Concord, N.C. • Martin Truex Jr. gave Toyota yet another victory in NASCAR’s playoffs — the manufacturer is 4 for 4 so far — on a humid Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Kyle Busch, winner of the last two playoff races, wrecked early in the race yet completed it in a damaged race car. Complaining most of the 500-miles of being overheated, he needed immediate medical attention when he climbed from his car.
Busch laid in the grass, packs of ice were placed on his chest, and a stretcher was brought to him. Once he felt strong enough, he stood and walked to an ambulance. He received oxygen to treat a high carbon monoxide level.
“I felt like I was having a heat stroke,” Busch said.
The humidity drained several drivers, including Truex, who had to catch his breath after taking his sixth victory of the season.
Truex has proven weekly he’s the driver to beat in this championship race, and did it again Sunday by working with his Furniture Row Racing team to steadily improve his car through the first two stages of the race. He wasn’t the strongest early — the first two stage victories went to Kevin Harvick, and Truex didn’t earn Stage 1 playoff points for the first time since July — but he was untouchable by the final segment.
He was at this point a year ago, too, but he had difficulties in the second round of the playoffs and was eliminated.
Not this time.
This statement victory ensured he’ll be in the third round of the playoffs. He choked back tears in victory lane in part because partner Sherry Pollex, who is battling ovarian cancer, was not at the track. She’s has a chemotherapy session scheduled Monday.
But he was also overwhelmed at what an incredible season he’s had.
Truex won in overtime after two late cautions created extra laps and forced Truex to hold off fellow Toyota driver Denny Hamlin on a pair of restarts.
Chase Elliott finished second for the second consecutive week and sixth time in his career. He nearly won for the first time in the Cup series a week ago, but Busch ran him down and passed him for the win with one lap to go.
Harvick was third and Hamlin finished fourth. Like his teammate Busch, Hamlin was drained after the race. His firesuit was soaked with sweat stains and he needed to eat a banana to recover.
Jamie McMurray was fifth, Jimmie Johnson seventh and Ryan Blaney eighth.
Kyle Larson was 10th, Matt Kenseth 11th, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 13th, Brad Keselowski 15th and Busch 29th.