Haunted by O-for-Loudon
Champ seeks 1st in NH
LOUDON, N.H. — Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series reigning champion Martin Truex Jr. and former kingpins Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick are the uncontested Big Three drivers on the tour.
NASCAR’s marquee troika sit atop the driver standings, have a combined 14 wins in 19 races and are the favorites in today’s Foxwoods 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Busch is the leader with 799 points followed by Harvick (740) and Truex (689), who secured his fourth win in last weekend’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway.
Truex is the operator the No. 78 Toyota Camry for Furniture Row Racing and begins the race in the front row alongside pole-sitter Kurt Busch.
“It’s really hard to continue what we’ve done and I realize how much work it takes and how many people I owe it to,” said Truex. “For me trying to stay focused and get the job done is what’s most important.”
Harvick was the champ in 2014 and Kyle Busch claimed it in 2015.
The Magic Mile is what separates Truex from his fiercest rivals on the tour.
Kyle Busch took the checkered flag here three times and Harvick has won twice. Truex, who considers the Magic Mile the “springboard” of his racing career, hasn’t finished better than third.
“Unfortunately, I don’t know what it takes to win here,” said Truex, who won an Xfinity series race at NHMS in 2005.
“I really want to get that Cup win because this is a special place for me. I really love coming here and really just trying to figure out how to get that Cup win. I feel pretty good about what we have to do this weekend.
“It’s a very competitive track and a very difficult track. It’s somewhat of a short track, one mile and it’s difficult to pass.”
Truex is winless in the top series at NHMS despite being the dominant driver in the last four races. He earned the pole position last July, then finished third despite leading 112 laps. In the last four races, Truex has led 513 laps, which translates in 43 percent of the total run.
“We certainly performed well enough to win and fast enough to win (but) sometimes the biggest ones are the hardest ones. I guess this is a big one for me,” said Truex.
“It’s been difficult but I look forward to the challenge this weekend and trying to finish the deal. For whatever reason, it’s been a tough one for us to get.”
Truex was on the receiving end of a prestigious accolade away from the track last week, when he was named Best Driver at the 26th annual ESPY Awards. The award covers all motor sports but has been dominated by NASCAR drivers the past few years. Harvick won the ESPY in 2015 and Kyle Busch in 2016.
“Honestly it was a big surprise, I didn’t have any expectations,” said Truex. “I thought it was cool to be nominated and I didn’t think much about it after that.
“It’s a great honor. A lot of great drivers on that list. A lot of people I respect and enjoy watching, so it’s pretty cool to be able to win that.”