Truex opens NASCAR playoffs with win at Chicagoland
JOLIET, Ill. - Martin Truex Jr. backed up his regular-season dominance with a victory Sunday in NASCAR’s playoff opener at Chicagoland Speedway.
Truex solidified himself as the driver to beat over the final nine races as he chases his first Cup championship. Truex raced to his fifth victory of the season and an automatic berth in the second round of the playoffs, earning even more points in his bid to compete for the title in the finale at Homestead.
Truex had a nearly 7-second lead over Chase Elliott in the final laps and won at Chicagoland for the second straight season.
“I don’t really care a whole lot about statements. I’m just having fun,” Truex said. “It’s important to come here and not let the pressure get to you, and I think we did a good job with that.”
Elliott was second, followed by Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson.
Truex’s No. 78 Toyota needed four tries through pre-race inspection before the car was cleared and later overcame an early pit-road penalty. By the end, there was no doubt the path to the NASCAR championship goes through Truex.
Truex won this race last season — also holding off Elliott for the second straight time — and again seemed right at home on the 1.5-mile track. Truex had wins this season on 1.5-mile tracks at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Kentucky Speedway.
IndyCar
SONOMA, Calif. - Josef Newgarden won his first IndyCar championship by closing out the best year of his career as the top driver at Team Penske.
Newgarden turned in a nearly flawless performance at Sonoma Raceway to prevent his Penske teammates, as well as four-time champion Scott Dixon, from taking the title away from him.
Penske driver Simon Pagenaud used pit strategy to win the race, but Newgarden finished second to take the title by 17 points.
Newgarden is only the second American in 11 years to win the IndyCar title, joining 2012 champion Ryan HunterReay.