Truex is emotional after victory
NASCAR driver talks about partner, who is having chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.
CONCORD, N.C. — Standing next to his car in Victory Lane, in this season he never thought possible, Martin Truex Jr. struggled with his emotions.
Truex raced to his careerbest sixth victory Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, one that is worth an automatic slot in the next round of NASCAR’s playoffs. He’s the driver to beat in the championship derby, and the reality of how close it really is seemed somewhat surreal.
Then he thought about his partner, Sherry Pollex, who has ovarian cancer and chemotherapy scheduled for Monday. She couldn’t attend 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. Just a lot of things, I guess. I was wore out. I just lost it for a minute.
“There’s a lot going on. It just shows how much this stuff means to us. We put everything into this, everything we have.”
Truex gave Toyota another victory in NASCAR’s playoffs — the manufacturer is four for four — on a humid day. Truex has two victories 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.
“Just a total team effort,” Truex said. “Every single guy, every guy on this team just did a perfect job today and I can’t be more proud of them and at this time of the year is just when you want it to happen. You dream about days like today. I don’t know if we had the best car, but we damn sure got it in Victory Lane.”
Kyle Busch, winner of the last two playoff races, wrecked early in the race but completed it in a damaged car. Complaining most of the 500 miles of being overheated, he needed immediate medical attention when he climbed from his car.
Busch laid on the grass, packs of ice were put on his chest and a stretcher was brought to him. Once he felt strong enough, Busch stood and walked to an ambulance. He received oxygen to treat a high carbon monoxide level.
Truex won in overtime after two late cautions created extra laps and forced Truex to hold off fellow Toyota driver Denny Hamlin on two restarts.
Chase Elliott finished second for the second consecutive week and for the sixth time in his career.