Truex Tops in Charlotte

Martin Truex Jr. – Driver of the No. 19 Gibbs Racing Team captured the annual Coca Cola 600 Trophy, Sunday at Charlotte after subduing tire issues early in event.

Concord, N.C. – May 26, 2019 – Anthony Holbrook – BSN

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 13^th race of the 2019 season motorcaded to Charlotte Motor Speedway, Sunday May 26^th for the Coca Cola 600.

Opening in 1960, the 1.5 mile paved quad oval in Concord was noted as one of the few long, paved, steeply banked superspeedways on the NASCAR Circuit and was one of the first to host a 600-mile race.   The featured Coca Cola 600 consist of 400 dueling laps were tires play a large factor on a hot track early in the event.  With only 12 sets of tires allotted per team, a large ratio of tries are utilized early in the stages until track pavement cooling as sun sets.

Hendrick Driver William Byron continues to show speed as he achieves another Pole Award and lead the Coca Cola 600 field to green.  Stage 1 brought out 6 yellow flags, 3 of the cautions eluded to tire failure.  Tire accountability may be influenced by the 3^rd hottest temperate ever registered for the Coca Cola 600 event.

Team Penske Driver Brad Keselowski along with many front running contenders opted to take 4 tires on a closing caution to guide his No.2 Ford to the point, holding off challengers on final restarts, collecting his 3^rd Stage win of the 2019 NASCAR Cup season.

       STAGE 1 Results

1. Brad Keselowski
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Kyle Busch
4. Chase Elliott
5. Kevin Harvick
6. William Byron
7. Joey Logano
8. Jimmie Johnson
9. Martin Truex Jr.
10.  Ryan Blaney

STAGE 2

Taking advantage of late caution, Brad Keselowski continued to utilize a 4 tire pit-service.  Brad Keselowski charged to the front, reeling and dueling front runner No. 88 Alex Bowman and completed the pass with 2 laps to go for the Stage 2 victory.

STAGE 2 Results

1. Brad Keselowski
2. Alex Bowman
3. Kyle Bush
4. Chase Elliott
5. William Byron
6. Kevin Harvick
7. Ryan Blaney
8. Kurt Busch
9. Joey Logano
10. Kyle Larson

Joe Gibbs Racing Drivers – No. 18 Kyle Bush and No. 19 Martin Truex, Jr. checked off 100 Stage 3 circuits while swapping the lead amongst the two teammates. Truex Jr. persevered and collected his 2^nd Stage win of the 2019 NASCAR Cup season.

STAGE 3 Results

1. Martin Truex Jr.
2. Kyle Bush
3. Chase Elliott
4. Ryan Blaney
5. Kurt Busch
6. Alex Bowman
7. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
8. Joey Logano
9. Kyle Larson
10. Denny Hamlin

Final STAGE

Throughout each Stage, NASCAR has determined that abundant tire issues can be related to Tire Over Deflection.  Low tire pressure adds additional wear to tire’s ply walls insufficiently. 

By overcoming a tire failure in Stage 1, Truex Jr.  racing team repaired the No. 19 Toyota, elevating Truex Jr. contention for the win.  In conclusion of the final laps,  Martin Truex Jr.  held off  Team Penske Driver – Joey Logano and a slew of hard charging contenders to capture his 2nd Coco Cola 600 career win. 

Final Stage Results

1. (14) Martin Truex Jr, Toyo

2. (7) Joey Logano, Ford

3. (3) Kyle Busch, Toyota

4. (12) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet

5. (9) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Ford

6. (22) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet

7. (13) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet

8. (15) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet

9. (1) William Byron, Chevrolet

10. (5) Kevin Harvick, Ford

11. (2) Aric Almirola, Ford

12. (30) Corey LaJoie, Ford

13. (19) Ryan Blaney, Ford

14. (17) Paul Menard, Ford

15. (31) David Ragan, Ford

16. (18) Ryan Newman, Ford

17. (20) Denny Hamlin, Toyota

18. (6) Daniel Suarez, Ford

19. (21) Brad Keselowski, Ford

20. (26) Matt Tifft, Ford

21. (10) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet

22. (23) Michael McDowell, Ford

23. (28) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet

24. (8) Clint Bowyer, Ford

25. (29) Bubba Wallace, Chevrolet

26. (34) Parker Kligerman(i), Toyota

27. (11) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet

28. (39) Quin Houff, Chevrolet

29. (36) BJ McLeod(i), Chevrolet

30. (37) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet

31. (24) Ryan Preece, Chevrolet, Suspension

32. (40) Joey Gase(i), Toyota

33. (25) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet

34. (4) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet

35. (33) Bayley Currey(i), Ford

36. (35) Ross Chastain(i), Chevrolet

37. (32) Landon Cassill(i), Chevrolet

38. (38) Cody Ware(i)

39. (27) Matt DiBenedetto

40. (16) Erik Jones

Winning Team Owner Joe Gibbs additionally recognized for his accomplishment by being selected to be inducted into the 2020 NASCAR Hall of Fame class.  Joining the NASCAR Hall of Fame Coach, former Team Gibbs Drivers and NASCAR Cup Champions Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race returns Pocono Raceway, Sunday June 2^nd for the Pocono 400 / 2:00 pm  FS1 , Sirius NASCAR Radio.