{"id":5432,"date":"2016-09-04T23:37:11","date_gmt":"2016-09-05T04:37:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=5432"},"modified":"2016-09-10T15:46:54","modified_gmt":"2016-09-10T20:46:54","slug":"opportunistic-truex-gets-coveted-win-in-bojangles-southern-500","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2016\/09\/04\/opportunistic-truex-gets-coveted-win-in-bojangles-southern-500\/","title":{"rendered":"Opportunistic Truex gets coveted win in Bojangles\u2019 Southern 500"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Reid Spencer<\/b><\/p>\n

NASCAR Wire Service<\/b><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

DARLINGTON, S.C. \u2013<\/span><\/strong> Martin Truex Jr.\u2019s luck changed. Kevin Harvick\u2019s didn\u2019t.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

And that was the difference in Truex\u2019s unexpected victory in Sunday night\u2019s Bojangles\u2019 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Truex led 28 laps, all after passing Ryan Newman for the top spot on Lap 339 of 367.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Martin

Martin Truex, Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Robert Laberge\/NASCAR via Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Harvick led a race-high 214 laps, bringing his career total to 10,068. But where Truex\u2019s much-maligned pit crew performed its finest stop when it counted most\u2014under caution on Lap 351\u2014Harvick\u2019s crew experienced the sorts of problems that have become chronic this season.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Where Truex\u2019s over-the-wall gang got the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet off pit road with the lead for a restart on Lap 356, Harvick\u2019s crew lost a net of 17 spots in the pits over the course of the race.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

The bottom line? Truex, who has had the fastest car in a succession of races this year, didn\u2019t have the most potent equipment on Sunday. Harvick did.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

But it was Truex who celebrated in Victory Lane, after beating Harvick to the finish line by .606 seconds, leaving the driver of the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet to bemoan his 17th second-place finish in the past 61 races\u2014many of which he could have won with flawless execution on pit road.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Martin

Martin Truex, Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, applies the winners sticker in victory land after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Robert Laberge\/NASCAR via Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

“This is unbelievable,” said Truex, who earned his second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory of the season and the fifth of his career. “I\u2019ve always loved this race track. I\u2019ve led a lot of laps here in my career, but something always happens, and I\u2019m so proud to get to Victory lane with this group. The pit crew was flawless tonight\u2014they won us the race.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

“They took a lot of heat for what happened last week (a blown pit stop at Michigan resulting in a 20th-place finish). We\u2019ve had a terrible streak of bad luck. We\u2019ve had super-fast race cars. … I knew the bad luck would stop coming, and we\u2019d start racking ’em off … The pit crew\u2019s done a great job, but they did stumble last week, and this was a great way to make it up.”<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Harvick\u2019s assessment of his crew\u2019s performance stood in sharp contrast to Truex\u2019s. After issues with an air gun during a stop under caution on Lap 281, Harvick restarted 12th after entering pit road with the lead. He spent the rest of the race working his way forward but couldn\u2019t catch Truex on the final 12-lap run.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Martin

Martin Truex, Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Josh Hedges\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

“Yeah, we had a great car,” Harvick said. “The guys in the garage and at the shop continue to do a great job, and we continue to give it away on pit road. Pretty much summed up the night. Just the dominant car, and just three bad stops on pit road.”<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Harvick indicated he was beyond giving encouragement to his pit crew.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019m over being a cheerleader,” he said. “Those guys get paid a lot of money to perform on pit road, and cheerleading hasn\u2019t really been working. You\u2019ve got to get after it on pit road and do your job.”<\/span>
\n
\nKyle Larson, last week\u2019s Michigan winner, came home third. Denny Hamlin ran fourth, followed by Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth. Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliott completed the top 10.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Martin

