Martin Truex Jr. struck gold at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday in his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota. Truex, who started the day in second beside pole sitter Brad Keselowski, led 150 of the 267 circuits in the Kobalt 400.
The win did not come easy for the New Jersey native. With two laps remaining, race leader Brad Keselowski developed an issue that caused him to slow significantly. It wouldn’t be long before Truex found himself passing Keselowski for the race lead that eventually led him to parking his Toyota into victory lane. While that all happened, he also battled issues with the track bar adjuster inside his car later in the running.
“We definitely had our share of races where we’ve dominated and gave one away and it looked like today was going to be another one of those,” Truex said after the race. “The runs just didn’t work out the way we needed them. We were struggling on the really long runs. We had to run that last set of tires on that last caution longer than we did all race long. I was out of control and Brad (Keselowski) was really good on the long run. I hate that he had problems, he was strong and we weren’t going to do anything with him, but then he lost the brakes or something. A little bit of a gift, but we have given some away, so it feels good to come out on the good end for once.”
Truex became the first driver under the new format to win all three stages in a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race since its inception this year.
Kyle Larson will leave Vegas with a runner-up finish in his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet. The California native finished stage one sitting second on the leaderboard and third at the end of stage two.
“Awesome day for our Target team. Second in the first stage, third in the second stage and then finished second in the race,” said Larson after the race. “I can’t say enough about my team. I’m so proud of them. Our race cars are amazing right now. We are going to hopefully, keep building on what we’ve got and keep challenging for wins and they will come. Had a lot of fun today. Had a bad restart there after the second stage and lost a lot of track position, but was able to get a good restart there on that last one. Brad (Keselowski) I think he was blowing up or something and got luck there and got second. Back-to-back second’s we would like to have back-to-back wins, but this is pretty awesome.”
Larson has finished second in the last two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races and goes into Phoenix looking to capture his second career victory in the series.
Chase Elliott rounded out the top three when the 267-lap event concluded. Elliott, who started 12th in the Kobalt 400, took home his second top-five finish of the season through three races.
Keselowski settled down to fifth on the leaderboard when the race ended. The No. 2 Miller Lite team did not know what broke in the closing laps that destroyed their chances of going to victory lane.
“No, they’ll have to take it apart,” said Keselowski after the race. “At the end we have to go to inspection and stuff, so we’re not allowed to look. I just know it was something major. It wouldn’t turn and I lost brakes, so that’s a pretty good indicator, but that’s the way it goes. That’s racing and that’s why you watch until the end and you never know what’s gonna happen.”
The 2012 series champion heads to Phoenix with one victory, two top five and two top 10 finishes so far.
Despite the late-race issues for Keselowski, he finds himself leading the driver standings by one point over Kyle Larson. Rounding out the top 10 is Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne and Jamie McMurray.
The series will stay out west and head to Phoenix International Raceway for the Good Sam 500. Live coverage will begin at 3:30 p.m. ET. on FOX and FOX Sports Go on Sunday. The Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM Channel 90 will have the live radio broadcast.
About Me: Brett has been following the sport of NASCAR since the beginning of the 2006 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Since Brett was 13, he has had a passion of chasing a job in sports that not many get the opportunity of doing. He has been in the NASCAR media since the middle of the 2010 season. Since then, he has been a part of many racing podcast shows to improve his talents. He has written for racingonfuel.com and theracingwheel.com. Currently, Brett writes for motorsportsnat.com and TracksideChatter.com. You can find him on twitter @NASCAR_Brett.
- NCTS: Eckes Scores Second Victory of 2024 at Martinsville - April 5, 2024
- NWMT: Justin Bonsignore Noses Ron Silk for 41st Career Victory at Richmond - March 29, 2024
- NCS: William Byron Scores EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix Victory in Austin - March 24, 2024