{"id":14257,"date":"2017-12-03T08:37:47","date_gmt":"2017-12-03T14:37:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=14257"},"modified":"2017-12-03T08:37:47","modified_gmt":"2017-12-03T14:37:47","slug":"the-inside-story-of-the-race-that-made-martin-truex-jr-a-champion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2017\/12\/03\/the-inside-story-of-the-race-that-made-martin-truex-jr-a-champion\/","title":{"rendered":"The inside story of the race that made Martin Truex Jr. a champion"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

LAS VEGAS \u2013 Understandably, the proudest moment of Martin Truex\u2019s<\/strong> racing life was simultaneously a source of enormous frustration for Kyle Busch.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops\/Tracker Boats Toyota, poses with the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship trophy in front of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign during NASCAR Champion’s Week on November 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

But both drivers recall with indelible clarity the closing laps of the Nov. 19 Ford Eco-Boost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series<\/a> race that made Truex a champion and Busch a disappointed runner-up for the title.<\/p>\n

For the record, Truex powered his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota across the finish line, with Busch\u2019s No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota .681 seconds in arrears. But the outcome was in doubt for the final 17 laps, after Busch passed Kevin Harvick for second place on Lap 250 of 267 and took off after Truex, who had claimed the lead off pit road for a restart on Lap 234.<\/p>\n

With Busch driving a faster long-run car, Truex found a small patch of grip high in Turn 4 and kept Busch\u2019s Camry in his mirror.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, it\u2019s probably one of my proudest moments, because I got put in that position, and my guys said, \u2018Here it is; it\u2019s all up to you now; here\u2019s the lead with 32 laps to go \u2013 show us what you\u2019ve got,\u2019\u201d Truex told the NASCAR Wire Service.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops\/Tracker Boats Toyota, poses with the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship trophy in front of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign during NASCAR Champion’s Week on November 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s definitely one of the proudest moments of my career to be able to bring it home for them, after all they\u2019ve done for me and giving me the opportunity they have and putting me in a position to be a champion. I was glad I could hold up my end of the deal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though Truex hasn\u2019t watched a replay of the race in its entirety, he relishes the memory of every second of the closing green-flag run.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can remember every single one of those laps,\u201d Truex said. \u201cI can remember everything that happened, everything I thought, when I missed the line, when I hit it, and, most importantly, when I found that little patch of grip up there off of Turn 4.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the game-changer for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Busch, not so much.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row\/Denver Mattress Toyota drives during the NASCAR Victory Lap Fueled by Sunoco on November 29, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI tried that same patch \u2013 it didn\u2019t work for me,\u201d Busch said after Wednesday\u2019s Myers Brothers Awards ceremony in the Encore Theater. \u201cI tried to get as close to the wall as I could off of (Turn) 4. I was way too loose. I just didn\u2019t have the drive-off that I needed, and I think that was a lot to do with being in his wake, just being behind him and having the aero deficiency that I had.\u201d<\/p>\n

The final 15 laps weren\u2019t just a two-car battle. Enter Kyle Larson, who charged past Harvick for the third position on Lap 252 and, running against the outside wall, quickly rolled up near Busch\u2019s back bumper and began contemplating his prospects of passing the No. 18.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got to third, and I felt like, if I was going to win or pass those guys \u2013 which I felt like I could \u2013 I needed to pass them before 10 (laps) to go,\u201d said Larson, who was eliminated from championship contention by an engine failure at Kansas Speedway.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row\/Denver Mattress Toyota drives during the NASCAR Victory Lap Fueled by Sunoco on November 29, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI felt like, once we got to 10 to go, I needed to respect them and kind of let things play out between those two\u2026 I didn\u2019t want to screw one guy and not the other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Interestingly, Busch contemplated letting Larson pass him in the closing laps.<\/p>\n

