Dominate Martin Truex Jr. won the 57th Annual COCA-COLA 600

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Toyota, takes the checkered flag during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Starting from pole Car 78 Martin Truex Jr. Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Toyota won the 57th Annual COCA-COLA 600, his 4th win in 382 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. This is Martin Truex Jr.’s 1st win & 6th Top 10 finish in 2016. This is his 1st win & 7th Top 10 finish in 22 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 2nd Place Car 4 Kevin Harvick Jimmy John’s Chevrolet, started from 8th place posted his 14th Top 10 finish in 31 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his 10th Top 10 finish in 2016. 3rd Place Car 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Patriotic Chevrolet, started from 7th place posted his 18th Top 10 finish in 30 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

4th Place Car 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Freight Toyota, started from 4th place followed by 5th place Car 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Ford, started from 5th place. 6th Place Car 41 Kurt Busch Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet, started from 13th place followed by 7th place Car 20 Matt Kenseth DeWalt Toyota, started from 27th place. 8th Place Car 24 Chase Elliott NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet,
started from 12th place was the highest finishing rookie. 9th Place Car 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford, started from 2nd place. Lastly in the Top 10 was Car 31 Ryan Newman Whelen Chevrolet, in 10th place, started from 14th place.

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Toyota, and Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Patriotic Chevrolet, lead a restart during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The race had 4 Cautions for 19 Laps: 1st Caution on lap 27 for Competition caution. 2nd Caution on lap 115 for Car 44 Brian Scott Twisted Tea Ford crash in Turn 2. 3rd Caution on lap 205 for Car 32 Jeffrey Earnhardt Can-Am Ford crash in Turn 4. 4th Caution on lap 341 for Debris on the backstretch.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The race had 9 Lead Changes: 9 among 4 drivers: M. Truex Jr. 1-77; J. Johnson 78-79; M. Truex Jr. 80-164; J. Johnson 165; J. Logano 166; M. Truex Jr. 167-298; P. Menard 299-300; M. Truex Jr. 301-343; J. Johnson 344-345; M. Truex Jr. 346-400.

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Toyota, and Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, lead the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Chase Grid Outlook: 1.Kyle Busch 405 (3 wins);2.J. Johnson 409 (2);3.C. Edwards 404 (2);4.B. Keselowski 404 (2);5. K. Harvick 457 (1);6.M. Truex Jr. 381 (1);7.M. Kenseth 347 (1);8.D. Hamlin 345 (1);9.Kurt Busch 421 (0);10.C. Elliott # 374 (0);11.J. Logano 373 (0);12.A. Dillon 344 (0);13.D. Earnhardt Jr. 341 (0);14.J. Mcmurray 318 (0);15.*. Blaney # 309 (0);16.R. Newman 309 (0).

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Toyota, poses with the winner’s decal after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Martin Truex Jr. was so dominate he set the Charlotte Motor Speedway record with 392 laps led. Truex’s 588 miles led were the most in any NASCAR race in history. The time of race was the shortest of any Coca-Cola 600 in history (3:44:08, 160.644 mph). The race was a little intense in the last few laps as Car 18 Kyle Busch M&M’s Toyota & Car 21 Ryan Blaney Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center Ford blew tires that could have caused a Caution. Both cars were able to make it to the pits allowing Truex to maintain his lead, giving him a Margin of Victory: 2.572 Seconds. This was a well deserved win for Furniture Row Racing Car 78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Toyota team who have led many laps this season with no wins. Martin Truex Jr. was emotional in victory lane after so much bad luck this season. Great strategy by Furniture Row Racing Crew Chief Canadian Cole Pearn was also relieved to finally get a win for this single car team. Martin Truex Jr. might not be the most popular driver with the fans but he is probably the most popular driver with the fellow drivers & teams.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Number 13
Unofficial Race Results for the 57Th Annual Coca-Cola 600 – Sunday, May 29, 2016
Charlotte Motor Speedway – Concord, NC – 1.5 Mile Paved
Total Race Length – 400 Laps – 600 Miles

