Martin Truex Jr. won the 2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series Final Race & Championship

Credit: 352949(Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, crosses the finish line to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida.

Starting from 2nd Place Car 78 Martin Truex Jr. Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota won the 19th Annual Ford EcoBoost 400, his 15th win in 441 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series races. This is his 8th win & 26th Top 10 finish in 2017. This is his 1st win & 8th Top 10 finish in 13 races at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Martin Truex Jr. is the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion. 2nd place Car 18 Kyle Busch M&M’s Caramel Toyota, started from 3rd place posted his 6th Top 10 finish in 13 races at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It is his 22nd Top 10 finish in 2017. 3rd Place Car 42 Kyle Larson Credit One/DC Solar Chevrolet, started from 7th place posted his 3rd Top 10 finish in 5 races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Credit: 352948(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida.

4th Place Car 4 Kevin Harvick Jimmy John’s Ford, started from 9th place followed by 5th place Car 24 Chase Elliott NAPA Chevrolet, started from 18th place. 6th Place Car 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford, started from 19th place followed by 7th place Car 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Ford, started from 5th place. 8th Place Car 20 Matt Kenseth DeWalt Hurricane Relief Toyota, started from 4th place 9th followed by place Car 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota, started from pole. Lastly in the Top 10 was Car 31 Ryan Newman Caterpillar Chevrolet, in 10th place, started from 21st place. Erik Jones (21st) was the highest finishing rookie. Erik Jones is the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year. Toyota has won the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series manufacturer’s championship.

Credit: 352940(Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, lead the field past the green flag to start the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida.

The race had 5 Cautions for 26 Laps: 1st Caution on lap 6 for Car 83 Joey Gase Eternal Fan/Premier Millwright Toyota Crash in Turn 1. 2nd Caution on lap 82 for Stage 1 Conclusion. 3rd Caution on lap 143 for Car 5 Kasey Kahne Great Clips Chevrolet, Car 10 Danica Patrick Aspen Dental Ford Crash in Turn 2. 4th Caution on lap 162 for Stage 2 Conclusion. 5th Caution on lap 229 for #41 Crash in
Turn 4.

Credit: 352938(Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota, race during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida.

The race had 13 Lead Changes among 4 drivers: Lap Leaders: 0; M. Truex Jr. (P) 1-12; K. Larson 13-82; B. Keselowski (P) 83; K. Larson 84-121; K. Busch (P) 122-123; K. Larson 124-145; K. Busch (P) 146; K. Larson 147-161; M. Truex Jr. (P) 162-175; K. Busch (P) 176; M. Truex Jr. (P) 177; K. Busch (P) 178-216; M. Truex Jr. (P) 217-267. Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): K.
Larson 4 times for 145 laps; M. Truex Jr. (P) 4 times for 78 laps; K. Busch (P) 4 times for 43 laps; B. Keselowski (P) 1 time for 1 lap.

Credit: 352946(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida.

Stages:
Stage #1 Top Ten: 42,2,18,4,78,24,41,11,22,14
Stage #2 Top Ten: 42,78,4,18,2,41,20,22,24,11

Credit: 352947(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, celebrates with teammates after he won the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida.

Martin Truex Jr. won the race & the Championship over Kyle Busch with a Margin of Victory: 0.681 Seconds. Martin Truex Jr. “It’s just overwhelming, to think about all the rough days and bad days, the days that we couldn’t run 20th, to be here—I never thought this day would come, and to be here is so unbelievable.”

Credit: 352941(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 AXALTA Chevrolet, and Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 DeWalt Hurricane Relief Toyota, take part in pre-race ceremonies for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida.

NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series Notes:
25th Place Car 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. AXALTA Chevrolet final Series race.
37th Place Car 10 Danica Patrick Aspen Dental Ford, after cutting tire crashed into the wall in corner 2. Patrick’s final Series race will be at the 2018 Daytona 500.
33rd Place Car 5 Kasey Kahne Great Clips Chevrolet his final race for Hendrick Motorsports for Car 95 Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet next year.
21st Place Car 77 Erik Jones 5-hour ENERGY Extra Strength Toyota, 2017 Sunoco Rookie of the Year will be driving Joe Gibbs Racing Car 20.
8th Place Car 20 Matt Kenseth DeWalt Hurricane Relief Toyota final Series race.

Credit: 352945 (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) A ‘Thank You’ message for Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 AXALTA Chevrolet, is displayed on a flag towed by a pickup truck during pre-race ceremonies for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida.

Credit: 352950(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 AXALTA Chevrolet, congratulates Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, in Victory Lane after Truex won the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida.

NASCAR Statement:

Martin Truex Jr. Wins 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship
Jones Takes Sunoco Rookie of the Year; Toyota Captures Manufacturers’ Title

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 19, 2017) – Following a long and winding road, Martin Truex Jr. finally owns the biggest prize in motorsports.

The driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota capped off a dominant season in fitting fashion –by capturing the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship with a stirring victory in Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

To take the title, Truex outdueled his Championship 4 competitors Kyle Busch (second), Kevin Harvick (fourth) and Brad Keselowski (seventh).

The Mayetta, New Jersey, native was the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ best driver all year, winning the regular season championship on the strength of four victories.

Once the playoffs began, Truex upped his performance to another level, recording a top-five finish in every postseason race except for Talladega. He won four times, including the playoff-opening race at Chicagoland, twice in the Round of 12 (Charlotte and Kansas) and the season finale at Homestead.

