In NASCAR’s long history, only two drivers have ever won the sport’s so-called “Triple Crown,” the Daytona 500, the Coca-Cola 600 and the Bojangles’ Southern 500 in the same season: The late LeeRoy Yarbrough did it in 1969, and David Pearson did it in 1976.
This year, Martin Truex Jr. came within 0.01 seconds of adding his name to that list. Coming into 2016, Truex had just three career race victories, but he won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, setting a NASCAR record for most miles led in a single race.
Sunday night at Darlington Raceway Truex came on late to put the Furniture Row Racing Toyota in Victory Lane at the Bojangles’ Southern 500.
And started the season by finishing just 0.01 seconds behind Denny Hamlin in the Daytona 500.
All in all, it’s been a pretty remarkable season for the Mayetta, New Jersey, native.
Asked about the Triple Crown, Truex was appreciative.
“I mean, just to be mentioned with those two names is unbelievable enough,” Truex said of Yarbrough and Pearson. “Yeah, I mean, I can’t believe that about a foot from doing it is incredible. I mean, just — there’s so many things about this year that have been special, and that’s one of them. Thank you for bringing that up and letting me know about it.
“To lead the most miles of any NASCAR race ever, I mean, you just think about the names, the names that have been come and gone and paved the way for us drivers that none of those guys have done it before is unbelievable, and then to mention what you mentioned there, I’m just humbled.”
