for Furniture Row Racing owner Barney Visser, who is back home in Denver, Colo., recovering from a heart attack and subsequent bypass surgery. It was also a gift to Truex\u2019s long-time girlfriend Sherry Pollex, who has been battling ovarian cancer.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops\/Tracker Boats Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cA lot of it was for her,\u201d said Truex, who won for the first time at Homestead and the 15th time in his career. \u201cA lot of it was for me. A lot of it was for this team \u2013 just, I don\u2019t even know what to say. We just never gave up all day long. We didn\u2019t have the best car. I don\u2019t know how we won that thing. Never give up. Dig deep.\u201d<\/p>\n

The victory also was entirely appropriate. For the bulk of the season, Truex was the top driver in the series. Sunday\u2019s victory was his eighth of the year, a series-best, and his seventh on 1.5-mile intermediate speedways. Truex had the No. 78 Toyota out front for 78 laps on Sunday, bringing his season total of laps led to a career-best 2,253, also tops in the series.<\/p>\n

With an excellent long-run car, Busch slipped to fourth after the final restart on Lap 234 of 267 and needed nine laps to pass the stubborn No. 22 Ford of Joey Logano. Seven laps later, Busch slipped past fellow Championship 4 contender Kevin Harvick into second and set his sights on Truex.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops\/Tracker Boats Toyota, celebrates after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Busch closed rapidly, but Truex found a line that allowed him to maintain an edge that shrank to as little as two car lengths. But Busch never could pull alongside his fellow Camry driver, and Truex inched away over the last four circuits.<\/p>\n

\u201cI told my guys we were going to dig deeper than we ever have today, and (with) 20 (laps) to go, I thought I was done \u2013 they were all better than me on the long run all day long,\u201d Truex said. \u201cI just found a way. I found a lane that I could use, and I found a lane that was blocking enough of their air that they couldn\u2019t use it and just made it happen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe it. I\u2019ve wanted this since I was a little kid and just never give up. Just never give up on your dreams, no matter what happens and what kind of crap you go through. And thank you, Barney. I wish you were here, buddy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops\/Tracker Boats Toyota, celebrates with the trophy in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Kyle Larson finished third, closely trailing the championship battle after moving past Harvick for third on Lap 252. Harvick came home fourth, after debris from David Starr\u2019s Chevrolet punched a hole in the nose of the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was just really loose the whole last run,\u201d Harvick said. \u201cWhen it started to get dark, we started to get tight in the corner, and then we got a hole in the nose. We got that fixed and just couldn\u2019t quite get it where we needed to be to make good times.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome runs we fell off. Some runs we were tight on entry. There at the end we were just too loose.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chase Elliott and Joey Logano ran fifth and sixth, respectively. Playoff driver Brad Keselowski finished sixth, ending the season fourth in the series standings.<\/p>\n

Busch opted for a one-pit-stop strategy during the final stage of the race and appeared headed for the title until his brother, Kurt Busch, spun in Turn 4 on Lap 227 to bring out the fifth and final caution of the event and bunch the field for the restart on Lap 234.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops\/Tracker Boats Toyota, celebrates with teammates after he won the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cYeah, it wasn’t quite what we wanted there at the end,\u201d Busch said. \u201cI thought we had a really great race car. Especially on the long runs, we were really, really good. Just came down to there at the end, not having enough tire when I got to the 78.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I just overused my stuff, and I knew I overused my stuff when I was running with the 22 (Logano) trying to get by him and just overworked everything, and got to the 4 (Harvick), got by him pretty quick. I tried to make sure that I could do that pretty quick so then I could have at least a little more tire life, but didn’t seem to pay me off any when I got to the 78.\u201d<\/p>\n

Notes: Earnhardt finished 25th in his final run in the No. 88 Chevy\u2026 Danica Patrick cut a tire and clobbered the Turn 2 wall on Lap 142 in her final trip in the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford. She plans to race in the Cup series for the final time in the 2018 Daytona 500\u2026 Patrick also collected Kasey Kahne in her wreck. Kahne ran his final race for Hendrick Motorsports on Sunday and will move to the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet next season\u2026 Truex\u2019s teammate, Erik Jones, was crowned Sunoco Rookie of the Year in the series after finishing 21st. Jones will take Matt Kenseth\u2019s place in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs racing Toyota next season. Kenseth finished eighth Sunday in his final ride in the car.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops\/Tracker Boats Toyota, celebrates with crew chief Cole Pearn and the trophy in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 AXALTA Chevrolet, congratulates Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops\/Tracker Boats Toyota, in Victory Lane after Truex won the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops\/Tracker Boats Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Media Center Interviews:<\/h3>\n

