Truex wins at Pocono
Martin Truex Jr. slapped the top of his No. 78 Chevrolet, thrust his right fist toward the sky and bounded straight into his girlfriend’s arms.
They hugged, kissed and Truex lifted her into the air.
Truex has stood by Sherry Pollex’s side through her fight with ovarian cancer. Pollex was strong for Truex when his career was in flux following a scandal that cost him a shot at a championship and his ride.
Sunday at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., they were set for an overdue celebration.
Truex led the most laps for the fourth straight race, only this time he was in front on the one that mattered most, breaking through for his first Sprint Cup victory since 2013.
“This is easily the biggest win of my career,” Truex said.
Truex won the race and NASCAR’s version of a popularity contest in victory lane. Drivers, owners, crew members popped by for high-fives and congratulatory messages. Dale Earnhardt Jr. hugged Pollex. Jimmie Johnson fist-bumped Truex.
Truex and Pollex, a couple since 2005, have endured their share of personal and professional heartache over the last 18 months. Pollex, was diagnosed with cancer last summer and she had various organs removed, including her ovaries, fallopian tubes and part of her stomach.
Furniture Row owner Barney Visser told Truex he could sit out the rest of the season following Pollex’s diagnosis and still keep his ride for 2015. Truex, though greatly appreciative, declined the offer. Truex took another hit when his grandmother, Roberta, died Wednesday in the family hometown of Mayetta, N.J.
Kevin Harvick was second, followed by Johnson, Joey Logano and Kurt Busch.
With a new car at Pocono, Truex raced to his third win in 347 career starts. Truex is the 10th driver to win a race this season and qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.
Lewis Hamilton quickly put his recent Monaco pit stop blunder — and everyone else in the Formula One field — behind him.
The reigning world champion won the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, leading from the pole to the checkered flag with no threat from anyone except his Mercedes teammate, Nico Rosberg. Rosberg finished second. Valtteri Bottas was third.
Antron Brown raced to his 50th NHRA victory Sunday, beating Brittany Force in the top fuel final in the Toyota NHRA Summernationals at his home track.
Brown had a 3.843-second run at 318.47 mph at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J., for the milestone victory. He has 34 victories in top fuel after winning 16 times in pro stock motorcycle. The victory was his third of the season, and first in top fuel at the track.
The 2012 top fuel series champion and current points leader raced past Force, who lost traction early in the run and finished in 5.398 at 150.16.
Matt Hagan won in funny car, Greg Anderson in pro stock, and Jerry Savoie in pro stock motorcycle.