Martin Truex Jr. dominates Coca-Cola 600
CONCORD, N.C. - Martin Truex Jr. led a Sprint Cup-record 588 of 600 miles to win the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night, racing away from his bad-luck past at NASCAR's longest race.
Truex Jr. started from the pole, moved quickly out front and led all but eight of 400 laps for his first win in 34 events since June 2015 at Pocono Raceway.
Truex ran strong enough the past year to grab a bunch more checkered flags, but something always went awry. He led 141 laps at Texas, yet got strung up by poor pit strategy and finished sixth. In Kansas this month, he was out front for 172 laps until a loose wheel knocked him back to 14th.
A year ago here, Truex led the most laps at 131, but fell to fifth when he pitted for fuel late and four cars, including winner Carl Edwards, stayed out.
Truex never let it get to him.
''I had confidence. I had faith,'' Truex said.
There were no black cats or cracked mirrors this time, just a dominating, prime-time show by Truex to cap racing's biggest day.
Kevin Harvick was second, followed by Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski and Kurt Busch.