NASCAR: Fourth Victory At Sonoma For Martin Truex Jr.

After a restart with 15 circuits remaining in the 110-lap race, Truex grabbed the lead on lap 97. As the first driver to begin on new tires, Truex started in fourth place and quickly overtook Chase Elliott to take the information.

Martin Truex Jr conquers Sonoma for fourth time in his career https://t.co/oV9ylXjt2p
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 12, 2023

After starting seventh, Truex led 51 laps, a record for the race. After pole sitter and teammate Denny Hamlin dominated the first 32 laps, he took the lead for the first time on lap 33.

Martin Truex Jr. gets his 4th career win at Sonoma. He talks with @JamieLittleTV. pic.twitter.com/2hFBBj437I
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 11, 2023

Following Jeff Gordon in terms of victories in Sonoma, Truex now ranks second. Truex and Tony Stewart were matched with three wins each going into the race on Sunday. He now trails Gordon’s five victories in Sonoma throughout his illustrious career by one.

Since the format’s introduction in 2017, the race was the first in Sonoma County to take place without a caution for a stage break. There were just two warnings on Sunday, and the first was quite flimsy. Zane Smith took a pit stop when NASCAR signaled caution for a tire in the middle of the pit road after the first 48 laps of the race went green.

Martin Truex Jr. won at Sonoma in Northern California's wine region for the fourth time in his NASCAR Cup Series career Sunday, passing Chase Elliott for the lead after a final-stage restart and holding off Kyle Busch.https://t.co/6ZikacaiAh
— FOX26 News (@KMPHFOX26) June 12, 2023

Sonoma’s pit road travels at a 40 mph speed limit, with a wall separating it from the circuit. However, NASCAR decided it was dangerous for someone to remove the tire on a deserted pit road without issuing a caution.

On lap 91, Denny Hamlin experienced an issue on the front stretch, bringing out the race’s second yellow and triggering the final restart. Hamlin’s car had a damaged rear toe link, although it was unclear what had occurred.

In his first race back following a one-race ban for hooking Hamlin into the wall at the Coca-Cola 600, Joey Logano came in third, Chris Buescher in fourth, and Chase Elliott in fifth.

MARTIN TRUEX JR DOMINATES AT SONOMA!

The fastest car all day brings home his 4th career victory at @RaceSonoma and 2nd of the season. #NASCAR #ToyotaSaveMart350 pic.twitter.com/3t66m8Li22
— NASCAR on TSN (@NASCARonTSN) June 11, 2023

Truex is a serious contender to win the title

After winning his first championship in 2017, Truex is vying for his career’s second Cup Series championship. Despite having the fourth-highest point total of any driver throughout the regular season, he missed the playoffs in 2022 due to a winless regular season.

After Sunday’s race, it isn’t easy to see how he isn’t among the favorites to claim the 2023 championship. Truex, who was fourth in the standings heading into Sonoma, has maintained the same level of consistency as last season despite missing out on a few victories.

Truex stated as he exited his car,

“This is why you go through years like we had last year.”
“You just keep fighting. You never give up on it. You always believe in each other.”
“We haven’t changed anything on our team other than parts and pieces. It’s through a lot of hard work by many people.”

At +800, Truex is presently ranked fourth in terms of odds to win the championship, behind Kyle Larson (+500), Kyle Busch (+600), William Byron (+700), and Hamlin (+800).