Truex Saves Enough Fuel for Watkins Glen Victory

Originally written for CLNS Media.

Martin Truex Jr. won the We Love New York 355 from Watkins Glen International on Sunday after saving enough fuel to hold off the field.

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Truex was the class of the field on Sunday, but a late caution set up a dramatic fuel-mileage finish where many of the frontrunners had to pit in the closing laps.  Truex stayed out and saved just enough fuel to hold off Matt Kenseth on the final lap to pick up his fourth victory of the season.

Truex let Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney pass him for the lead over the final run, but retook the lead when Blaney ran out of fuel with two laps to go.  Truex said giving up the lead was hard to deal with in the closing laps.

“It’s so stressful to let guys go by you for the lead, I’ve never had to do that before,” Truex said.  “You just got to listen to your crew chief; luckily I’ve got the best one in the business.  I just do what he says and it always just seems to work out.”

The victory at Watkins Glen was Truex’s first at the track.  After growing up in New Jersey, Truex said it was a dream to win there after watching his father race at the track in the 1990s.

“I’ve wanted to win here for so long, this is a special place,” Truex said.  “Coming here as a kid and spending time in the garage, just walking around and dreaming of someday to race here, let alone win.  This is a big one for our team.”

Matt Kenseth finished second on Sunday, and he was on Truex’s bumper as the two took the checkered flag.  Kenseth said he hoped Truex would run out of gas before the end of the race.

“He was managing his gaps well, and as soon as he knew I could go, he just went too,” Kenseth said.  “Hate to be that close and not get it, but it was a good finish.”

“I thought we were going to be better than the 78 on fuel, but we both probably have a little excess.”

Unofficial results:

1. Martin Truex Jr.

2. Matt Kenseth

3. Daniel Suarez

4. Denny Hamlin

5. Clint Bowyer

6. Kurt Busch

7. Kyle Busch

8. Ryan Blaney

9. AJ Allmendinger

10. Erik Jones

11. Chris Buescher

12. Michael McDowell

13. Chase Elliott

14. Jamie McMurray

15. Brad Keselowski

16. Kasey Kahne

17. Kevin Harvick

18. Paul Menard

19. Ty Dillon

20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

21. Aric Almirola

22. Danica Patrick

23. Kyle Larson

24. Joey Logano

25. Ryan Newman

26. Austin Dillon

27. David Ragan

28. Matt DiBenedetto

29. Jimmie Johnson

30. Boris Said

31. Gray Klutt

32. Brett Moffitt

33. Corey LaJoie

34. Cole Whitt

35. Trevor Bayne

36. Landon Cassill

37. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images