Martin Truex Jr Won Stage 1 at Pocono, but Foiled by Strategy Yet Again
4 months agoMartin Truex Jr won Stage 1 at Pocono yesterday after passing polesitter Ty Gibbs for the lead on the lap 18 restart, but he never saw the lead again after losing it on the ensuing stage break caution. Truex remained in the top 10 throughout the race, but his crew chief, James Small, continued his penchant for questionable pit calls, particularly when Truex took four tires on his final pit stop, which put him outside the top five for the remainder of the race. In a race where passing was so difficult, Truex couldn't work his way through traffic to pass the cars that took two tires and stagnated for the rest of the race en route to an eighth-place finish. However, it remained a good points day and he remains significantly ahead of the other non-winners in the playoffs on points, so it would be shocking if he missed the playoffs.
Source: Racing Reference
Source: Racing Reference