“It’s really special for me”: Martin Truex Jr. touched by Pocono’s special tribute

The "Tricky Triangle" has paid a special tribute to Martin Truex Jr. by marking his name on the start/finish line for his final race at the track. His first victory on the track was in 2015 while racing for Furniture Row Racing. Although that win propelled him into the playoffs, Truex ultimately finished the series in fourth place.

Martin Truex Jr. is one of the few drivers with multiple victories at Pocono Raceway. He won the Cup races on the track in 2015 and 2018, has secured top-five finishes seven times, and landed in the top 10 in fifteen races. The Joe Gibbs Racing star has led 257 laps over his 34 Cup Series starts at Pocono, maintaining an average finish of 14.1.

In recognition of his achievements on the track, Pocono Raceway honored Truex Jr. with a special honor, a gesture that brought him much joy. Reflecting on the moment he saw his name on the start/finish line, Martin Truex Jr. shared his thoughts with Claire B Lang on X:

"Yeah, I saw watching the Trucks race yesterday. It was very cool. [...] I’d say I’m ready to embrace it. I think I was actually pretty surprised seeing that two days ago. You know, as a driver, you don’t ever feel like you’re really deserving of things like that. For Pocono to do that, it’s really special for me, my family. Definitely cool to see and hope we’re the first to cross it (start/finish line) tomorrow."

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Does Martin Truex Jr. find Pocono Raceway challenging?

Although the Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Cup champion has grabbed multiple wins on the track, Martin Truex Jr. acknowledges that the track presents multiple challenges. Known for its three distinct types of turns, Truex explained [via Speedway Digest] that it's tough for any driver to optimize their car's performance on the track. He remarked:

"Pọcono really tests every aspect of your car - horsepower, downforce, you name it. You've got to make your car work in all three corners and each one is so different, it's a challenge. The setup has to be spot on because all three corners are unique. It's really hard to make your car work around there."

Martin Truex Jr. stressed that track position will be crucial, underscoring the need for a strong qualifying performance. He also noted that the Next Gen cars have become even more sensitive to track position, making it essential for drivers to stay near the front throughout the race.

Last season, Truex started from the second position and finished third. The year prior, he started eighth and crossed the finish line seventh. During both instances when he won the event, the Joe Gibbs Racing star had started within the top five. It will be intriguing to see how the 2017 Cup Series champion performs this weekend at Pocono Raceway.