\u201cI actually though about, with maybe 15 to go, something like that\u2026 he (Larson) was really close to me, and I was like, \u2018I wonder if I let him go, and he gets in-between us, if he\u2019ll go and try to race Truex and pass Truex and help Truex come back to me,\u201d Busch said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I thought about doing that, but I said I can\u2019t give in to that at this moment of letting somebody else within the battle, because, if he doesn\u2019t go up and pass the 78, he just pushes me further behind. That\u2019s why I stayed the way we were and tried to fight it out.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Truex making ground near the top of the track, Busch tried a low line, and with three laps left, he lost momentum off Turn 2. With a head of steam around the top, Larson was there to give the No. 18 a nudge.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Martin Truex Jr., and his girlfriend Sherry Pollex speak on stage after accepting the Myers Brothers Award during the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on November 29, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI was hoping to launch him forward, but I kind of got him squirrely,\u201d Larson said. \u201cI\u2019m glad he didn\u2019t hit the wall, because I was just trying to help him out. Not that I wanted him to win over Martin. I just wanted to get him closer to make the racing more exciting, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the moment, Busch understood Larson\u2019s intent.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew that was a moment of help,\u201d Busch said. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t a moment of trying to screw with me at all. I knew what that was. It\u2019s just that these cars are so loose on the straightaways, with not a lot of downforce, and of course we were on older tires, with higher air pressure and everything like that, and it got me juked up.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I was expecting that, and I was fine with it. It was all good.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the end, the bump from Larson didn\u2019t help enough to put Truex\u2019s title in jeopardy. But it helped to make the final 17 laps of the event some of the most riveting in recent memory.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Martin Truex Jr., and his girlfriend Sherry Pollex are presented with the Myers Brothers Award by NMPA president Kenny Bruce during the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on November 29, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

MARTIN TRUEX JR., SHERRY POLLEX WIN MYERS BROTHERS AWARD<\/b><\/p>\n

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. and long-time girlfriend Sherry Pollex earned the prestigious Myers Brothers Award, not for Truex\u2019s accomplishments on the race track, but for their unrelenting generosity off the asphalt.<\/p>\n

Pollex has been battling ovarian cancer since her diagnosis in 2014 and recently had a recurrence that has required chemotherapy. Nevertheless, she and Truex have maintained a commitment to charitable causes that took root more than a decade ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a crazy, crazy year for both of us, both personally and professionally, with my cancer and\u2026,\u201d Pollex said with a catch in her voice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t do that, \u2018cause I\u2019m going to cry,\u201d Truex interjected. \u201cThis is an unbelievable honor to receive this award. We definitely didn\u2019t see it coming. It was unexpected. Sherry and I have been very fortunate in our lives to have all the things we needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had great families, great parents that raised us right and taught us right from wrong. I think they probably deserve a lot of the credit for us being who we are and being able to give back and help people\u2026 We\u2019ve learned so much from past champions, and just everybody in the sport that\u2019s so willing to give back.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t deserve all the credit for this. I think we\u2019ve learned a lot of lessons from a lot of people in this room.\u201d<\/p>\n

BRAD KESELOWSKI GRATIFIED BY HONORS TO HIS TRUCK TEAM DRIVERS<\/b><\/p>\n

Brad Keselowski, the 2012 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion, won\u2019t be fielding a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team in 2018, but his Brad Keselowski Racing team is departing on a high note.<\/p>\n

BKR driver Austin Cindric made the Championship 4 race at Homestead and finished third in the final standings. Teammate Chase Briscoe earned Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors and was voted the series\u2019 most popular driver.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud of him,\u201d Keselowski said of the latter distinction for Briscoe. \u201cI\u2019m proud of the marketing team at BKR as well. They put a lot of effort into that, in trying to promote and do those things and help those guys launch their careers with some kind of star power and branding efforts.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s something we\u2019ve taken very seriously, and it\u2019s good to see it take a foothold.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both Briscoe and Cindric will drive partial schedule in Roush Fenway Racing\u2019s No. 60 XFINITY Series Ford next season, along with RFR development driver Ty Majeski.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service LAS VEGAS \u2013 Understandably, the proudest moment of Martin Truex\u2019s racing life was simultaneously a source of enormous frustration for Kyle Busch. But both drivers recall with indelible clarity the closing laps of the Nov. 19 Ford Eco-Boost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14276,"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],"class_list":["post-14257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-martin-truex-jr","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/mencs_champsweek_truex_vegassign2_112817.jpg?fit=4756%2C3171","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-3HX","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14257","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=14257"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14257\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14278,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14257\/revisions\/14278"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}