Truex Dodges Last-Lap Crash to Score Talladega Top-10 Finish
CORNELIUS, N.C. – No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota driver Martin Truex Jr. finished eighth in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway. Truex dodged a crash in the last lap of the 500-mile race to earn the Talladega top-10 finish.
“This by far has been the best restrictor-plate race I’ve run this year,” said Truex, who also recorded a top-10 finish at the superspeedway back on May 5. “We made the right decisions all day. I drove smart. I am so happy to be able to drive my NAPA Toyota back to the garage in one piece. It really was a good day for us considering what’s happened to us in the past here!”
The Michael Waltrip Racing driver lined up fourth after rain washed out qualifying and NASCAR set the field based on Friday practice speeds. Truex raced up front during the opening laps but dropped back to about 15th.
At halfway, Truex drove into the top 10 and remained in the lead draft. In the closing laps, Truex remained tucked in line with the leaders and avoided the last lap wreck to cross the finish line eighth.
Jamie McMurray edged Dale Earnhardt Jr. as the race ended under caution. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Paul Menard and Kyle Busch rounded out the top-five. Three cautions slowed the race for 10 laps and featured 52 lead changes among 20 drivers.
The NAPA team returns to action Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.