KANSAS CITY – A new car for Martin Truex Jr. and Furniture Row Racing nearly paid off with a berth into the Chase for the Sprint Cup in Saturday night’s SpongeBob SquarePants 400 at Kansas Speedway.
Instead, Truex settled for ninth.
“Definitely not the finish we wanted, obviously, but proud of the guys for the weekend we had, just had good speed all weekend, brought a brand new car here and just proud of that,” said Truex. “It’s kind of disappointing, but at the same time proud of the way we ran, and I think it’s something we can build off of.
“Felt like we were in a decent position there towards the end. Really hate when it comes down to fuel mileage. Seems like I’m always on the wrong end of that deal. But really wishing we could have raced Kevin (Harvick) for it. Seemed like we were both saving gas and then seemed like about 10 to go it we were both kind of hammer down, it would have been fun to see if we could have had anything for him.
“But all in all, hard to be disappointed with how we ran, just disappointed in the outcome and the finish, but again, the guys have really done a great job and this is something we can, moving forward, build on and hopefully we can be in some position to win some races this year.”
After qualifying fourth on Friday, their fifth top-10 qualifying effort of the season, Truex quickly showed hos stout his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet was taking the lead from Kevin Harvick on Lap 57.
When green-flag pit stops cycled through, the Mayetta, New Jersey native regained control of the top spot on Lap 83 and led until the third caution of the night waved on Lap 95 for a spin in Turn 4. Under the yellow, Mother Nature invaded the area, drenching the track and forcing a two hour, 16 minute and 38-second rain delay.
Truex resumed the lead on the restart and despite considerable track changes, the speed remained in the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet SS. And while the race lead circled through Brad Keselowski, Carl Edwards and Kyle Larson, Truex remained a visible element in the race.
As the race drew near its conclusion, Truex remained a factor – but found himself chasing two-time winner this season Harvick for the win.
That was until the final caution flag waved 10 laps from the finish.
Needing just a splash of gas to make to the end, crew chief Cole Pearn elected a fuel only stop – sending the No. 78 first off pit road, but behind the three Hendrick Motorsports cars of Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon who all stayed out.
When racing resumed and the pressure on, Truex faded.
Without the benefit of clear air, not to mention worn tires, the 35-year old found himself wrestling for his 10th top-10 finish of the season instead of his first victory of the season.
Truex hung on and took the checkered flag ninth, adding another tally to an impressive launch to his Sprint Cup Series season at a track that’s nestled closest to their race shop, nearly 600 miles away in Denver, Colorado.
Despite the outcome, Truex continues to sing the praises of Pearn who has thrusted the No. 78 into the spotlight with fast cars, good calls and most of all consistency. Other than troubles on the half-mile at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway last month, Truex’s been a presence all year long.
And it’s a trend that doesn’t appear to be diminishing anytime soon.
“I told Cole that he’s still new at this, this is his first-year calling races, and he’s been spot on all year long,” added Truex. “He’s taken gambles when he needed to that paid off, he’s been smart when he needed to, he’s done everything right, and tonight he just didn’t make the right call.
“Sometimes you don’t always make the right call. Sometimes the circumstances don’t play out the way you think they will or whatever.
“Hindsight is 20 / 20. He’s done a great job this year of calling races, like I said, and I just want to make sure that he doesn’t get his confidence down, because he’s been so good at it. Live and learn. He’ll learn from tonight and get better next time around, and he’s doing a great job.”
With his run, Truex remains second in the championship standings, 46 points behind leader Harvick.
And if Saturday night’s performance was any indication, Truex hands down is a favorite leading into the Sprint Showdown next Friday night at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