Kyle Busch – <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Kevin Harvick – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/HMS_MENCS_Fourth_111917.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Brad Keselowski – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/HMS_MENCS_Champion_4_driver_111917.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rookie of the Year winner Erik Jones – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/HMS_MENCS_Sunoco_rookie_of_the_year_111917.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Driver’s Meeting – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/MENCS_DriversMeeting_111917.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race Results – Ford EcoBoost 400<\/b><\/p>\n

Homestead-Miami Speedway<\/b><\/p>\n

Homestead, Florida<\/b><\/p>\n

Sunday, November 19, 2017<\/b><\/p>\n

               1. (2) Martin Truex Jr. (P), Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

               2. (3) Kyle Busch (P), Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

               3. (7) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

               4. (9) Kevin Harvick (P), Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

               5. (18) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

               6. (19) Joey Logano, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

               7. (5) Brad Keselowski (P), Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

               8. (4) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

               9. (1) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

               10. (21) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

               11. (17) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

               12. (16) Clint Bowyer, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

               13. (13) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 266.<\/p>\n

               14. (26) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 266.<\/p>\n

               15. (6) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 266.<\/p>\n

               16. (15) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 265.<\/p>\n

               17. (30) David Ragan, Ford, 265.<\/p>\n

               18. (20) Aric Almirola, Ford, 265.<\/p>\n

               19. (12) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 265.<\/p>\n

               20. (29) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, 265.<\/p>\n

               21. (14) Erik Jones #, Toyota, 265.<\/p>\n

               22. (8) Kurt Busch, Ford, 265.<\/p>\n

               23. (28) Landon Cassill, Ford, 265.<\/p>\n

               24. (23) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 265.<\/p>\n

               25. (24) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 264.<\/p>\n

               26. (32) Ty Dillon #, Chevrolet, 264.<\/p>\n

               27. (22) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 264.<\/p>\n

               28. (33) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, 264.<\/p>\n

               29. (11) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 264.<\/p>\n

               30. (31) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 263.<\/p>\n

               31. (34) Corey LaJoie(i), Toyota, 261.<\/p>\n

               32. (36) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Chevrolet, 259.<\/p>\n

               33. (27) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, Accident, 234.<\/p>\n

               34. (10) Daniel Suarez #, Toyota, Brakes, 225.<\/p>\n

               35. (37) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, Engine, 212.<\/p>\n

               36. (38) * David Starr(i), Chevrolet, Brakes, 175.<\/p>\n

               37. (25) Danica Patrick, Ford, Accident, 139.<\/p>\n

               38. (39) * Ray Black II(i), Chevrolet, Too Slow, 49.<\/p>\n

               39. (35) * Joey Gase(i), Toyota, Accident, 4.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  131.9 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  3 Hrs, 02 Mins, 11 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.681 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  5 for 26 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  13 among 4 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:    0; M. Truex Jr. (P) 1-12; K. Larson 13-82; B. Keselowski (P) 83; K. Larson 84-121; K. Busch (P) 122-123; K. Larson 124-145; K. Busch (P) 146; K. Larson 147-161; M. Truex Jr. (P) 162-175; K. Busch (P) 176; M. Truex Jr. (P) 177; K. Busch (P) 178-216; M. Truex Jr. (P) 217-267.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  K. Larson 4 times for 145 laps; M. Truex Jr. (P) 4 times for 78 laps; K. Busch (P) 4 times for 43 laps; B. Keselowski (P) 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 42,2,18,4,78,24,41,11,22,14<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 42,78,4,18,2,41,20,22,24,11<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service HOMESTEAD, Fla. \u2013 At the end of a riveting, breathtaking battle that had fans in the grandstands on their feet long after the checkered flag, Martin Truex Jr. held off Kyle Busch by .681 seconds at Homestead-Miami Speedway to win Sunday\u2019s Ford Eco-Boost 400 and his first Monster Energy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14205,"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":[527,244,388,16],"class_list":["post-14185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-homestead-miami-speedway","tag-martin-truex-jr","tag-monster-energy-nascar-cup-series","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/HMS_MENCS_Trophy_111917.jpg?fit=5254%2C3614","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-3GN","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14185","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=14185"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14185\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14222,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14185\/revisions\/14222"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14205"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}