Finish Start Car Driver Team Laps Status
1. 1. Car 78 Martin Truex Jr. Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Toyota 400 Running
2. 8. Car 4 Kevin Harvick Jimmy John’s Chevrolet 400 Running
3. 7. Car 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Patriotic Chevrolet 400 Running
4. 4. Car 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Freight Toyota 400 Running
5. 5. Car 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Ford 400 Running
6. 13. Car 41 Kurt Busch Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet 400 Running
7. 27. Car 20 Matt Kenseth DeWalt Toyota 400 Running
8. 12. Car 24 Chase Elliott # NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet 400 Running
9. 2. Car 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford 400 Running
10. 14. Car 31 Ryan Newman Whelen Chevrolet 400 Running
11. 6. Car 16 Greg Biffle Cheez-It Ford 400 Running
12. 28. Car 3 Austin Dillon Cheerios Chevrolet 400 Running
13. 24. Car 42 Kyle Larson Target Chevrolet 400 Running
14. 25. Car 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Nationwide Chevrolet 400 Running
15. 3. Car 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Fastenal Ford 400 Running
16. 15. Car 47 AJ Allmendinger Harris Teeter/Bush’s Beans Chevrolet 399 Running
17. 11. Car 27 Paul Menard Knauf/Menards Chevrolet 399 Running
18. 9. Car 19 Carl Edwards Subway Toyota 399 Running
19. 23. Car 1 Jamie McMurray Cessna/McDonald’s Chevrolet 399 Running
20. 18. Car 21 * Ryan Blaney # Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center Ford 397 Running
21. 19. Car 10 Danica Patrick Nature’s Bakery Chevrolet 396 Running
22. 29. Car 5 Kasey Kahne LiftMaster Chevrolet 395 Running
23. 26. Car 15 Clint Bowyer 5-hour Energy Chevrolet 395 Running
24. 21. Car 14 Tony Stewart Mobil 1 Chevrolet 395 Running
25. 10. Car 6 Trevor Bayne AdvoCare Ford 395 Running
26. 20. Car 43 Aric Almirola U.S. Air Force Ford 395 Running
27. 33. Car 38 Landon Cassill MDS Transport/We Hire Vets Ford 395 Running
28. 31. Car 7 Regan Smith Nikko RC/Toy State Chevrolet 395 Running
29. 30. Car 44 Brian Scott # Twisted Tea Ford 394 Running
30. 17. Car 13 Casey Mears GEICO Chevrolet 394 Running
31. 35. Car 23 David Ragan Bubba Burger Toyota 393 Running
32. 34. Car 83 Matt DiBenedetto Hope For The Warriors/Cosmo Motors Toyota 393 Running
33. 16. Car 18 Kyle Busch M&M’s Toyota 392 Accident
34. 32. Car 95 Michael McDowell Thrivent Financial Chevrolet 391 Running
35. 36. Car 98 * Cole Whitt Carolina Skiff Chevrolet 391 Running
36. 38. Car 46 Michael Annett Pilot Flying J Chevrolet 390 Running
37. 22. Car 34 Chris Buescher # CSX – Play It Safe Ford 388 Running
38. 37. Car 30 * Josh Wise Curtis Key Plumbing Chevrolet 387 Running
39. 39. Car 32 Jeffrey Earnhardt # Can-Am Ford 382 Running
40. 40. Car 55 * Reed Sorenson World Record Striper Company Chevrolet 200 Clutch

Race Comments: Prior to the start of the race, the following cars dropped to the rear of the field for the reason indicated: No. 83 and No. 43 (unapproved adjustments). Failed to Qualify: N/A. Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 44 Mins, 05 Secs. Average Speed: 160.655 MPH. Margin of Victory: 2.572 Seconds. Caution Flags: 4 for 19 laps.

American Ethanol Green Flag Restart Award: Kyle Busch, #18. Coors Light Pole Award: Martin Truex Jr, #78 192.328 mph. Duralast Brakes “Brake in the Race”: Martin Truex Jr, #78. Ingersoll Rand Power Move: AJ Allmendinger, #47 3 positions. Mahle Clevite Engine Builder of the Race: Hendrick Engines, #48. Mobil 1 Driver of the Race: Kevin Harvick, #4. Moog Chassis Parts Problem Solver of the Race:
Matt Kenseth, #20 crew chief Jason Ratcliff, -0.096 seconds. Sherwin-Williams Fastest Lap: Denny Hamlin, #11. Sunoco Rookie of the Race: Chase Elliott, #24.

(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series

Next Race: Jun. 5, 2016 – Pocono Raceway

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