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SPORTS Tuesday 28 May 2019

Truex overcomes early problems to win Coca-Cola 600

By PETE IACOBELLI event took more than five
AP Sports Writer hours to complete.
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — ALL-STAR ISSUE: All-Star race
Martin Truex Jr. gave team winner Kyle Larson had
owner Joe Gibbs another hoped to build off his $1
reason to celebrate at million-winning run at Char-
Charlotte Motor Speed- lotte a week ago in the 600.
way. Instead, he lost grip in the
Truex overcame an early final stage, hit Clint Bowyer
flat tire after hitting the wall, to start a wreck that col-
then broke to the front on lected seven drivers. Larson
a wild final restart and won said the fault was his. “Up
the Coca-Cola 600 for the and down day for us,” Lar-
second time in four seasons son said. “I finally put myself
Sunday night. in a good spot for about a
It was the perfect cap lap and I screwed that up.”
to a landmark week for Larson has not won a NAS-
Gibbs and his race team. CAR points race since Rich-
The three-time Super Bowl mond in September 2017, a
champion coach was vot- span of 59 races.
ed into the NASCAR Hall GIBBS’ TIRE PROBLEMS: It
of Fame on Wednesday, wasn’t a completely per-
along with two of his race fect week for Joe Gibbs
team’s championship driv- Racing. While Gibbs made
ers in Bobby Labonte and the NASCAR Hall of Fame
Tony Stewart. this week (along with two
But according to Gibbs, it of his championship drivers
was Truex, in his first season in Bobby Labonte and Tony
with JGR, who delivered Stewart), their Toyotas had
the program’s biggest mo- Martin Truex Jr. poses with the trophy in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto some on-track problems.
ment. race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Sunday, May 26, 2019. Erik Jones was out of the
“What was Wednesday?” Associated Press race after just 22 laps when
Gibbs responded when the end when he drove low late friend and champion banged up,” he said. his car slid hard into the
asked if the race victory during a four-wide fight for driver Niki Lauda. Next, Si- Penske driver Brad Kes- wall and damaged his right
was bigger than the Hall of the lead on the final restart mon Pagenaud gave Pen- elowski won the first two front tire. Truex hit the wall
Fame. at Charlotte Motor Speed- ske his 18th Indy 500 victory stages and appeared to on lap 74l while out front
Gibbs broke into laughter way. He had an easier time in a thrilling duel over the have the strongest car. But with a two-second lead.
when reminded about his in the 2016 race when he final laps with Alexander he slipped to the middle of It was Denny Hamlin’s turn
honor. “Obviously, I’m ex- led 392 of 400 laps. Rossi. the pack during the third in the second stage as
cited about tonight,” he Truex sprang out low and “For us, it’s the wildest race 100-lap segment and never he hit the wall while near
said with a smile. shot into the front past we’ve ever won,” Pearn challenged for the victory. the front. Hamlin spun out
And Truex provided much Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman said. He finished 19th. again on the final lap to fin-
of the excitement. and David Ragan, who Truex was happy to provide Busch was third, Chase El- ish 17th.
He slid into the Turn 4 wall stretched four across the his boss another win. “To liott fourth and Ricky Sten- In the Xfinity race Saturday,
during the first stage of NAS- track. “You just never know think a guy can be in the house Jr. fifth. Gibbs’ racer Christopher
CAR’s longest event, dam- what can happen,” said Pro Football Hall of Fame Logano said Truex had the Bell won the pole and led
aging his tire and seem- Truex, who led 116 laps this and the NASCAR Hall of faster car in the race. If Lo- 33 of the first 49 laps when
ingly putting his chances in time. Fame just tells you how spe- gano had gotten to Truex’s he brushed the wall, hit tire
serious jeopardy. But crew Truex held off defending cial (Gibbs) is and I’m super outside, he may have a caught fire and he couldn’t
chief Cole Pearn radioed series champion and Team honored to drive for him,” chance to move in front, continue.
his driver that things were Penske driver Joey Loga- Truex said. he said. Truex “knew the NEVER FORGET: NASCAR
not that bad and to stay no — and again prevent Pearn said the car was se- same thing,” Logano said. held a moment of remem-
calm and remain focused. owner Roger Penske from riously damaged by the “He did a good job de- brance for military person-
“I thought, ‘We’re done. becoming the first to helm early run into the wall and it fending his position.” nel who lost their lives in ser-
How we going to fix this winners at the Indianapolis took several trips to the pits TAKE CAUTION: There were vice as cars were led into
thing?’” Truex said. “I didn’t 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on to fix the issues. Still, in vic- 16 cautions in the Coca- the pits and halted. Drivers
know how bad it was, (but) motorsports biggest day. tory lane, Pearn couldn’t Cola 600, the most at this turned off their engines and
the guys worked hard, fixed Things began with Lewis believe his team came out event in 14 years. The slow- fans stood quietly during 30
it up.” Hamilton’s rousing win in on top. downs included breaks be- seconds of silence as part
That steadied Truex the rest the Monaco Grand Prix, “It was crazy to see the car tween stages, but slowed of the Memorial Day sol-
of the way, especially near which he dedicated to his be that good and be that things enough that the emn ceremonies.q