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SPORTS Monday 20 noveMber 2017

Martin Truex Jr. caps career season with 1st NASCAR title

By JENNA FRYER ing. It was the second title
AP Auto Racing Writer in three years for manufac-
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — turer Toyota.
NASCAR’s newest cham- “Just a dream season. I was
pion wouldn’t take his hel- going to be gutted if we
met off. didn’t win,” Truex said. “We
He couldn’t. gave it our all, and it was
If he did, then everyone enough tonight.”
would see Martin Truex Jr. Busch finished second for
cry. Joe Gibbs Racing as Toy-
Truex capped the most ota, the most dominant
successful season of his manufacturer this season,
journeyman career as went 1-2 in the finale.
NASCAR’s champion Sun- Kyle Larson, who was elimi-
day, then struggled to nated from the playoffs last
start the celebration. He month, finished third in a
was mobbed on the front- Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi
stretch by his Furniture Row Racing. Harvick, seeking his
Racing team, and after his second title, was fourth in a
girlfriend pushed through Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.
the crowd to get to him, Keselowski wound up sev-
he finally pulled the helmet enth and was stopped
and black visor off to show short in trying to give Team
his face. Penske a season sweep of
Truex was sobbing. the two top American rac-
“I was a mess. I couldn’t ing series. Penske won the
even talk,” Truex said. “I IndyCar title in September. Martin Truex Jr. celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race and
was a wreck thinking about Truex’s victory also denied season championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017.
all the tough days, the bad Ford its third win of the Associated Press
days, the times where I weekend. Ford drivers won ter pouring millions into his ever had a shot this year those categories that NAS-
thought my career was the Truck Series race and race team, Visser watched the second that (Camry) CAR approves to really
over with, the times when the Xfinity Series race. The it win its first championship got put on the racetrack catch up.”
I didn’t think anyone be- manufacturer has not won on television. and approved,” Keselowski It was the final race as full-
lieved in me, but the guys, a Cup title since 2004. Truex led nearly every sta- said. “It kind of felt like For- time drivers for Dale Earn-
the people who mattered But it may not have even tistical category this year, mula 1 where you had one hardt Jr., the most popular
did, my fans, my family. had a chance Sunday be- including wins, laps led car that made it through in NASCAR , as well as Dan-
“Then when I got with this cause that’s how strong and stage victories. Head- the gates heads and tails ica Patrick and Matt Kens-
team ... they resurrected Truex has been all year . ing into Homestead, six of above everyone and your eth. Earnhardt retired after
my career and made me a Through his tears, he tried Truex’s wins came on 1 hands are tied because his 25th-place finish.
champion.” to express what this season 1/2-mile tracks, the same you’re not allowed to do Patrick blew a tire and
Truex won his first Cup title — a year in which longtime layout as Homestead. Now anything to the cars in wrecked , finishing 37th.q
by winning the finale, beat- partner Sherry Pollex suf- seven of his career-best
ing Kyle Busch, Kevin Har- fered a recurrence of ovar- eight wins are on those
vick and Brad Keselowski ian cancer — has meant. sized tracks.
for the championship. The “A lot of it was for (Pollex). “I mean, yeah, they’ve
other three were former A lot of it was for me. A had the fastest car all year,
champions. Truex was the lot of it was for this team,” so it was good to see him
favorite . Truex said. “I’ve wanted win,” said Harvick.
He thrived in that role, this since I was a little kid. Keselowski reiterated that
didn’t flinch when fellow Just never give up on your he believed the rede-
Toyota driver Busch tried to dreams no matter what signed Toyota Camry has
use a different pit strategy happens and what kind of had an advantage over
to steal the race and then crap you go through.” the competition since it
held off a hard-charging Missing from the celebra- debuted this season, and
Busch over the final 12 laps tion party was Furniture Chevrolet will catch up
to capture the title. Row team owner Barney with its new Camaro next
It was the eighth win of the Visser. year.
season for Truex and first He suffered a heart at- Ford has no plans for a re-
championship for Denver- tack two weeks ago and design.
based Furniture Row Rac- is sidelined in Colorado. Af- “I don’t think anyone really