Martin Truex, Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, crosses the finish line during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Notes: Harvick is the 17th driver to accumulate 10,000 or more career laps led. … Chris Buescher ran 17th and stretched his lead over 21st-place David Ragan to 11 points in the race for the 30th position in the Sprint Cup standings. Buescher, who won a rain-shortened race at Pocono in August, must hold 30th or better next week at Richmond to qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. … Fighting for the last Chase spot on points, Newman shaved Jamie McMurray\u2019s lead to seven points with one race left before the cutoff. McMurray currently holds the final Chase-eligible position. … Truex\u2019s victory was the fourth for the Furniture Row organization. FRR won the Southern 500 with Regan Smith in 2011\u2014Smith\u2019s only triumph in a Sprint Cup car.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race – Bojangles’ Southern 500<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Darlington Raceway<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Darlington, South Carolina<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Sunday, September 04, 2016<\/b><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 1. (8) Martin Truex, Jr., Toyota, 367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 2. (1) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 3. (16) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 4. (7) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 5. (5) Joey Logano, Ford, 367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 6. (10) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 7. (18) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 8. (14) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 9. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 10. (11) Chase Elliott #, Chevrolet, 367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 11. (6) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 12. (12) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 13. (20) * Ryan Blaney #, Ford, 367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 14. (15) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 15. (13) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 16. (24) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 17. (31) Chris Buescher #, Ford, 367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 18. (22) Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Ford, 367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 19. (3) Carl Edwards, Toyota, 366.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 20. (33) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 366.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 21. (32) David Ragan, Toyota, 366.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 22. (27) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 365.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 23. (21) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 365.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 24. (25) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 365.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 25. (28) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 365.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 26. (35) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, 364.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 27. (30) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 364.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 28. (37) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 362.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 29. (40) * Josh Wise, Chevrolet, 361.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 30. (29) Landon Cassill, Ford, 361.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 31. (39) * Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, 358.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 32. (26) Aric Almirola, Ford, Accident, 346.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 33. (9) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 328.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 34. (4) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, Accident, 326.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 35. (17) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, Overheating, 317.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 36. (23) Greg Biffle, Ford, Accident, 295.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 37. (36) * Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, Electrical, 250.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 38. (38) Jeffrey Earnhardt #, Ford, Accident, 247.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 39. (34) Brian Scott #, Ford, Accident, 199.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 40. (19) Trevor Bayne, Ford, Engine, 161.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:\u00a0 126.437 mph.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Time of Race:\u00a0 3 Hrs, 57 Mins, 54 Secs. Margin of Victory:\u00a0 0.606 Seconds.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Caution Flags:\u00a0 10 for 52 laps.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lead Changes:\u00a0 14 among 8 drivers.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:\u00a0\u00a0 K. Harvick 1-93; B. Keselowski 94-138; K. Harvick 139-162; B. Keselowski 163-164; K. Harvick 165-251; D. Hamlin 252-261; Kyle Busch 262; M. Kenseth 263-272; K. Harvick 273-281; D. Hamlin 282-284; K. Larson 285-329; R. Newman 330-338; M. Truex, Jr. 339-350; K. Harvick 351; M. Truex, Jr. 352-367.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):\u00a0 K. Harvick 5 times for 214 laps; B. Keselowski 2 times for 47 laps; K. Larson 1 time for 45 laps; M. Truex, Jr. 2 times for 28 laps; D. Hamlin 2 times for 13 laps; M. Kenseth 1 time for 10 laps; R. Newman 1 time for 9 laps; Kyle Busch 1 time for 1 lap.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Top 16 in Points: K. Harvick – 840; B. Keselowski – 797; J. Logano – 752; C. Edwards – 746; D. Hamlin – 729; Kurt Busch – 728; Kyle Busch – 727; M. Truex, Jr. – 696; M. Kenseth – 669; C. Elliott # – 659; J. Johnson – 656; A. Dillon – 651; J. Mcmurray – 642; R. Newman – 635; K. Larson – 621; K. Kahne – 598.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service DARLINGTON, S.C. \u2013 Martin Truex Jr.\u2019s luck changed. Kevin Harvick\u2019s didn\u2019t. And that was the difference in Truex\u2019s unexpected victory in Sunday night\u2019s Bojangles\u2019 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Truex led 28 laps, all after passing Ryan Newman for the top spot on Lap 339 of 367. Harvick led […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5438,"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-5432","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\/2016\/09\/DR_NSCS_WinnerDecal_090416.jpg?fit=3736%2C2585&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-1pC","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5432"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5432\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5439,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5432\/revisions\/5439"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}