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Truex brothers reign supreme at Dover

May 1, 2023

NASCAR planned races and activities for April 28-30, but Mother Nature had other plans. Rain outs Friday and Sunday led to Saturday doubleheader action and a Monday Cup Series race.

The long weekend was a success for the Truex family, as Ryan Truex won Saturday’s Xfinity Series race A-GAME 200, his first series victory, and older brother Martin Truex Jr. captured Monday’s Cup Series race the Würth 400, becoming only the fifth set of brothers in NASCAR history to win on the same weekend.

Monday’s win snapped a 54-race winless streak for Truex Jr. The win was his 32nd career victory in 632 Cup Series races and his fourth at Dover, breaking a tie with Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick to make him the active driver with the most career victories at Dover. The win also ties him for sixth all time at Dover.

Kyle Busch led the field to the green flag and held the led for 22 laps. On Lap 27, William Byron took over the lead. Byron led 162 of the next 167 laps, including claiming Stage 1. On Lap 82, Kyle Larson had an incident in Turn 1, ruining his day. After pit stops cycled through, Ross Chastain emerged the new leader on Lap 201 and won Stage 2. Byron regained the lead only to lose it again to Chastain on Lap 286. Chastain led the next 44 laps, then on Lap 332, Truex, Jr. took the lead and dominated the last part of the race. Chastain cut Truex’s lead to about a half second on multiple occasions, but he never got much closer. Caution on lap 388 led to late-race pit calls, with Truex Crew Chief James Small making the right call for two tires to get out in front. 

Chastain was the first with four in fourth on the restart, but clean air proved to be king, as Truex brought home the checkers. Chastain was seocnd, with Ryan Blaney, William Byron and Denny Hamlin rounding out the top five.

After the race, team owner Joe Gibbs commented that Truex “may be the calmest athlete I’ve ever been around.” Gibbs said the weekend was great for the Truex family, with their dad at Dover watching his sons win. Joe Gibbs Racing had never had brothers win in the same weekend. Gibbs noted Crew Chief James Small made a good call going with two tires.

Truex quipped that his 54-race winless streak wasn’t that long and he’s had longer. He noted it is difficult to win races. He said he was really proud of Ryan, saying he’s “been through a lot and been beat down a lot ... really happy for him.”  Truex noted Dover is one of his favorite tracks. “It is super special to have four wins at one track; not many have done that before.”

 

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