Truex hangs on to win for 2nd time
CONCORD, N.C. — Martin Truex Jr. gave team owner Joe Gibbs another reason to celebrate at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Truex overcame an early flat tire after hitting the wall and then broke to the front on a wild final restart to win the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night for the second time in four seasons.
It was the perfect cap to a landmark week for Gibbs and his race team. The three-time Super Bowl champion coach was voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Wednesday, along with two of his race team’s championship drivers in Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart. But according to Gibbs, it was Truex, in his first season with JGR, who delivered the program’s biggest moment.
“What was Wednesday?” Gibbs responded when asked if the race victory was bigger than the Hall of Fame.
Gibbs broke into laughter when reminded about his honor. “Obviously, I’m excited about tonight,” he said with a smile.
And Truex provided much of the excitement.
He slid into the Turn 4 wall during the first stage of NASCAR’s longest event, damaging his tire and seemingly putting his chances in serious jeopardy. However, crew chief Cole Pearn radioed his driver that things were not that bad and to stay calm and remain focused.
“I thought, ‘We’re done. How we going to fix this thing?’ ” Truex said. “I didn’t know how bad it was, (but) the guys worked hard, fixed it up.”
That steadied Truex the rest of the way, especially near the end when he drove low during a fourwide fight for the lead on the final restart at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He had an easier time in the 2016 race when he led 392 of 400 laps.
Truex sprang out low and shot into the front past Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman and David Ragan, who stretched four across the track. “You just never know what can happen,” said Truex, who led 116 laps this time.
Truex held off defending series champion and Team Penske driver Joey Logano.
“For us, it’s the wildest race we’ve ever won,” Pearn said.
Busch was third, Chase Elliott fourth and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. fifth.