Truex remains on a roll in playoffs
Standing next to his car in victory lane, in this season he never thought possible, Martin Truex Jr. struggled with his emotions.
He raced to his career- best sixth victory Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, and this win is worth an automatic slot in the next round of NASCAR’s playoffs. He’s clearly the driver to beat in the championship chace, and the reality of how close it is seemed somewhat surreal.
Then he thought about his partner, Sherry Pollex, who has ovarian cancer and chemotherapy scheduled for Monday. She couldn’t come to the race, partly because her weakened immune system makes crowds too risky for her.
He choked on his words, his voice heavy as he tried not to cry.
“I couldn’t hold it in anymore,” he said. “Sherry, I was thinking about her because she’s not here, and I know she really wanted to be. I thought about winning this first race of the round, the pressure coming off. I was wore out. I just lost it for a minute.”
Truex gave Toyota another victory in NASCAR’s playoffs — the manufacturer is 4- for- 4 so far. Truex has two wins in the playoffs, and this one was the first time in this format that Toyota has won a race in this round of the postseason.
Championship leader Lewis Hamilton won the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, taking a major step toward winning his third Formula One title. The Mercedes driver crossed the finish line 1.2 seconds ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to claim his eighth F1 victory of the season.