Truex finished the season with career highs in wins (8), top fives (19), top 10s (26) and laps led (2,250). He led the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in all those stat categories.

Truex’s title also marks the first championship for Denver, Colorado-based Furniture Row Racing and owner Barney Visser.

A two-time NASCAR XFINITY Series champion, Truex joins Busch, Harvick, Keselowski and Bobby Labonte as the fifth driver in history with both an XFINITY and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series title. He is the first champion from New Jersey.

Truex’s teammate Erik Jones captured the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year. Driving the No. 77 Furniture Row Racing Toyota, Jones scored a rookie-high five top fives and 14 tops 10s.

On the strength of 16 victories, Toyota won its second-consecutive Monster Energy Series Manufacturers’ Championship.

Credit: 352953 (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, celebrates with crew chief Cole Pearn and the trophy in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race Number 36
Unofficial Race Results for the 19Th Annual Ford Ecoboost 400 – Sunday, November 19, 2017
Homestead-Miami Speedway – Homestead, FL – 1.5 Mile Paved Total Race Length – 267 Laps – 400.5 Miles

Finish Start Car Driver Team Laps Status
1. 2. Car 78 Martin Truex Jr. (P) Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota 267 Running
2. 3. Car 18 Kyle Busch (P) M&M’s Caramel Toyota 267 Running
3. 7. Car 42 Kyle Larson Credit One/DC Solar Chevrolet 267 Running
4. 9. Car 4 Kevin Harvick (P) Jimmy John’s Ford 267 Running
5. 18. Car 24 Chase Elliott NAPA Chevrolet 267 Running
6. 19. Car 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford 267 Running
7. 5. Car 2 Brad Keselowski (P) Miller Lite Ford 267 Running
8. 4. Car 20 Matt Kenseth DeWalt Hurricane Relief Toyota 267 Running
9. 1. Car 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota 267 Running
10. 21. Car 31 Ryan Newman Caterpillar Chevrolet 267 Running
11. 17. Car 3 Austin Dillon DOW WeatherTech Chevrolet 267 Running
12. 16. Car 14 Clint Bowyer Haas Automation Ford 267 Running
13. 13. Car 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald’s Chevrolet 266 Running
14. 26. Car 47 AJ Allmendinger Kroger ClickList Chevrolet 266 Running
15. 6. Car 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Fastenal Ford 266 Running
16. 15. Car 27 Paul Menard Richmond/Menards Chevrolet 265 Running
17. 30. Car 38 David Ragan Weather Channel/Flagship Solutions Ford 265 Running
18. 20. Car 43 Aric Almirola Smithfield Ford 265 Running
19. 12. Car 6 Trevor Bayne Roush Performance Ford 265 Running
20. 29. Car 37 Chris Buescher Clorox Chevrolet 265 Running
21. 14. Car 77 Erik Jones # 5-hour ENERGY Extra Strength Toyota 265 Running
22. 8. Car 41 Kurt Busch Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford 265 Running
23. 28. Car 34 Landon Cassill Love’s Travel Stops/Roller Bites Ford 265 Running
24. 23. Car 95 Michael McDowell Rohto Jolt Eyedrops Chevrolet 265 Running
25. 24. Car 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. AXALTA Chevrolet 264 Running
26. 32. Car 13 Ty Dillon # GEICO Chevrolet 264 Running
27. 22. Car 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Chevrolet 264 Running
28. 33. Car 72 Cole Whitt TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet 264 Running
29. 11. Car 21 Ryan Blaney Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford 264 Running
30. 31. Car 32 Matt DiBenedetto Can-Am/Kappa Ford 263 Running
31. 34. Car 23 Corey LaJoie(i) myfreedomsmoke.com Toyota 261 Running
32. 36. Car 33 Jeffrey Earnhardt hulu Chevrolet 259 Running
33. 27. Car 5 Kasey Kahne Great Clips Chevrolet 234 Accident
34. 10. Car 19 Daniel Suarez # ARRIS Toyota 225 Brakes
35. 37. Car 15 Reed Sorenson Xchange of America Chevrolet 212 Engine
36. 38. Car 66 * David Starr(i) Eureka Chevrolet 175 Brakes
37. 25. Car 10 Danica Patrick Aspen Dental Ford 139 Accident
38. 39. Car 51 * Ray Black II(i) Scuba Life Chevrolet 49 Too Slow
39. 35. Car 83 * Joey Gase(i) Eternal Fan/Premier Millwright Toyota 4 Accident

Race Comments: Prior to the start of the race, the following cars dropped to the rear of the field under penalty: #37 (rear gear change) and #88 (engine change). Failed to Qualify: N/A. Caution Flags: 5 for 26 laps. Lead Changes: 13 among 4 drivers. Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 02 Mins, 11 Secs. Average Speed: 131.900 MPH. Margin of Victory: 0.681 Seconds.

American Ethanol Green Flag Restart Award: Martin Truex Jr, #78. Coors Light Pole Award: Denny Hamlin, #11 173.98 mph. Ingersoll Rand Power Move: Aric Almirola, #43 6 positions. Mahle Clevite Engine Builder of the Race: Hendrick Engines, #42. Mobil 1 Driver of the Race: Kyle Busch, #18. Moog Go the Extra Mile: Matt Kenseth, #20 0.430 secs. Sherwin-Williams Fastest Lap: Kyle Larson, #42. Sunoco Rookie of the Race: Erik Jones, #77.

(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series

Next Race: Feb. 11, 2018 – Daytona International Speedway

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Graphics & Photos Courtesy of NASCAR

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