LOUDON, N.H. -- Martin Truex Jr. was counting the positives and trying to ignore the negatives when he climbed out of his Furniture Row Racing entry Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
For the fourth time this season, the 36-year-old led more than 100 laps and he was out front with less than 40 laps remaining in the New Hampshire 301 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
The performance bodes well for the series' fall return, when the track hosts the second race in this year's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
But a broken shifter left him with a lame No. 78 Toyota down the stretch. Visions of victory were replaced with thoughts of merely making it to the end.
He did, finishing 16th, despite numerous late restarts that left him perfect for the picking.
"It's not tough, it's just that you're a sitting duck and there's nothing you can do to get going," Truex said. "Unfortunately we got passed by a lot of cars and we pitted for tires on that last stop because we were starting all the way in the back ... and we wanted to get some momentum going ... make sure we didn't destroy the race car getting in a wreck.
"We passed 10 cars in the last 10 laps so we had a good race car, just nothing to show for it today."
Toyotas were dominant on a mostly sunny day here at the 1.058-mile track, leading all but two of the 301 laps. And the Toyota of Truex was, for most of the day, as strong as any.
He led 83 consecutive laps early (from Lap 89-171) and 37 circuits a bit later (from Lap 221-257). His team was quick and efficient on pit road. Mistake-free.
"I think looking forward to the Chase and what we're trying to do with this team, this is a big relief to come here and be able to run well," said Truex, who won earlier this year with a dominant performance in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. "We knew this was one of our tough tracks and if we could come here and get through here good in September then we'll be set up to start pretty good in the Chase.
"All in all, couldn't be more proud of everybody at Furniture Row Racing and everybody on this Toyota. We weren't that good yesterday ... but the guys went to work last night and we had some good ideas, we talked about it and some things stuck out to Cole (Pearn, crew chief) and the guys and things that they thought we needed to work on just based on what I felt yesterday."
Truex led 141 laps earlier this year at Texas and 172 at Kansas, in addition to his Charlotte effort. All three tracks will host Chase races.
Sunday's result was credited to "total team effort," he said, "and the pit crew was great today, the best they've been all year by far.
"We're doing everything right, but we're taking some on the chin here, but this isn't when it counts so we'll just keep our heads up and keep working. Our race cars are fast and everyone is doing a great job. Sooner or later we'll get everything straight."
For the fourth time this season, the 36-year-old led more than 100 laps and he was out front with less than 40 laps remaining in the New Hampshire 301 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
The performance bodes well for the series' fall return, when the track hosts the second race in this year's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
But a broken shifter left him with a lame No. 78 Toyota down the stretch. Visions of victory were replaced with thoughts of merely making it to the end.
He did, finishing 16th, despite numerous late restarts that left him perfect for the picking.
"It's not tough, it's just that you're a sitting duck and there's nothing you can do to get going," Truex said. "Unfortunately we got passed by a lot of cars and we pitted for tires on that last stop because we were starting all the way in the back ... and we wanted to get some momentum going ... make sure we didn't destroy the race car getting in a wreck.
"We passed 10 cars in the last 10 laps so we had a good race car, just nothing to show for it today."
Toyotas were dominant on a mostly sunny day here at the 1.058-mile track, leading all but two of the 301 laps. And the Toyota of Truex was, for most of the day, as strong as any.
He led 83 consecutive laps early (from Lap 89-171) and 37 circuits a bit later (from Lap 221-257). His team was quick and efficient on pit road. Mistake-free.
"I think looking forward to the Chase and what we're trying to do with this team, this is a big relief to come here and be able to run well," said Truex, who won earlier this year with a dominant performance in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. "We knew this was one of our tough tracks and if we could come here and get through here good in September then we'll be set up to start pretty good in the Chase.
"All in all, couldn't be more proud of everybody at Furniture Row Racing and everybody on this Toyota. We weren't that good yesterday ... but the guys went to work last night and we had some good ideas, we talked about it and some things stuck out to Cole (Pearn, crew chief) and the guys and things that they thought we needed to work on just based on what I felt yesterday."
Truex led 141 laps earlier this year at Texas and 172 at Kansas, in addition to his Charlotte effort. All three tracks will host Chase races.
Sunday's result was credited to "total team effort," he said, "and the pit crew was great today, the best they've been all year by far.
"We're doing everything right, but we're taking some on the chin here, but this isn't when it counts so we'll just keep our heads up and keep working. Our race cars are fast and everyone is doing a great job. Sooner or later we'll get everything straight."
