Page 21 - ARUBA TODAY

A21
SPORTS Monday 19 March 2018

Martin Truex Jr. grabs

1st win of NASCAR

season at Fontana

By GREG BEACHAM "It just feels good to win,"
FONTANA, Calif. (AP) — said Truex, who became
Martin Truex Jr. saw noth- the third driver to win from
ing but clean air and green the pole at Fontana. "I
flags down the stretch in his don't really worry about
first victory of the new NAS- who else is fast. Obviously
CAR Cup season. (Harvick) has been quick.
Truex didn't get much of They've got a great team,
a look at Kevin Harvick, and Kevin is an awesome
whose bid for four straight driver. But as we've seen to-
wins was ruined by an early day, we can put together
crash at Fontana. a run as well."
So even while Truex's Fur- Truex took the lead for
niture Row Racing Toyota good with 32 laps left by
team celebrated, it was a getting past Kyle Busch,
wee bit disappointed not who finished third. Brad Ke-
to get a duel with the early- selowski was fourth.
season king. "People kept asking, 'When
"I think we would have had are you going to win
something for him today," again?'" said Truex, who
team owner Barney Visser led 125 laps overall. "'When
said. are you going to win any
Truex roared to victory at stages?' Well, here you go."
Fontana on Sunday, beat- When Truex got a series of
ing Kyle Larson by 11 sec- post-race questions about
onds to claim the first win Harvick, the defending side contact with Larson on there." champ Jimmie Johnson
of the season for last year's champ suggested that Fur- the 37th lap. Harvick's flap- Harvick's car was repaired, finished ninth for his first
series champion. niture Row proved early on ping bumper was the most and he managed to earn top-10 finish of the season,
Truex won both stages be- that it can hang with Stew- obvious problem, but he two standings points. Har- ending a 10-race skid out-
fore rolling to the check- art-Haas Racing. made a nice save down vick had won in Atlanta, Las side the top 10 — the worst
ered flag on his 16th career "That first pit stop was un- the track to avoid an inte- Vegas and Phoenix before such stretch of his career.
victory and his first since der green, and he came in rior wall. arriving in his home state for Johnson's winless streak
that glorious champion- pretty close (to me)," Truex Harvick took the blame for an attempt to become the reached 28 races, also his
ship day at Homestead last said. "We left pit road, and I the mistake. second driver in this centu- longest in a career that be-
November. His first career drove away from him. That "I went down to side-draft ry to win four straight. gan in 2001.
victory at Fontana even was the only gauge I really and (Larson) was coming CLEAN SWEEP: Truex won BACK AND FORTH: Truex
moved Truex into the over- had of that. ... I'm sure we'll up and we touched, and both stages and a race for and Busch traded the lead
all points lead, thanks to have plenty of chances to it just knocked the thing the third time in his career. during the final stage, but
Harvick's woes. race each other through- to the right and spun out," He also accomplished the Busch had a problematic
Harvick dragged his dam- out the rest of the season." Harvick said. "I don't know feat at Las Vegas and Chi- pit stop that left his car han-
aged car to a 35th-place Here are more things to that it's his fault. I think that's cagoland during his cham- dling poorly. Truex passed
finish after early contact know about the race at my fault for coming down pionship 2017 season. "I Busch for good with 32 laps
with Larson ruined his day. Fontana: the racetrack right there would have liked to be one to go. Busch was less than
But after dominating at KEVIN'S SMACK: Harvick's and trying to side-draft, spot better, but I couldn't pleased afterward.
Auto Club Speedway, bid to become the 14th and then as we touch, even see Martin," said Lar- BANG FOR BAYNE: Trevor
Truex's team was no lon- driver ever to win four it just came back up the son, the race's defending Bayne's day ended on
ger certain Harvick has the straight races ended when racetrack. I was just trying champion. the 108th lap when he
fastest ride in the field. he hit the wall after side-to- to get a little too much right JJ IN 9TH: Six-time Fontana smacked the wall.q