CONCORD, N.C.: The second-fastest guy in final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL will start Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400 from the rear of the field.
While dialing in his No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry, Martin Truex Jr. missed a shift entering the backstretch of the ROVAL and over-revved the engine in his Toyota Camry causing it to fail and come to a stop at the end of the backstretch chicane.
In the garage, Truex admitted that he went from second to first gear in an attempt to shift to third causing the motor to seize and expire.
“I went from second to first, so I don’t know,” said Truex. “I’ve never done that before in my entire career, so definitely unfortunate. I hate it for all the guys on the Bass Pro Toyota. You know, fortunately, I guess we don’t have a whole lot to worry about, it’s just frustrating. We had a good car. We had a good qualifying effort yesterday.”
With an opportunity to sweep the first three races in the Round of 16 Cup Series Playoffs, Truex had qualified his Joe Gibbs Racing ninth yesterday, however, Cup rules state that with an engine change, he’ll relinquish his starting position and start the second annual ROVAL event from the rear of the field.
“It’s just going to be hard starting from the back and I hate all the extra work for my guys. I apologize to them. I’m not sure how it happened,” added Truex. “I had one other issue today with a shift in the gate. I don’t know if it was just an issue that was right there on the edge and I just screwed it up a little bit that one time, but we’ll have to look at it a little bit further.”
Starting deep in the field tomorrow, Truex realizes that strategy and luck will be the two benefiting factors to inch his way forward and put himself in contention for his seventh win of the year.
“I mean stage points don’t really mean anything to us other than the stage wins do – bonus points,” sounded Truex. “We didn’t qualify well here last year. We found our way to the front. It’s going to be a lot about strategy and having a good car on the long runs. Hopefully, we can do that and just pick them off one at a time and hopefully put ourselves in (a) position towards the end.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
