NASCAR takeaways: Martin Truex Jr. again in win column after caution-filled Clash
Bob Pockrass
FOX NASCAR Insider
LOS ANGELES – Martin Truex Jr. emerged because the survivor of the Clash, an exhibition race riddled with spins Sunday evening as drivers tried to navigate the short-term quarter-mile oval constructed contained in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The key phrase: tried. The drivers by no means obtained in a rhythm as they performed bumper vehicles with one another, leading to 16 cautions over the race, a 150-lap affair the place warning laps did not rely.
“You’re just sliding so bad on restarts that guys would get in the corner and they’re locking the brakes, they can’t turn,” Truex mentioned. “So they’re just sliding into each other.”
Three takeaways from the Clash:
Truex Rebounds With Win
Truex, the 2017 Cup champion, went winless in 2022 and missed the Cup playoffs after a loopy regular-season finale at Daytona.
He’s been able to get 2023 began to indicate that he and his Joe Gibbs Racing workforce may nonetheless win.
Truex led the ultimate 25 laps after getting by Ryan Preece.
“Last year was a pretty rough season for us with no wins, and to come out here and kick it off this way, [I’m] really proud of all these guys,” Truex mentioned. “Tonight was kind of persevere, not give up, just battle through and we found ourself in the end.”
Martin Truex Jr. wins the Clash
Martin Truex Jr. captured the Clash on the Coliseum after going winless in 2022.
Wallace Day Ends Sour
Bubba Wallace led 40 laps however after getting handed by Ryan Preece on Lap 83, he by no means may discover his means again out entrance.
He tangled with Austin Dillon throughout some tight racing with seven laps remaining. After spinning into the wall, Wallace gave Dillon a bump beneath warning to indicate his displeasure.
“The 3 [Austin Dillon] just never tried to make a corner,” Wallace mentioned. “He just always ran into my left rear. … I got run into the fence by him down the straightaway on the restart, so I gave him a shot and then we get dumped.
“It sucks.”
Dillon: “Obviously Bubba knocked me by way of the nook. I used to be going to hit him again. Didn’t imply to show him like that, however when it will get all the way down to the tip, I feel everyone is aware of what is going on on, and that is what you see at locations like this.”
Wallace, and some other drivers, said despite the relatively low speeds, the hits in the car were significant.
“Back nonetheless hurts,” Wallace said. “Head nonetheless hurts.”
Clash at The Coliseum Highlights
Bubba Wallace was assertive to start with as he led 39 laps, however Martin Truex Jr. made it rely the place it mattered most as he led the ultimate 25 laps for the win.
Logano Felt Bad For Busch
Joey Logano really felt dangerous for his spin of Kyle Busch and was really pleased to see Busch rally to complete second.
“It was my mistake,” Logano mentioned. “I don’t know why. It’s still kind of a mystery to me. … I had no rear grip and slid down into the 8 [of Busch]. Thankfully he was fast enough to get all the way back up there.
“I felt fairly dangerous. But I’m glad he was in a position to get again up there.”
Busch will keep in mind the contact.
“He simply flat-out drove by way of me,” Busch said. “So he is obtained one other one coming. I owe him just a few.”
‘Tonight was to persevere and never surrender’
Martin Truex Jr. mirrored after he gained the 2023 Clash on the Coliseum.
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent a long time masking motorsports, together with the previous 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass, and join the FOX Sports NASCAR Newsletter with Bob Pockrass.
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Martin Truex Jr
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