Martin Truex Jr Returns to Victory Lane in Pocono

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Martin Truex Jr., the driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/5-hour ENERGY Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 3, 2018, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Photo – Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

After the two stretch in Charlotte, the NASCAR series heads to Pocono to race at the ‘Tricky Triangle.’ This race track offers drivers with a new environment as the triangle-shaped track demands drivers to race at their very best. Very long straights with very tight corners means drivers need a very good braking system.

Ryan Blaney started the race on the pole for the race and he is defending his title after winning this race last year. He started off maintaining his lead in an impressive fashion. He fought off runs from two of the greatest. For the first 20 laps, Blaney battled against Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch. Blaney ended up short pitting for strategy and Harvick and Busch became the next contenders to fight for the lead. After green-flag stops, Martin Truex Jr. took the lead for himself. He led the rest of the distance and took the first stage of the race.

Restarting the second stage, Brad Keselowski took two tires during the break and restarted from the first position. However, Harvick was too good on the restart and overcame Keselowski. There was not a lot going in this stage. Drivers had to cycle through green-flag stops to make it to the end of the stage. Harvick cycled back through the field to keep his lead and win the stage.

The last 50 laps had a bit more excitement. We had a few late race cautions that required the remaining teams to develop a strategy for track position. Truex Jr. was able to gain the lead after a late race caution. He fought off Kyle Larson, Harvick, and Busch through a few critical restarts to claim his second win of the season.

Throughout the course of the race, it seemed as if Harvick or Busch would win the race. Harvick led some laps in the first stage, and then led all the laps of the second stage. Busch was right behind him and it seemed as if Harvick was going to continue to stay in the lead. Truex implemented a late-race strategy and it paid off for him.

The Cup Series is about halfway through the season. Taking a look back, it has been a season completely dominated by two teams; Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick. We have had a few other winners get to victory lane, but nobody seems to have anything to compete against Busch and Harvick.

Maybe this win for Truex Jr. will spark some momentum for his team, and he will get rolling again. Truex Jr. has always been knocking on the door, but could not pull ahead late into the race. He has had one win already; with this being his second of the season. It was a fun race to watch because the three powerhouse drivers of Busch, Harvick, and Truex Jr. were battling for the lead every lap. This could definitely be the trio of drivers we see fighting for the championship in Miami.