Posted November 6, 2013 by Michael Waltrip Racing Featured

NAPA Toyota Finishes in Top 15 at Texas Motor Speedway

CORNELIUS, N.C. – No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota driver Martin Truex Jr. finished 14th in Sunday’s 500-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway.

The Michael Waltrip Racing driver started 15th and used several cautions during the first 100 laps to fine tune the No. 56 NAPA Toyota. Truex asked the crew for more front grip to contend for a top spot.

Shortly after lap 100, Truex climbed into the top 10 and 25 circuits later moved to fifth.

The NAPA driver remained in the top 10 at the halfway mark, but lost the handling with about 50 laps to go. Truex held on for a 14^th-place finish.

“I really wanted to better our second-place finish from last time but we could never get our car to handle like it did last time,” said Truex. “It was like going to a surprise party. One lap it would be loose. The very next it would be tight. The guys are going to really go over this car when it gets back to the shop to see if they can figure out what was going on. It was evil. It was strange. I am disappointed that we came up short today especially with how good the car drove Friday and Saturday. We threw a lot at it. We did the best we could.”

Jimmie Johnson beat Dale Earnhardt Jr. by 4.390 seconds for the victory. Joey Logano, Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne rounded out the top five. Five cautions slowed the race for 26 laps and featured 28 lead changes among 10 drivers.