A very, very popular win at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Normally if we would have had a race like we did Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway where one driver dominated the field that severely we'd have a lot of upset people complaining. If that had been Jimmie Johnson, or especially any one of those four Joe Gibbs Racing drivers I don't know that you could stand to listen to the radio, pick up a newspaper or click on the Internet without a barrage of bashing of the sport of NASCAR.
Because of who it was, because of everything they have overcome on the track plus what the driver and his girlfriend continue to fight off the track, I have not heard the first complaint. Now sure, as the old saying goes "Haters are gonna hate" so there will still be those that complain because they just love to complain. I just think all of us within the sport who know what Martin Truex Jr., his girlfriend Sherri Pollex and the No. 78 team have been through, we all are happy for them.
The reality is we've seen total domination in a race before. It's nothing new. I think about back in the 1970's when Cale Yarborough led all 500 laps at Bristol. In 1993 at the Fall Charlotte race, I was the crew chief on the No. 28 car driven by Ernie Irvan who led 328 of 334 laps. What I think takes Sunday evening to a whole new level is the fact it is the longest race on our schedule.
This is a guy that led 588 miles of a 600-mile race. That was done through four sets of green flag pit stops. Crew Chief Cole Pearn made all the right adjustments as the track went from daylight to dusk and then dusk to nighttime. We watched other teams like the No. 48 and No. 4 thrash on their cars all night long to try and keep up with the No. 78, but Martin simply wouldn't be denied. We never saw the No. 78 crew turn a jack bolt. The only visual adjustments we could see them making was twice they added tape to the nose of their Toyota.
This was a car that unloaded fast. It was fast in all three practice sessions. It sat on the pole and then annihilated the competition. We said it after Saturday's practice and quite honestly, we've said it before this season that "the only car that can beat the No. 78 is the No. 78." Sadly, for them things have happened to keep them out of Victory Lane earlier this year but not Sunday night.
With everything surrounding Martin and Sherry plus that entire team, believe me when I tell you it was a very, very popular win Sunday night in that garage area at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
