Martin Truex Jr. snapped a two-year winless streak in the Sprint Cup Series with a dominating performance in Sunday's Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400 at Pocono Raceway.
Truex, who drives the No. 78 Chevrolet for Furniture Row Racing, a single-car team based in Denver, Colorado, led 97 of 160 laps, including the final 27. He held off Kevin Harvick, the defending series champion, in the closing laps, beating Harvick to the finish line by 1.3 seconds.
"Yeah, baby, yeah! Awesome, awesome, awesome," Truex shouted with joy over his team radio after he had crossed the line in first.
It was the third career victory for Truex in Sprint Cup but his first since June 23, 2013 on the Sonoma, California road course (69 races ago). He drove for Michael Waltrip Racing at the time.
Truex, a 34-year-old Mayetta, New Jersey native, became the 10th different driver to win a race in the series this season and therefore virtually guarantee himself a spot in the 16-driver field for the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Truex has led the most laps in each of the past four races.
Jimmie Johnson finished third after he cut a tire and hit the wall just past the halfway point. Joey Logano placed fourth, and Kurt Busch, the pole sitter, was fifth.
[SportsNetwork.com]
